Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces - Softcover

Wiefling, Kimberly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1600050514 ISBN 13: 9781600050510

Publisher: Happy about, 2007

Synopsis

Projects are MESSY! From the minute the project begins, all manner of changes, surprises and disasters befall them. Unfortunately most of these are PREDICTABLE and AVOIDABLE.

Tact and diplomacy can only get you so far in the wild and wacky world of project work. A combination of outrageous creativity, sheer bravado and nerves of steel will serve you far better than any fancy-schmancy Microsoft Project Gantt chart!

'Scrappy Project Management' is about what REALLY happens in the project environment, how to survive it, and how to make sure that your team avoids the predictable and avoidable pitfalls that every project faces.

About this title

About the Author

Kimberly Wiefling is the founder of Wiefling Consulting, LLC, a scrappy enterprise enabling individuals, teams and organizations to achieve results that seem out of reach or nearly impossible through leadership and project management excellence. A physicist by education, she spent 10 years at HP in technical leadership and project management roles, then 5 years in the wild and crazy world of Silicon Valley start-ups before leading one to a glorious defeat during the dotcom bust of 2001. Vigorously scrappy, she reemerged, consulting on leadership and project management worldwide - from Armenia, to Tokyo, to the Silicon Valley. Kimberly is the executive editor of The Scrappy Guides(tm), a regular contributor to the "Project Connections" newsletter, (70,000+ subscribers weekly), and her radio show, "The Scrappy Dialogues(tm)", airs occasionally on Wiefling.com, and she is the lead blogger at SVProjectManagement.net.

From the Back Cover

"Put this spine on your bookshelf, or in your survival kit. This is THE resource for the power starved PMs who need to learn how to street fight for resources, deal with customer insanity, and dodge the falling rocks as you stay on top of everything. A fighting spirit and a confident strategy is the RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT."
Michele Jackman, Michele Jackman Enterprises and Adventures, co-author of Star Teams, Players.

"If you want to build energy, velocity, and momentum toward an outrageous goal, Kimberly's Scrappy Project Management is just what you've been waiting for to help you get those results with more pleasant surprises and fewer disappointing shocks along the way."
Christine Comaford-Lynch, CEO of Mighty Ventures, author of Rules for Renegades

"This book unabashedly puts forward a new, unambiguous, non-shrinking, and ultimately empowering view of what we all as project managers should commit to be and do every day in our project roles."
Cinda Voegtli, CEO of Emprend, Inc. and President of ProjectConnections.com

From the Inside Flap

Meet the Scrappy Guides!

"The Scrappy Guides" is a series of books to help you accomplish the
impossible. Those of you who say it can't be done should stay out of
the way of those of us doing it!

Scrappy means ATTITUDE.

Scrappy means not relying on a title to be a leader.

Scrappy means being willing to take risks and put yourself out there.

Scrappy means doing the right thing, even when you don't feel like it.

Scrappy means having the steely resolve of a street fighter.

Scrappy means sticking to your guns even if you're shaking in your boots.

Scrappy means being committed beyond reason to making a difference.

Scrappy means caring about something more than you care about being comfortable, socially acceptable, or politically correct.

Scrappy means being absolutely, totally committed to extraordinary results.

Scrappy means EDGY!. . . and is your edge in achieving outrageous results even when they seem impossible.

The Scrappy Guides help you muster the courage and commitment to pursue your goals--even when there is no evidence that you can succeed. They are your shield against the naysayers who will try to undermine you, and they will give you comfort during the inevitable failures that accompany most worthy pursuits. When you fail, fail fast, fail forward, in the direction of your goals, lurching fitfully if you must. Sometimes success is built on the foundation of a very tall junk pile.

Let's get scrappy!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Scrappy Guides are books with ATTITUDE! They are your edge in accomplishing what seems impossible, but is actually just real hard. These are real books for real people living in the real world. They are your secret weapon in creating courage and commitment to your goals even when there is no evidence that you will succeed. They are your shield against the inevitable critics who will try to undermine you, and your comfort in the inevitable failures that accompany any worthy pursuit.

Scrappy means not relying on a title to be a leader, being willing to take chances, take risks, put yourself out there in order to do the right thing. Scrappy means having the steely resolve of a street-fighter when necessary, being willing to be scared while sticking to your guns, being committed beyond confidence and ability, committed to making a difference. Scrappy means focusing on creating something extraordinary more than worrying about social acceptance and the approval of others. Scrappy is EDGY!

Scrappy Project Managers know that the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a sanitized version of the world of projects. The Scrappy Project Manager wants to succeed. They want their team to be successful. They know their team DESERVES to win, and they know that the PMBOK is just the beginning of what it takes to deliver success in the higgly-piggly world where real projects live. Scrappy Project Managers don't let reality limit them. They either find a way or they make one! This book contains guidelines on how to get stuff done when the odds are against you, historical evidence says it can't be done, and the majority doesn't think it is possible. It's for people who aren't bound by convention, assumptions or self-limiting beliefs. It's for people who can be counted upon to get the job done. Are you ready to get scrappy?

Welcome to our Scrappy World!

Fearless Project Management: Welcome to Hell

Project management is one of the most demanding jobs I have ever experienced. Typically no one reports to the project manager. The project manager rarely has access to budget or staff of their own. And yet they are almost completely responsible for the success of a project. If a project is a failure, the project manager is usually blamed. If it is a success, my experience is that the project manager may not be able to benefit from the very success that she helped create. Project managers make clear what needs to be done, who is supposed to do it, and hold people accountable for following through on their commitments. They may have to tell executives things that they prefer not to hear, and even confront them with extremely negative news. This takes courage and conviction, and it is not necessarily appreciated for the valuable contribution that it is. Like a Mafia hit man, the same person that is so handy when you need someone killed may be an unwelcome guest at dinner. If you are going to be a great project manager you'd better keep your backbone in tact and be prepared to be respected, but not necessarily liked. And keep your resume up to date! You won't be effective as a leader if you can't put your job on the line to do the right thing. Leadership is not for the faint of heart. There are many people passing themselves off as leaders, but there are merely occupying the seat, not taking the stand. If you want to be the kind of leader that inspires commitment from your team, hope from your stakeholders and the admiration of your colleagues, these common sense guidelines for project management excellence will serve you well.

Edition details

• Publisher: Happy about
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1600050514
• ISBN 13: 9781600050510
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 154