Better Practices of Project Management ^{4th Ed.}

The world is becoming more and more projectized, making project management an essential competence in the 21^st century. This is a practical and comprehensive book for all those that are included in projects. Whether you are a project, programme or portfolio manager, it gives you the insights into all the competences that are needed to successfully manage projects.

In this 4^th edition, the text has been restructured to align with the new structure of the competence elements in the Individual Competence Baseline (ICB) version 4, developed by the International Project Management Association (IPMA). It is divided into:

• Practice competences
• People competences
• Perspective competences

Therefore, this book will be an essential guidance and study book for everyone studying for the IPMA-D, IPMA-C, and IPMA-B exams. It is also used by Colleges and Universities around the world to train their students in project management. Besides that, it is an extremely rich source book for those practitioners that have committed themselves to a lifelong professional development.

In addition, the book is applicable to groups of project managers originating from diverse cultures. For this reason, this is not a book that tells how a Westerner must behave in an Arab or an Asian country, but one that looks at the different subjects covered in the ICB, as seen from various cultural standpoints.

Each chapter is based on the same structure: Key concepts, Introduction, Actions that lead to competence development, Self-assessment, Special topics, Assignments. Text boxes and diagrams, give additional explanation to enrich the main text. An elaborate Index of terms allows that this book can be used as the information source to all aspects of project management.

• Introduction
• The word "competence"
• Projects, programmes and portfolios
• An alternative definition
• How to use this book and the website
1. Practice
1. Design
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Recognize success criteria, classify and discuss these
2. Discuss the lessons learned, apply and exchange these
3. Determine complexity and consequences for the management approach
4. Choose the best management approach and discuss it
4. Special Topics
1. The Management Approach
2. The pragmatic manifesto
3. Project success
4. The diamond approach
5. Initiation Documentation
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
2. Requirements, objectives and benefits
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Introduce a hierarchy into the goals/benefits
2. Identify and analyze stakeholder needs and requirements
3. Prioritize the requirements and determine acceptance criteria
4. Special topics
1. Volere Requirements Specification Template
2. Value Management
3. MoSCoW
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
3. Scope
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Describe the deliverables
2. Structure the scope
3. Describe the work packages
4. Determine and maintain the configuration
4. Special Topics
1. Decomposition of the scope
2. Work Breakdown Structure
3. Product oriented planning
4. Configuration Management
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
4. Time
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Determine the necessary activities
2. Determine the necessary effort and duration
3. Determining the approach to the phasing
4. Sequence the activities and plan the duration
5. Manage the duration
4. Special Topics
1. Concepts of time
2. Various methods of phasing
3. Develop the planning network
4. Date constraints
5. Gantt Chart
6. Crashing and fast-tracking
7. PERT
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
5. Organization and information
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Determine the information needs of the stakeholders
2. Define the functional roles, responsibilities and organization structure
3. Implement processes and infrastructure
4. Implement and maintain the temporary organization
4. Special Topics
1. Roles in the project
2. The roles in a program
3. RACI table
4. Team structure
5. The Project/programme Management Information System
6. Project Management Documents
7. The core documents in a programme
8. Document Management
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
6. Quality
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Develop and use a quality plan
2. Assess (review) the quality of deliverables
3. Verify the quality performance
4. Plan and organize the validation of deliverables
4. Special Topics
1. The quality gurus
2. Assurance and Control
3. The cost of quality
4. Assessments and audits
5. The seven tools of quality
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
7. Finance
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Estimate the project/programme/portfolio costs
2. Determine the project/programme/portfolio budget
3. Secure the financial resources
4. Establish the management and reporting of the finances
5. Monitor the finances
4. Special Topics
1. Cost Breakdown Structure
2. Project/programme financing
3. Financing options
4. Public Private Partnership
5. Islamic Financing
6. Price risks
7. Sarbanes-Oxley
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
8. Resources
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Develop a strategic resource plan
2. Determine the quality and quantity of the resources
3. Acquire the required resources
4. Allocate the acquired resources
5. Monitor resource usage
4. Special Topics
1. RBS: Resource Breakdown Structure
2. Critical Chain
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
9. Procurement and partnership
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Agree on needs, options and processes
2. Participate in the supplier selection
3. Participate in the negotiation
4. Manage the contracts
4. Special Topics
1. Full Analytical Criteria Method
2. Public tendering in Europe
3. Contract Results
4. Incoterms
5. Contract pricing
6. Outsourcing
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
10. Plan and control
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Draw up a project management plan and get it approved
2. Initiate and manage the transition to a new phase
3. Compare the actual situation to the plan and take action
4. Report on the progress
5. Handle change requests
6. Close-out of a phase, or the project, and evaluate it
4. Special Topics
1. Delegating
2. Goal Setting
3. Estimation methods
4. The Earned Value Method
5. Slip Chart
6. Issue register and report
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
11. Risk and opportunity
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Develop and implement a risk management framework
2. Identify risks and opportunities
3. Assess the probability and the impact
4. Select and implement response
5. Evaluate and monitor risks, opportunities and responses
4. Special Topics
1. Risk management principles
2. Risk log or Register
3. Risk analysis techniques
4. The "insurance premium"
5. Decision trees
6. Monte Carlo Simulation
7. Sensitivity analysis
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
12. Stakeholders
1. Definitions and key concepts
2.  Introduction
3. Actions
1. Identify and analyze interests and stakeholders
2. Develop and maintain the stakeholder strategy and communication
3. Ensure that senior management is involved
4. Ensure that users, partners and suppliers are involved
5. Organize and maintain networks and alliances
4. Special Topics
1. Stakeholder categories
2. Analysis of Interested parties
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
13. Change and transformation 
1.  Definitions and key concepts
2.  Introduction
3. Actions
1. Assess the adaptability of the organization(s)
2. Identify change requirements and options
3. Develop a change strategy
4. Implement the change
4. Special Topics
1. Unfreeze-Change-Freeze
2. Dealing with opposition
3. The coping curve
4. The diffusion of innovations
5. Strategic change according to John P. Kotter
6. Change in Five Colors
7. Change is inevitable
8. The learning organization
9. Business Model Canvas
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
14. Select and balance
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Identify the components
2. Analyze the components
3. Prioritize the components
4. Create an overview of all deliveries
5. Predict the performance of the related components
6. Facilitate the decisions to be taken
4. Special topics
1. The Business Case
2. Investment appraisal
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
2. People
1. Self-reflection and self‑management
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Understand how your values and experience influence the way you work
2. Develop self-confidence from your own strong and weak points
3. Bring your goals into line with your intrinsic motivation
4. Take both the situation and your own resources into account
5. Take responsibility for your own learning and development path
4. Special topics
1. Personality
2. Cognitive dissonance
3. Defensive Routines
4. Emotional Intelligence
5. How people learn
6. The Johari window
7. Core Quadrants
8. RT, RET and REBT
9. The seven Habits
10. Balancing private life and work
11. Stress and burnout
12. Time management
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
2. Personal integrity and reliability
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Maintain ethical standards in all decisions and actions
2. Facilitate the sustainability of all outcomes
3. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions
4. Act, decide and communicate consistently
5. Build confidence by fulfilling your tasks
4. Special Topics
1. Reliability
2. Ethical Issues
3. Four different types of ethics
4. Case study on an ethical issue
5. Whistleblowers
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
3. Personal communication
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Communicate clearly and structurally, and test the understanding
2. Encourage open communication and facilitate this
3. Align your communication style to the situation
4. Communicate effectively with virtual teams
5. Use humor when this is applicable
4. Special Topics
1. The communication model
2. Verbal and Non-Verbal
3. The five axioms of Watzlawick
4. Four aspects - Schulz von Thun
5. The uses of argument
6. Identify the appropriate style
7. Rapport
8. Active listening
9. Asking the right question
10. Feedback
11. Humor
12. Presentation Skills
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
4. Relations and engagement
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Develop personal and professional relationships
2. Build up a social network
3. Show empathy
4. Show your trust and respect
5. Share your vision and goals
4. Special Topics
1. Building a relationship
2. The relationship with the sponsor
3. The Maslow hierarchy of needs
4. Motivation-Hygiene Theory
5. Self-determination Theory
6. Model I and II
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
5. Leadership
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Act proactively, help and advise
2. Be responsible and show involvement
3. Give direction, coach and improve the work
4. Use the right level of power and influence to achieve goals
5. Take decisions, enforce them and dare to change them
4. Special Topics
1. The development of management thought
2. Are you leader or manager?
3. Leadership in a multicultural perspective
4. Blake & Mouton’s Grid
5. Theory X, Theory Y
6. Fiedler Contingency Model
7. Situational Leadership - Hersey & Blanchard
8. Power - Hersey & Blanchard
9. Coaching leadership
10. The GROW model
11. Leadership that gets results
12. Leadership from a psychoanalytical perspective
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
6. Teamwork
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Select and build up the team
2. Encourage cooperation and networking
3. Delegate tasks and responsibilities
4. Acknowledge mistakes and learn from them
4. Special Topics
1. Developmental Sequence in Small Groups
2. Team roles according to Belbin
3. Success factors
4. Team building
5. Meetings
6. Dimensions in group discussions
7. Manage towards consensus
8. The skillful discussion
9. Management of virtual teams
10. Problems with teams
11. Stress Management and the team
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
7. Conflict and crisis
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Anticipate conflicts and crises
2. Analyze and take measures
3. Mediate in conflicts and crises
4. Learn from the experience gained
4. Special Topics
1. Stages of the conflict
2. Conflict styles
3. Diagnosis of conflicts
4. Solving conflicts
5. Crisis Management
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
8. Resourcefulness
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Stimulate and support an open, creative work place
2. Conceptualize when defining situations and strategies
3. Use analytical techniques to analyze data
4. Encourage the use of creativity techniques
5. Encourage an holistic approach to decision making
4. Special Topics
1. Culture and resourcefulness
2. Intuition
3. Holistic thinking
4. System thinking
5. Creativity techniques
6. Brainstorming
7. Edward De Bono
8. COCD Box
9. WV model for problem solving
10. Techniques for proactive problem solving
11. The Cartesian Product
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
9. Negotiation
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Understand the interests of all parties
2. Develop sufficient options to satisfy all needs
3. Design an acceptable strategy to achieve your objectives
4. Reach an agreement, which is in line with your objectives
5. Exploit all commercial opportunities
4. Special topics
1. Positional negotiation
2. The Harvard Method
3. Dealing with manipulation
4. Thirty-Six Stratagems
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
10. Result orientation
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Assess all decisions based on their influence on success
2. Balance the available resources in order to optimize the outcome
3. Create a healthy, safe and productive working conditions
4. Sell the project/programme, the processes and the results
5. Deliver the result and accomplish acceptance
4. Special Topics
1. Entrepreneurial spirit
2. The act of will
3. Assertiveness
4. Long term efficiency
5. Kaizen
5.  Assignments
6. eSchool
3. Perspective
1. Strategy
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Bring the project/programme/portfolio in line with mission and vision
2. Make use of all the options for influencing the organizational strategy
3. Regularly validate the justification
4. Keep sight of the critical success factors
5. Develop and track the performance indicators
4. Special Topics
1. Mission, vision and strategy
2. Mintzberg on strategy
3. Porter's Value Chain
4. The SWOT analysis
5. Balanced Scorecard
6. Benefits Realization Management
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
2. Governance, structures and processes
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Apply project management principles and guidelines
2. Apply programme management principles and guidelines
3. Apply portfolio management principles and guidelines
4. Follow the guidelines for reporting, decisions and quality
5. Follow the guidelines for personnel
6. Follow the guidelines for financial management
4. Topics Permanent Organization
1. The organization architecture
2. Henry Mintzberg
3. The yearly appraisal cycle
4. Personal Development Plan
5. Line versus Project
6. Total Quality Management
7. EFQM
8. Deming’s fourteen points
9. Standardization
10. Lean
11. Six Sigma
12. Accounting
13. Financial Reporting for General Purpose
14. OPEX and CAPEX
15. Financial Ratios
5. Projects, programmes and portfolios
1. Agile
2. Project management standards and methods
3. Programmes
4. The programme management methods
5. Organizational Competence Baseline (OCB)
6. The Project Excellence Baseline
7. The Project Management Office
6. Assignments
7. eSchool
3. Compliance, standards and regulations
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Comply with all relevant laws and regulations
2. Comply with all health, security, safety and environmental legislation
3. Comply with all relevant professional codes of conduct
4. Use professional standards and tools
5. Improve the organizational project management competence
4. Special topics
1. Law sources
2. Different Legal systems
3. Corporate social responsibility
4. Declaration of Human Rights
5. Cairo Declaration
6. Contract law
7. Intellectual property
8. Taking extra care of health, security, safety and the environment
9. Health
10. Safety
11. Security
12. Environment
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
4. Power and interest
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Assess ambitions and interests
2. Assess the informal influence
3. Assess and use of personalities and working styles
4. Special Topics
1. The basis of social power
2. PESTLE
3. The use of formal power
4. Power in organizations
5. Political games
6. Influencing
5. Assignments
6. eSchool
5. Culture and values
1. Definitions and key concepts
2. Introduction
3. Actions
1. Assess the dominant culture
2. Align this with the organization’s formal culture and values
3. Assess the informal culture and values within the organization
4. Special Topics
1. The IPMA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
2. Sustainability and project/programme/portfolio management
3. Green Project Management
4. Organizational culture
5. Cultural Archetypes
6. Cultural dimensions
5. Assignments
6. eSchool