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Book Description

Quantitative analysis of outcomes vs PMs at the individual level

Leading Complex Projects takes a unique approach to post-mortem analysis to provide project managers with invaluable insight. For the first time, individual PM characteristics are quantitatively linked to project outcomes through a major study investigating the role of project leadership in the success and failure of complex industrial projects; hard data on the backgrounds, education, and personality characteristics of over 100 directors of complex projects is analyzed against the backdrop of project performance to provide insight into controllable determinants of outcomes. By placing these analyses alongside their own data, PMs will gain greater insight into areas of weakness and strength, locate recurring obstacles, and identify project components in need of greater planning, oversight, or control.

The role of leadership is to deliver results; in project management, this means taking responsibility for project outcomes. PMs are driven by continuous improvement, and this book provides a wealth of insight to help you achieve the next step forward.

  • Understand why small, simple projects consistently outperform larger, more complex projects
  • Delve into the project manager's role in generating successful outcomes
  • Examine the data from over 100 PMs of complex industrial projects
  • Link PM characteristics to project outcome to find areas for improvement

Complex industrial projects from around the world provide a solid basis for quantitative analysis of outcomes—and the PMs who drive them. Although the majority of the data is taken from projects in the petroleum industry, the insights gleaned from analysis are widely applicable across industry lines for PMs who lead complex projects of any stripe. Leading Complex Projects provides clear, data-backed improvement guidance for anyone in a project management role.

Table of Contents

  1. Foreword
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. About the Authors
  4. Introduction Executive Summary
    1. Project Leaders versus Project Managers
    2. What Successful Leaders Do
    3. From Tasks to Practices
    4. Notes
  5. Chapter 1 Getting Grounded
    1. The Selection Process for Complex Project Leaders Is Not Working
    2. Who Should Read This Book?
    3. Organization of the Book
    4. Notes
  6. Part One
    1. Chapter 2 Methodology and Data
      1. The Five-Factor Model
      2. The Emotional Intelligence Scale
      3. The Fox–Hedgehog Scale
      4. Measuring Leadership Style
      5. Statistical Methodology
      6. Measuring Success
      7. The Data
      8. The Projects Database
      9. The Project Leadership Survey
      10. The Fun Part
      11. Notes
    2. Chapter 3 The Unique Demands on Complex Project Leaders
      1. What Makes a Complex Project Complex?
      2. How Complexity Changes the Leadership Requirements
      3. Leadership Is More Important for Complex Projects
      4. Why Is Leadership More Important in Complex Projects?
      5. Notes
    3. Chapter 4 The Traits and Skills of Effective Project Leaders
      1. Organization of This Chapter
      2. The Hedgehog and the Fox
      3. The Personalities of Complex Project Leaders
      4. Comparing Simpler and Complex Project Leader Personalities
      5. The Personality Profiles of Successful Leaders
      6. Emotional Intelligence and Project Leadership
      7. The Approach to Leadership
      8. The Early Careers of Successful Leaders
      9. Summing Up: Who Are These Successful Leaders?
      10. Notes
    4. Chapter 5 From Personality to Practice
      1. Leader Tasks
      2. Leader Personality, Leader Tasks, and Key Project Practices
      3. Personality, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership Styles
      4. Summary of Part I
      5. Notes
  7. Part Two
    1. Chapter 6 Joseph Brewer
      1. Notes
    2. Chapter 7 Don Vardeman
      1. Notes
    3. Chapter 8 Nora'in MD Salleh and Dzulkarnain Azaman
      1. Nora'in MD Salleh
      2. Dzulkarnain Azaman
      3. Notes
    4. Chapter 9 Jay Sexton
      1. Notes
    5. Chapter 10 Paul Harris
      1. Little Black Book
      2. Cathartic Project Execution Plan
      3. Notes
    6. Chapter 11 David Young
      1. People Management
      2. Communication
      3. Stakeholder Management
      4. Notes
    7. Chapter 12 What Have We Learned and What Does It Mean?
      1. What We Have Learned
      2. What Does It Mean?
      3. What Is the Role of the Organization?
      4. Selecting Project Leaders Now
      5. Notes
  8. Index
  9. EULA