Sample Focused Topic Video: Develop Project Charter

Project Focused Topics $9.99
"How To" Books for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Kindle

Build your project reference library with our Focused Topics. Focused Topics are Amazon eBooks with a video on a step in the project lifecycle.

Each Focused Topic has:

  • eBook: reading on a step in the project lifecycle
    Look Inside a Focused Topic
  • Lecture video: Dick Billows, PMP, narrates the video with best practices to follow
  • Movie: project manager and team working through the step

Each Focused Topic has been approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI) for 2 PDUs. To earn these, you must pass a multiple choice exam at the end of the Topic.

About the author

Focused Topics by Project Management Knowledge Area

Scope Knowledge Area
Collect Requirements Identify and document stakeholders' requirements for the project View a Sample
Define Scope Identify project deliverables, requirements, assumptions & constraints View a Sample
Create Work Breakdown Structure Subdivide the scope into major deliverables until we have a completed WBS View a Sample
Verify Deliverables Secure formal acceptance of each major deliverable by the customer or sponsor View a Sample
Communications Knowledge Area
Identify Stakeholders Identify the people and/or organizations that are affected by the project. View a Sample
Plan Communications Identify the communications needs of our stakeholders View a Sample
Distribute Information Communicate and distribute project information to the stakeholders View a Sample
Manage Stakeholder Expectations Uncover and address stakeholders' issues early View a Sample
Report Performance Distribute information on variances to project stakeholders View a Sample
Time Knowledge Area
Define Project Activities Continue the decomposition that began in WBS until we can accurately estimate View a Sample
Sequence Activities Sequence the tasks in a predecessor network View a Sample
Estimate Resources Identify skills we need for each task & how many hours of work it will take. View a Sample
Estimate Duration Estimate duration based on the amount of work required to complete the task View a Sample
Develop Schedule Calculate the start and stop dates for each task to develop the project schedule View a Sample
Cost Knowledge Area
Estimate Costs Create activity cost estimates for every line in the WBS. View a Sample

Determine Budget

 Combine the cost estimates and schedule to develop the cost baseline View a Sample
Human Resources Knowledge Area

Human Resource Plan

 Develop the HR plan which details how we will manage resources and contractors View a Sample
Acquire Project Team Secure the required resources for the project View a Sample
Develop Project Team Increase the ability of the team to successfully perform their project work View a Sample
Manage Project Team Track and assess each team member's performance, give them feedback View a Sample
Quality Knowledge Area

Plan Quality

 Produce the plan for managing quality, standards, specifications, & quality metrics View a Sample
Quality Assurance Use data from quality control to improve the project management processes View a Sample
Quality Control Measure actual results against quality standards View a Sample
Procurement Knowledge Area
Plan Procurements Produce our procurement statements of work and RFPs. View a Sample
Conduct Procurements Gather sellers' proposals, evaluate, negotiate and pick a seller View a Sample
Administer Procurements Monitor the seller's performance and compliance with the contract View a Sample
Close Procurements Verify that the vendor completed the work according to the contract View a Sample
Risk Knowledge Area

Plan Risk Management

 Produce our risk management plan that details the risk management to perform View a Sample
Identify Risks Work with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive list of risks facing the project View a Sample
Qualitative Risk Analysis Assessment of the risks to determine which warrant additional analysis & responses View a Sample
Quantitative Risk Analysis Develop objective, numerical measurements of the probability & impact of the risks View a Sample
Plan Risk Responses Plan responses to the risks that we have determined require one View a Sample
Integration Knowledge Area
Project Charter Secure formal authorization for a project View a Sample
Project Management Plan Assemble the management plans and baselines for all the knowledge areas into one project plan View a Sample
Project Execution Execute the project management plan & produce the product of the project & deliverables. View a Sample
Monitor & Control Gathering information on what is happening with the project View a Sample
Close the Project Closing all of the project processes and verifying the project's deliverables View a Sample
Professionalism & Ethics
Professionalism & Ethics Professional ethics and a PM's responsibility to uphold the integrity of the profession. View a Sample
Project Management eBooks by Dick Billows

Dick Billows, PMP, GCA is President of 4PM.com a firm specializing in project and program management. He has more than twenty years of project management experience managing hundreds of successful projects as both a management and systems consulting partner with an international accounting firm and internally within a Fortune 100 organization.

In 1986, Dick formed 4PM.com and he and his fellow project managers have assisted over 300 organizations in their project management including: Siemens, Baker-Robbins, US WEST, Citicorp, TCI, Kaiser Permanente, Reader's Digest, Jones Intercable, Norwest Bank, First Data Corporation as well as smaller organizations like Candy's Tortilla Factory and Colorado Mountain Development.

Dick was a member of the advisory board that developed the Gartner IT Project Management Certification. Dick has a BA in Economics and Statistics from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from the University of Colorado and did three years of doctoral work in Organizational Behavior, also at the University of Colorado.

Dick is also the author of: Project Manager's KnowledgeBase, 9th edition 2011, Managing Information Technology Projects, 6th edition, 2010; Advanced Project Management Techniques, 4th edition, 2009; Essentials of Project Management 11th edition, 2011; Managing Healthcare Projects, 3rd edition, 2009; Construction Project Management, 5th edition, 2009; Program and Portfolio Management, 9th edition, 2011.

General Reference Books

Project Essentials: Basic Skills

Managing IT Projects: Advanced Skills

Learn a basic step-by-step approach to planning, scheduling, executing and tracking small projects. You see how a PM spots and solves real problems and how to report to the boss or customer. Plus complete MS Project® steps and instruction for the 5 steps in managing a small project.

Takes you step by step through a real project where you read the actual conversation with the project sponsor and how the PM handles the tough questions 97 pages $9.99 View a Sample on Amazon

For experienced IT PMs, learn techniques for risk, estimating, applying different system development methodologies. The book takes you step by step through a real systems development project. Read exactly what the PM should ask the users and how to answer the tough user questions
238 pages $19.95 View a Sample on Amazon

Advanced Project Techniques

Managing Healthcare Projects

Written for experienced PMs who want to learn advanced project techniques for larger more complex projects with multiple stakeholders and teams from many technical specialties. Master techniques for working with customers/executives to deliver business value. The book takes you through all the steps in a large complex project with tough stakeholders and lots of problems to solve. You see the PM answer the tough questions and read how to persuade difficult executives. 220 pages $19.95 View a Sample on Amazon

For experienced Healthcare PMs to learn advanced healthcare project skills for team building,, estimating, risk management and presentations. The book takes you through all the steps in a large hospital expansion project with difficult physicians and administrators. 230 pages. $19.95 View a Sample on Amazon

Program & Portfolio Management

Managing Constructions Projects

Techniques for managing programs and portfolios of projects from dealing with the executive team to training your PMs in a consistent methodology for resource allocation and prioritization of all projects. Also learn the techniques for working with executives to prioritize projects, initiate project correctly. You will also learn to use PC software to manage a portfolio of project and allocate resources based on project priorities. 372 pages $39.95 View a Sample on Amazon

Learn advanced tools and techniques for dealing with the customer, planning, scheduling your crews and subcontractors. The book takes you step by step through a medium size construction project with difficult owners and sub-contractors and lots of problems to solve. Complete instructions for planning and tracking in MS Project®. 230 pages 19.95 View a Sample on Amazon

Construction Projects in High-Gear

  

Construction project managers learn the basics for making money on projects and having satisfied customers. First, read about each step in a project. Next, watch a video of a PM with the customer and foreman with the PM making common mistakes. Then, see the same PM, customer and foreman with the PM doing things the right way. eBook also includes templates to follow for each step in the project. eBook with videos $9.99 View a Sample on Amazon