Practical Project Initiation: A Handbook with Tools

Zero in on key project-initiation tasks—and build a solid foundation for successful software development. In this concise guide, critically-acclaimed author Karl E. Wiegers fills a void in project management literature by focusing on the activities that are essential—but often overlooked—for launching any project. Drawing on his extensive experience, Karl shares lessons learned, proven practices, and tools for getting your project off to the right start—and steering it to ultimate success.

Lay a foundation for project success—discover how to:

• Effectively charter a project
• Define meaningful criteria for project success and product releases
• Negotiate achievable commitments for project teams and stakeholders
• Identify and document potential barriers to success—and manage project risks
• Apply the Wideband Delphi method for more accurate estimation
• Measure project performance and avoid common metrics traps
• Systematically apply lessons learned to future projects
  
  
  Companion Web site includes:
  
  
  • Worksheets from inside the book
  • Project document templates
  • Resources for project initiation and process improvement

Table of Contents

• Praise for Practical Project Initiation: A Handbook with Tools
• Preface
• Project Management Fundamentals
  • Chapter 1: A Project Management PrimerThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 1998, 6(6): 78-80. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
  • Chapter 2: Project Management Good PracticesThis chapter was originally published as "21 Project Management Success Tips" in Reifer, Donald J. (ed.), Software Management, Sixth Edition, Los Alamitos, Calif.: IEEE Computer Society Press, 2002. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of IEEE.
  • Chapter 3: Just Too Much to DoThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 2000, 8(9): 65-68. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
• Preparing for Success
  • Chapter 4: Success Criteria Breed SuccessThis article was originally published in The Rational Edge, February 2002. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission from IBM.
  • Chapter 5: Are We There Yet?This chapter was originally published in Software Development, 2005, 13(6): 26-29. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
  • Chapter 6: Know Your Enemy: Introduction to Risk ManagementThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 1998, 6(10): 38-42. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
  • Chapter 7: Chartering a Course for Success
  • Chapter 8: Lessons Learned from Tool AdoptionThis article was originally published in Software Development, 1999, 7(10): 12-14. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
• Living with Reality
  • Chapter 9: Negotiating Achievable CommitmentsThis article was originally published in The Rational Edge, January 2002. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission from IBM.
  • Chapter 10: Saving for a Rainy DayThis article was originally published in The Rational Edge, April 2002. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission from IBM.
  • Chapter 11: Stop Promising MiraclesThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 2000, 8(2): 49-54. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
• Measuring What Happens
  • Chapter 12: A Software Metrics PrimerThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 1999, 7(7): 39-42. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
  • Chapter 13: Metrics Traps to AvoidThis chapter was originally published in Software Development, 1997, 5(10): 49-56. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
• Learning Continuously
  • Chapter 14: Learning from Experience
  • Chapter 15: Looking Back, Looking AheadThis chapter was originally published (with Johanna Rothman) in Software Development, 2001, 9(2): 65-69. It is reprinted here, with modifications, with permission of CMP Media Inc.
• References
• About the Author

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