Strategic Project Management Made Simple

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