Project Management For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

I use the PM for Dummies often as a reference tool. When dealing with clients I need to freshen up on terms and methodology I don't use frequently. When I am on the phone with a rep from Hershey or Hallmark I can't afford to misuse or misunderstand a term or principle so I use for Dummies to ensure excellence. I've been doing this for years and wish I'd had this tool from the start. (Submitted by Charles Carpenter, PM Consultant and author of Real World Project Management and a charlesspeaks.com keynote speaker.)

I don't normally post reviews of books I read. However, this time I am making an exception; and I hope you take a moment to read this, if you are seriously considering buying this book. I have been performing projects for several years at work; but recently, I began to receive expanded project responsibilities. I have never had formal project management training; and I decided it was time to look for resources to help me improve my planning and management practices. My boss and several colleagues highly recommended this book; and, after reading it, I can see why. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who plans and performs projects. The author takes what could certainly be a very complex and dry topic and makes it seem logical and easy to apply in many different situations. His examples are to the point and easy to relate to. His discussions on several topics (for example, assigning team member roles, defining outcomes, identifying work to be performed) helped me see why several projects with which I had been involved in the past had failed. His insights on how to ensure the tools and techniques are used most effectively are invaluable. I was able immediately to start using many of the techniques at my job; and I saw their positive effects almost at once. I felt I had greater control over what happened in all aspects of my projects. I was even able to influence team members' behavior on some of the larger projects on which I was working. What really motivated me to write this review, however, was a review by Joseph Dewey that I saw on this site before I bought this book. After I read the book, I realized that, sadly, his "review" consisted mainly of a combination of unsubstantiated criticisms ("this is a bad book", "(the author) is a bad author", "(the author) is arrogant", etc.) and grossly exaggerated or just plain false statements ("I'm not kidding, every one of the 100 examples in this book follows the same model", "all the techniques sound the same", etc.). I understood that this review reflected the feelings and opinions of one person. However, it occurred to me that someone who had not read the book might read this review and actually believe some of what it says. And I truly feel it would be a shame, if this review caused even one person to miss out on this uniquely valuable resource. If you are seriously looking for insights and approaches to help you dramatically improve your project performance, I strongly suggest you buy this book.

A solid book that introduces many tools and techniques central to project management. If you have to manage projects in addition to doing your "real work" this book is for you. If you're a project manager by profession, you should be past this book by now.

Stan is an excellent trainer (I have attended 2 of his courses), and it turns out he is a good writer, too! He presents PM concepts and tools in an easy-to-understand way with great real-life examples. As a new PM, I have found this book to be a great reference as well as good "flip-through" reading.

This book gives the professional insights of a master of his job. Stanley Portny knows what he is talking about. He allows the average person to read this book and feel knowledgeable in the field of project management. He should be proud of his ability of making such a complicated subject seem so easy. "Dummies" are lucky to have found him.