Take charge of your business--every step of the way Are you so busy putting out fires in your business that you don't have time to build your dreams? Put down the fire extinguisher for as long as it takes to read this book, and you'll emerge with a feeling of control you haven't experienced since you started your business. Project management helps you plan for and react to every challenge, opportunity and problem facing your business--tasks as diverse as opening a new location, developing an ad campaign, hiring new staff and more. Project-management strategies will: Allow you to seize opportunities and solve problems Teach you to prioritize projects for the best results Reduce errors and improve your bottom line Implementing these project-management strategies will help you get the small hassles under control, leaving you free to focus on building the business of your dreams.

When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are: 1. What are we trying to accomplish and why? 2. How will we measure success? 3. What other conditions must exist? 4. How do we get there? This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

In today’s fast-paced and global workplace, project management takes on new meaning. Virtual meetings, portable technology, and tighter budgets add to the risk of project failure. Yet businesses must continue forward with new products or services, meet demands, and market their goods. These goals depend on effective project management. When project management fails, businesses often follow. Project Management Made Simple and Effective teaches you the principles of successful project management so you can adapt to this environment. You’ll learn different techniques for leading project teams and getting the attention of busy executives. You’ll also learn how to avoid common problems that can create havoc with the most experienced project teams. Applying a Portfolio Approach Managing Stakeholders Defining Scope Identifying the Critical Path Measuring Status of the Schedule, Scope, and Budget Resolving Conflicts that Occur During a Project The author and contributors also share useful, easy-to-use templates that may be downloaded from their website. Whether you’re an experienced Project Manager or someone leading their first work team, Project Management Made Simple and Effective gives you the practical tools, insights, and advice to be successful project managers.

The main priority of a non-profit organization is the organization’s philanthropic mission. Managers are extremely passionate about furthering the mission, yet they are not often trained in business management. However, to fulfill its mission a non-profit must be financially solvent. Starting and Operating a Non-Profit Made Easy helps non-profits become and stay financially solvent by applying traditional business practices to the unique challenges of a non-profit organization. It focuses on financial management and planning using cash flow budgeting and methods of quantifying fundraising and grant-seeking activities, two of the most important functions of a non-profit. It allows non-profits to develop and stick to a long-term plan, rather than functioning hand-to-mouth, dependent on unexpected monetary windfalls. Using extensive checklists, forms and worksheets, the book helps non-profit managers keep their organization running smoothly.

Important New Tools for Managing Your Small Projects As Part of a Larger Program! The first edition of Project Management for Small Projects introduced project management processes, tools, and techniques that are scalable and adaptable to small projects. Project managers learned a structured, disciplined approach to managing small projects sensibly and realistically. This new edition is updated throughout to reflect the PMBOK® Guide, Fifth Edition, balancing the particular needs of small projects with the project management methodology. Project managers who are proficient at managing and leading their own projects are increasingly being called upon to work collaboratively with other project managers to lead components of a program. In addition to knowing how to manage processes and how to lead the team, project managers must now also know how to collaborate and share knowledge with other project managers. A new chapter on program management offers important insights and guidance for managing a group of related small projects in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually.

The guide that helps you help others If you want to spend less time worrying about making ends meet and more time focusing on your nonprofit's mission, this is the book for you! We'll show you how to stay financially solvent by applying traditional business planning to the unique challenges of a nonprofit. This practical, easy-to-use guide: Enhances fundraising efforts and provides the hard numbers and measured outcomes your donors want to see Minimizes overhead and maximizes funds for your primary mission Extensive checklists, forms and work sheets make the business side a breeze so you can improve your organization and fulfill your mission.