Datasheet

This chapter will start us off with the fundamentals of project
management. We want to make sure that your understanding of
project management is in line with ours, because after all, there
is more than one way to manage a project. If your experience is like ours, you probably tried
several approaches until you found one that worked for you. For some, the process of managing
a project, organizing data, and communicating with stakeholders and team members comes
naturally. For others, let’s just say there were a few knocks along the way and finding a system
that works is still somewhat of a struggle. No matter how you manage a project or what your
understanding of project management processes is, we’re going to set the foundation here and
walk you through a process that incorporates sound project management principles with the
benefits of Excel 2007 (and other Office 2007 products) to manage your projects and project
data more efficiently.
Project Management Institute
Project management brings together a set of tools and techniques that describe, organize,
and monitor the activities and work of the project. Project management is performed by
people, and you probably have experience doing just that whether you call it project man-
agement or not.
As we mentioned, there are several established project management processes you could use
to manage a project. We will be using the principles outlined by the Project Management Insti-
tute (PMI) in
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), Third
Edition.
PMI sets the standard in project management today. It is the most widely recognized
organization regarding project management and it has successfully promoted project manage-
ment best practices around the globe. PMI offers two certifications, the Project Management
Professional (PMP) and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). If you’re inter-
ested in learning more about these certifications, please visit
www.pmi.org . If you have not yet
obtained the PMP certification, we encourage you to do so. You’ll find that this certification is
now a requirement for many project management job postings and other positions, particularly
in the information technology field, where project management is a significant function and
responsibility of the role.
47178book.book Page 2 Wednesday, December 6, 2006 10:10 AM