This book provides a timely redesign of project management for an increasingly results-focused business world. This innovative approach applies time-tested organizational design principles to help you to see and manage your project as a social system. A social system needs a purpose. A successful social system is built around and laser-focused on its purpose. This book begins with the paradox that while project management techniques, certifications, organizations, and education are becoming increasingly ubiquitous - project failure seems all too common. Systems thinking points to the reasons why as well as the way out. It continues insight into systems thinking and its implications for projects, design principles to enable project success, and a group of innovative tools to assist you in the process. Finally, it challenges you to go out and make these principles and tools your own and achieve your own project success. The author, Mark D. Steele, has over 29 years of project management experience including engineering and construction projects across industries as diverse as manufacturing, power, healthcare, oil & gas, utilities, commercial and public sector. He provides consulting services for process improvement, risk management, cost and schedule management, and litigation and expert testimony. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Certified Cost Professional (CCP) and has taught graduate project and risk management courses at Penn State and Philadelphia University. To maximize success, design your project organization from the ground up to be "on purpose". This book will provide you with the principles, tools and techniques to do that.
