A Manager’s Guide to Project Management

About the Author

Michael B. Bender, PMP, is the founder and CEO of Ally Business Developers, a consortium of world-class business, organizational, and professional development experts. With extensive experience in project management, Bender is a recognized speaker for the American Management Association (AMA) and Global Knowledge, and has also been a guest lecturer at DePaul University and the Project Management Institute. His work is focused on providing practical, actionable strategies to help executives and managers enhance their project management practices and achieve organizational goals.

Main Idea

"A Manager's Guide to Project Management: Learn How to Apply Best Practices" by Michael B. Bender is a comprehensive guide for executives and managers on how to effectively manage projects to add value to their organizations. The book covers a wide range of topics, including aligning projects with business strategies, managing project portfolios, optimizing resource use, and understanding the financial aspects of project management. Bender emphasizes the importance of seeing projects as capital investments and provides a structured approach to project management that integrates with the overall business strategy.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Projects and Project Management
2. Aligning Project Management with the Organization
3. Project Management Oversight
4. Projects as Capital Investments
5. Globalization and Resource Optimization

Understanding Projects and Project Management

Projects are unique, temporary endeavors designed to produce a specific result. According to Bender, the primary purpose of a project is to add value to the organization. This value can come in many forms, including financial gains, improved processes, enhanced customer satisfaction, or strengthened organizational reputation. Effective project management ensures that projects are not only completed on time and within budget but also align with the strategic objectives of the organization.

Specific Goals for Project Management:

• Ensure client satisfaction through quality deliverables.
• Maintain fiscal responsibility and manage budgets effectively.
• Achieve strategic objectives set by the organization.
• Optimize the use of resources, including human, financial, and material resources.

"No matter where you are, no matter what condition your projects might be in and no matter how well your organization manages its projects, you want things to get better." - Michael B. Bender

Bender argues that project management is an evolving discipline that must now look beyond just the tools and techniques to consider the broader organizational environment. This includes understanding how projects contribute to the organization's overall strategy and ensuring that they are integrated into the business processes.

Project and Program

The distinction between a project and a program can sometimes be subtle but is important to understand. A project is a specific, temporary endeavor with a clear start and end, aimed at achieving a particular outcome. In contrast, a program consists of multiple interrelated projects managed in a coordinated way to achieve a broader objective. For example, a company launching a new product might have separate projects for product development, marketing, sales training, and logistics, all coordinated under the umbrella of a single program.