Planning and Control Using Microsoft Project 2010 and PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition

Reviews / Votes

Project Management tools and standards keep evolving, so it is great to see Paul Harris' books are also evolving. Paul has been writing these excellent references for some time now, but the quality and depth of content just keeps getting better and better. There is plenty of information out there in the internet relating to PMBOK and MS Project, but none as comprehensive and in depth as this book. Covering the PMBOK process steps relating to scheduling, it explains both the how and the why when it comes to MS Project. Sure you can self teach, sure you can trawl the internet discussion forums. The smart investment, of time and effort is in one of Paul's books. They meet the needs of the novice, right through to the advanced user helping people plan, update and report consistently. The book is a guide, it is a reference, it is a self paced training course, it is so much more. Martin Vaughan Director Core Consulting Group Melbourne, AU www.coreconsulting.com.au An accurate and maintainable project plan is critical for project success. Paul Harris has created a book that not only introduces a very powerful Project Management tool, Microsoft(R) Project 2013, and he also provides PMBOK(R) Guide process context and the steps to ensure that a plan is created that is accurate and maintainable!!. The guidance in the book stresses the importance of setting up Microsoft(R) Project first before entering a plan by explaining how some of the subtle and critical settings influence the use of the product. In addition, Paul has provided a single example project that is developed through a series of workshops in the context of the PMBOK(R) Guide processes. Each workshop includes a set of correct answers and screen shots to confirm the correct use and understanding of the way Microsoft(R) Project helps project managers manage their planning data. The screen shots are carefully crafted to communicate each step of the way supported by text that is clear and written for the project manager in their language. I highly recommend the basis for learning Microsoft Project in a workshop training or individual study environment. Bruce McNaughton Director, Customer Driven Solutions Limited http://www.process-aide.com This book is useful for students and teachers in the classroom, and by project management and scheduling practitioners, both new and experienced. It is a rewrite of Harris' recent book, "Planning and Scheduling Using Microsoft Project 2010." This new book addresses the latest features and carry-over functions of Microsoft's latest release to the project management public with a PMBOK(R) Guide spin. Sustaining his clear and concise manner of writing, Harris explains the basic and intermediate functions, both new and carryover, of using Microsoft Project. The book covers most available functions and features, and adds complexity gradually and palatably as the users work their way through the book's 25 detailed chapters of content and reference information. Like the MS Project 2007, 2003, 2002, and 2000 books, Harris takes some pretty complicated topics like "how duration, work, resources, and units trade-off with each other" and makes it seem like anybody can learn to use the software. Harris' books continue to be functionally organized, not by menu item. So, if you are using the book as a reference manual or help guide, it's easy to find a particular topic since you don't have to know which menu the function is called up from - you just need to know the subject that you are looking for. The detailed index at the back is thorough and handy. Harris also provides a list of menus and related sub-menus at the beginning of most chapters for people who cannot remember how to find or use a particular function. Paul Harris has succeeded in explaining how to plan, schedule and track projects using Microsoft Project 2010 within the practices prescribed by PMI's PMBOK(R) Guide. I recommend reading and using it. A. Larry Aaron CCE President, T&M Concepts Las Vegas, NV