Strategic Project Management Made Simple

TERRY DEAN SCHMIDT is an internationally recognized management consultant who assists organizations with strategy, productivity, and profit. He has over 30 years of experience as an executive, educator, and strategy coach helping leaders in 42 countries across the globe turn their strategies into projects that succeed. He is the founder of Seattle-based ManagementPro.com.

• Acknowledgments xixIntroduction xxiPart I: Gaining the Strategic AdvantageChapter 1: Developing Your Strategic Project Mindset 3What NASA Rule #15 Can Teach Us 4Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap 5Shoot for the Moon 6Different Contexts But Similar Issues 10Preview the Solution Tools 13Review Key Points 17Coming Up Next 18Chapter 2: Visualizing Project Strategy 19Make Simple Strategy 20The Power of Causal Logic 21Organize Objectives into Trees 24Illuminate Multiple Solution Paths 25Develop Your Own Objectives Tree 28Review Key Points 30Coming Up Next 30Chapter 3: Speaking a Common Language 33Communicate with Clarity 34Set Clear Objectives 35Communicate in Words and Diagrams 37Simple Project Logic and the Strategic Hypotheses 40How Projects Deliver Benefits 42Turn a Problem into Objectives 45Review Key Points 47Coming Up Next 47Chapter 4: Exploring the Logical Framework Approach 49Equip Leaders with Practical Tools 50Examine the LogFrame Structure and Questions 52How a Stalled Team Finally Got Going 55Strengthen Your Project Design 58Think from Multiple Perspectives 60Case Study: Managing Enterprise-Wide Change 62Review Key Points 69Coming Up Next 69Part II: Mastering the Four Critical Strategic QuestionsChapter 5: Question #1—What Are We Trying to Accomplish and Why? 73Define and Align Key Objectives 74Let’s Go to the Moon! 74Start with the Big Why 79Identify your MVP 82Review These Project Designs 84Review Key Points 88Apply Step #1 88Coming Up Next 89Chapter 6: Question #2—How Do We Measure Success? 91Develop Success Measures and Verifications 92Measure What Matters Most 92Determine How to Verify 96Measures Help You Choose Among Alternative Approaches 98Special Types of Indicators 99Case Study: Winning the Peace After Winning the War 101Review Key Points 105Apply Step #2 106Coming Up Next 106Chapter 7: Question #3—What Other Conditions Must Exist? 107Surface and Test Assumptions 108Spot Trouble Before It Strikes 108Evaluate Assumptions in Three Steps 110Case Study: Battling the Asian Gypsy Moth Invasion 115Turn Objectives Trees into LogFrame Plans 118Review Key Points 122Apply Step #3 122Coming Up Next 123Chapter 8: Question #4—How Do We Get There? 125Identify Action Steps 126Build It Big 126Gateway to Multiple Execution Tools 128Decide Which Lifecycle Fits Best 129Manage the Ongoing Strategic Action Cycle 132Keep Your Project on Track 134Review Key Points 136Apply Step #4 137Coming Up Next 137Part III: Putting These Concepts into PracticeChapter 9: Getting Your Project Off the Ground 141Move from Storming to Performing 142Prepare for a Productive Project Launch 143Conduct a Project Design Workshop 146Hold a Project Kickoff Meeting 148Engage Your Stakeholders Early 149Create a High-Performance Culture 151When to Pivot Your Strategy 154Case Study: Upgrading Group Performance 154Review Key Points 159Coming Up Next 159Chapter 10: Managing Your Inner Game 161Leverage Your Internal Operating System 162Take Charge of Your Thoughts 163Manage Your Emotions 165Strengthen Your Courage Muscles 167Build Your Emotional Resilience 168Manage Your Internal PROJECTS 171Review Key Points 172Coming Up Next 173Chapter 11: Building Your High-Performing Team 175Components of a Stellar Team 176Create Engaging Virtual Meetings 180Case Study: Transforming a Team Through Caring 181Help Others to Become Their Best 183Review Key Points 186Coming Up Next 186Chapter 12: Managing Your Life Projects 187Design Your Future 188Craft Your Personal Vision 189Develop Your Life Project Portfolio 191Commit Yourself to Make It Happen 195Manage Your Dreams and Disappointments 198Project Yourself into the Future 200Review Key Points 200Coming Up Next 201We Are Here to Support You 203Glossary and Usage of Terms 205About the Author 211Index 213