Project Management for Dummies – A Book

Project Management for Dummies, 5th Edition, is the updated text of a popular guide. The book provides essential information and hands-on guidance that enables the reader to plan and manage projects and teams. The book aims to clarify and simplify project management principles, so people are less intimidated and perplexed about managing projects and team dynamics. The latest edition is aligned with PMBOK 6th edition, and can also help prepare the reader to take the project management professional (PMP) certification exam.

Price

Project Management for Dummies costs around $18 for the paperback version and $16 for the Kindle version on Amazon. The 5th edition was published on September 25, 2017 by Wiley For Dummies Publishing in the English language. The book has 464 pages, divided into 20 chapters. ISBN-10: 1119348900; ISBN-13: 978-1119348900.

Project Management for Dummies: Book

Target Audience

Project Management for Dummies is written for a diverse group of readers. It is for both senior and junior managers, experienced project managers, first-time project team members, fully trained project managers, and those with no training. The book can also be a resource for students of project management seeking to better understand PMBOK, as well as those reviewing and preparing for the PMP certification exam.

Content

Project Management For Dummies is divided into an introduction, six parts, and an appendix. The first part is about getting started with project management. Part 2 is about project planning, while Part 3 discusses how to select project team members and bring the project team together. Part 4 explains how to manage the project successfully, and Part 5 is about project leadership. The sixth and final part provides 10 questions that need to be answered for every project, as well as 10 tips for becoming a better project manager.

Approach

The author writes in a direct and easy-to-understand manner. His goal is to help the reader recognize that the basic tenets of successfully managing a project are simple. He injects humor from time to time to make it an easier read.

Style

The book is organized in such a way that each chapter is self-contained. However, discussions also build upon each other. By the end, all aspects of project management — such as planning, organization, managing team members, project communication, leadership, and available tools, among others — are covered. The topics are well labeled, and paragraphs are short. There are plenty of examples, illustrations, tips, and hints. There are also sidebars with stories from the author’s real-life experience, and icons that alerts the reader for special information.

What Readers Say?

An Amazon customer gave it 4 stars and stated that Project Management for Dummies adequately covers the subject. The customer described it as an easy read that explains things very well. The discussion builds up by chapter, with an end that connects all topics together. Peter I. (Barnes& Noble) described the book as a lifesaver. Not officially trained as a project manager, he has had to fill the role on several occasions. The book helped him learn the skills to not only organize a project, but also communicate it to other managers and teams. Reader hody1953 (B&N) gave it 4 stars and described it as a good, quick reference. It has simple and clear explanations of project management principles and details. It is valuable for people who need a quick reminder or a memory refresher on how to do something.

Why Buy the Book?

Project Management for Dummies is well organized and clearly written to appeal to a wide audience of readers. It covers essential aspects of project management and team leadership. It further provides important tips, tools, and techniques to help the reader deliver projects successfully. It also explains PMBOK principles in a more approachable manner.

About the Author

Stanley Portny is a certified PMP. He is the President of Stanley E. Portny and Associates, LLC. He received his BS EE degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Portny also received his EE and MS EE degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also studied at the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management and at the George Washington University National Law Center. Portny has over 30 years of experience as an internationally recognized expert in project management and project team leadership. He has provided training and consultation to hundreds of public and private organizations in various industries. Stan also has developed and conducted training programs both for management and teams.