Product Description

This integrated dictionary includes almost 2,000 terms in both project management and system engineering – and software engineering by extension – defined in a way that seamlessly integrates these overlapping and intertwined fields. Supported by illustrations and explanations that offer a practical context for the terminology, this one-of-a-kind resource bridges the gap between the separate vocabularies of these intersecting disciplines. Far more than a dictionary, this book includes reference sections that address the special problems of and techniques for communicating in the project environment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #822457 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Inside Flap
In their book Visualizing Project Management, authors Hal Mooz, Kevin Forsberg, and Howard Cotterman set the standard for effective project management, introducing effective models that have since been adopted by hundreds of leading governmental and private organizations.

Now, in Communicating Project Management, they present an integrated dictionary that includes nearly 2,000 terms in project management and systems engineering-and software engineering by extension-defined in a way that seamlessly integrates these overlapping and intertwined fields. Supported by illustrations and explanations that offer a practical context for the terminology, this one-of-a-kind resource bridges the gap between the separate vocabularies of these intersecting disciplines. Far more than a dictionary, this book includes reference sections that address the special problems of and techniques for communicating in the project environment.

The authors' multidisciplinary approach is further supported by three helpful forewords by the leaders of three prominent professional standards organizations. These commentaries-by William R. Duncan of the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management, Heinz Stoewer of the International Council on Systems Engineering, and Stephen Cross of the Software Engineering Institute-explain how all three of their fields can effectively utilize a unified lexicon.

Though treated and taught separately by most learning institutions, business reality suggests that project management, systems engineering, and software engineering will become further amalgamated. Communicating Project Management lets professionals in all three disciplines communicate effectively with each other, allowing more and better collaboration in the increasingly vital field of project management.

From the Back Cover
Praise for Communicating Project Management

The Integrated Vocabulary of Project Management and Systems Engineering

"I have long felt that communication should receive more profound attention in the project management literature. Indeed, as the authors stated in their earlier book Visualizing Project Management, `To succeed at project management, you first have to communicate clearly.' This new book will be a valuable addition to the library of any practitioner working in, or contemplating working in, the systems and software engineering project application area. The authors must be congratulated on filling a long outstanding need."
-Max Wideman, FCSCE, FEIC, FICE, PMI Fellow and Past President

"Communicating Project Management is an excellent resource for all engineers and program managers. In addition to the hundreds of helpful definitions, it provides a wonderful overview of the problems associated with communication, highlighting those human characteristics that often hinder a project's success. The authors also explore the seldom discussed but critical concept of control gates, which unites systems engineering and project management. This book discussion should spur further study of decision-making and communications with respect to control gates. A welcome resource!"
-Dr. Dennis Buede, Director of Graduate Systems Engineering Programs at the Stevens Institute of Technology

"At last, a book that will tear down the silos between project managers, systems engineers, and finance professionals! Communicating Project Management is a perfect point of departure for clearing up miscommunication. It should be assigned reading for everyone involved in project work-before launch-to have a shared vision of what's to be accomplished."
-Bernard G. Morais, Cofounder of INCOSE and President of Synergistic Applications, Inc.

For more information and the latest updates, visit the authors at www.CSM.com

About the Author
HAL MOOZ, PMP, is coprincipal and cofounder of CSM, the Center for Systems Management, in Tiburon, California, and has twenty years' experience consulting to government and private organizations, including AT&T, NASA, Bell Labs, GTE, and numerous others. He has developed leading university and industry project management training programs and trained over 10,000 high-technology project managers. He is a recipient of the CIA Seal Medallion and the INCOSE Pioneer Award.
KEVIN FORSBERG, PhD, is coprincipal and cofounder of CSM, which provides project management services to an international client list that includes the CIA, NASA, TRW, and Lockheed-Martin. Dr. Forsberg has over forty years' experience in the project management environment and has received numerous awards, including the NASA Public Service Medal, the CIA Seal Medallion, and the INCOSE Pioneer Award.
HOWARD COTTERMAN is an officer and board member of CSM. A founder of Cognitive Corporation with over three decades of project management experience, Cotterman developed IBM's first microprocessor in the mid-1960s and has also managed development and manufacturing projects at NCR, Intel, and Rockwell International.

Customer Reviews

Keys to teamwork and collaboration
This book augments the author's "Visualizing Project Management" (ISBN 047135760X), which I consider to be one of the best books about project management.

The reason why I consider this book to be invaluable is in the collection of techniques and models that foster or directly support collaboration and communication. I especially like the emphasis on communication at the human level, and how the authors highlight barriers and how to overcome them. This material is more than anecdotal - it is reinforced with formal techniques, process models, and cognitive factors. More importantly, the authors delve into communications between and among members of global or geographically dispersed teams, including cultural factors. Given the growing number of teams that are comprised of internal company resources, and off-shore outsourced providers this information is topical and invaluable.

Visualizing Systems Management - The Visual Process Model in Chapter 2 is a direct tie-in to the authors' earlier book, and is the foundation of their approach to facilitating communications. The reference project cycle in Chapter 4 is another touchpoint to their earlier book. However, that earlier book is not required to get maximum benefit from this one - this material will augment any book on project management, including standards such as the Project Management Institute's PMBOK and the U.K. standard, PRINCE2.

The foregoing material comprises approximately a third of the book. The remaining two thirds is devoted to general project management terms and definitions, and acronyms. The terms and definitions are more like an encyclopedia than a dictionary because many are lavishly illustrated and many entries are full explanations of the term, concept or technique. The value of this is your project team will be working from a common set of terminologies, and the book will serve as a ready reference for anyone unfamiliar with a particular technique or concept associated with project management.

Let the stovepipes topple and the silo demolition begin!
Hal Mooz, Kevin Forsberg, and Howard Cotterman once again offer a timely and practical resource for systems engineers, project managers, and process managers.

I am recommending this book to all my friends and colleagues.

Communicating Project Management offers readers many examples of communications techniques to use; pitfalls that often occur as well as suggestions for sidestepping them. The authors also provide excellent examples of the type of business aspects that must be considered and communicated throughout the project life cycle.

I particularly like the use of illustrations and examples in Part 5, Terms and Definitions; all organizations should use this technique to communicate the domain-discipline glossaries for all project team members.

Make Room on the Bookshelf
For anyone who has communication problems on their projects, here is an answer.

Hal Mooz, Kevin Forsberg and Howard Cotterman have written a dictionary. Comprehensive in its scope, the authors have integrated definitions of project management, systems engineering and software engineering. In short, they have added to the legacy created by comprehensive book: Visualizing Project Management

Like it, the nearly 2.000 definitions in the new volume are supported by practical illustrations. The explanations employed span the chasms that often separate the diverse disciplines that rely on the art of project management.

I would be remiss if I left readers with the impression this is a mere dictionary. It is not. It is a unique reference. It bridges the unique vocabularies of the many disciplines that contribute to an organization. It includes special sections that speak to the problems and techniques of communicating in the project environment.

If accepted and adopted by the diverse project management community, this book has the potential to establish a consistent platform. Team members would free their creative talents. No more time wasted time attempting to communicate.

Once, I believed all project management practitioners should own three books: Visualizing Project Management, Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling and The Fast Forward in Project Management.

It is time to clear some space on your Project Management bookshelf. Communicating Project Management has earned a spot there - and it promises not to collect dust.