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Project Dynamics: Moving Beyond Time, Scope and Budget for Successful Customer Project Management
236 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2024
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 23, 2024
I’ve worked in small and large company professional services organizations for the last 15 years, holding technical consultant, project manager, portfolio manager and most recently services practice lead. I loved reading Shane’s perspectives challenging and calling out issues in our collective industry's “common wisdom” and laying out clear alternative ways of thinking and managing. His refreshing approach expects and manages for the natural ebb and flow of in the execution of the project lifecycle, as opposed to rigidly framing the world of delivery and desperately trying to force things to fit. He covers the full lifecycle from rethinking the sales process through delivery and handover to the customer.
His key message – manging for a successful project journey is far more likely to lead to all parties arriving at a satisfactory end, than focusing and fixating on hard outcomes. I couldn’t agree more.
So much of what he wrote resonated with me from my experiences and challenges over the years, from SOW definition through delivery and handover to support. He has then taken these challenges head on to lay out the real causes of these points of friction and present insightful ways to rethink the problem to bring a better experience for the customer and the delivery team. These proposals are further backed up by his experience trying them out for real world evidence. Lots of practical applications and ways to bring this into your particular industry. Having had my eyes opened to alternative ways to look at problems, I now have to challenge myself to bring these into my (and my organization’s) way of working.
I loved his approachable style. The text is very consumable and (dare I say even) entertaining. Shane balances relevant anecdotes to illustrate his points and keeps things moving with a good level of detail – he nicely avoids getting too bogged down in jargon or theory, and nor does he dumb things down.
Bottom line for me, this is a great book that collects Shane’s unique experience and deep insight into the industry. He knows where in our industry the “bodies are buried” and he conducts a thorough exhumation and post-mortem demonstrating alternative ways of thinking to avoid repeat project fatalities in the future. Should be required reading for anyone involved in delivery to better understand the real-world challenges and solutions that traditional training courses dare not address.
His key message – manging for a successful project journey is far more likely to lead to all parties arriving at a satisfactory end, than focusing and fixating on hard outcomes. I couldn’t agree more.
So much of what he wrote resonated with me from my experiences and challenges over the years, from SOW definition through delivery and handover to support. He has then taken these challenges head on to lay out the real causes of these points of friction and present insightful ways to rethink the problem to bring a better experience for the customer and the delivery team. These proposals are further backed up by his experience trying them out for real world evidence. Lots of practical applications and ways to bring this into your particular industry. Having had my eyes opened to alternative ways to look at problems, I now have to challenge myself to bring these into my (and my organization’s) way of working.
I loved his approachable style. The text is very consumable and (dare I say even) entertaining. Shane balances relevant anecdotes to illustrate his points and keeps things moving with a good level of detail – he nicely avoids getting too bogged down in jargon or theory, and nor does he dumb things down.
Bottom line for me, this is a great book that collects Shane’s unique experience and deep insight into the industry. He knows where in our industry the “bodies are buried” and he conducts a thorough exhumation and post-mortem demonstrating alternative ways of thinking to avoid repeat project fatalities in the future. Should be required reading for anyone involved in delivery to better understand the real-world challenges and solutions that traditional training courses dare not address.
April 23, 2024
I have worked as a project manager and consultant for many years and have relied on Shane's previous book, The Seven Principles of Professional Services to drive successes to my customer projects. As a project manager, many of us have been trained to "manage" our projects and oftentimes we are caught unaware of future pitfalls. That is not our fault; the tools we use just aren't sensitive enough to surface the dynamics brewing within the project. What we really need to do is "lead" our projects to a successful completion. Project Dynamics artfully describes the many dynamics (and pitfalls) we are facing and gives prescriptive guidance to overcome in real time.
When we are able to effectively evaluate if our project is heading in the right direction, we can take decisive and corrective action. This book really helped me connect the dots and understand where I should focus my attention. This is a must read for any project manager, consultant or vendor. We will be using this book to guide the transition of our project managers from process-driven to dynamics-driven project management.
I can't wait to start reading this book again. Well done, Shane!
When we are able to effectively evaluate if our project is heading in the right direction, we can take decisive and corrective action. This book really helped me connect the dots and understand where I should focus my attention. This is a must read for any project manager, consultant or vendor. We will be using this book to guide the transition of our project managers from process-driven to dynamics-driven project management.
I can't wait to start reading this book again. Well done, Shane!
April 25, 2024
Shane Anastasi's latest book draws directly from his extensive real-world experience in software and consulting. It's evident that Anastasi's insights are not just theoretical conjectures but battle-tested strategies honed in the trenches of project delivery. In this arena, success isn't just about mastering the technical aspects but also about navigating the intricate human elements that often determine outcomes.
Adapting to the project dynamics created by the methodology chosen is a must for project managers looking to achieve success. The lessons in the book are not only enlightening but also immensely practical making it a go-to resource for anyone serious about elevating their project management game.
In essence, this book is a testament to the power of experience-backed wisdom. It's a roadmap crafted by someone who has walked the path, offering invaluable guidance to those navigating the complexities of project delivery.
Adapting to the project dynamics created by the methodology chosen is a must for project managers looking to achieve success. The lessons in the book are not only enlightening but also immensely practical making it a go-to resource for anyone serious about elevating their project management game.
In essence, this book is a testament to the power of experience-backed wisdom. It's a roadmap crafted by someone who has walked the path, offering invaluable guidance to those navigating the complexities of project delivery.
April 23, 2024
An invaluable resource for anyone involved in software implementation projects, this book offers a refreshing and common-sense approach to guiding project managers and consultants on how to navigate different projects dynamics to achieve successful outcomes. With clear explanations and real-world examples, it illuminates the often-overlooked importance of proactive management of escalations, emphasizing the crucial role it plays in project success. The author's innovative approach to crafting Statements of Work fosters collaboration and sets the stage for a mutually beneficial commercial journey. A must-read for consultants, service providers, and project teams alike, this book provides a comprehensive framework for navigating the complexities of software implementation projects and achieving success for all parties involved.
April 23, 2024
This is a very insightful book about how to collaborate with your customers so that everyone is successful. Shane has distilled down many years of experience so that we can benefit from the wisdom gained during the launching and running of CirrusOne. If you are working on projects with customers, this is a great read that provides you with clarity about what is going on, why it is happening and what you can do about it to impact the project's success.
Much like his previous book, 7 Principles of Professional Services, this book is packed with useful information that you can use today. I ended up highlighting half of the text because it was that relevant and worth taking note of.
Much like his previous book, 7 Principles of Professional Services, this book is packed with useful information that you can use today. I ended up highlighting half of the text because it was that relevant and worth taking note of.
April 23, 2024
If you deliver services, leveraging this book is a No-Brainer!
Delivering services is often difficult, and this book's proactive approach to running projects will greatly improve the project flow, and contribute the end-to-end success of projects of any size.
It is obvious that the author has hands-on experience, and shares mistakes and the lessons learned required to put together the guidance offered in this book. Any services leader, team, or consultant would see benefits from each chapter in Project Dynamics.
Delivering services is often difficult, and this book's proactive approach to running projects will greatly improve the project flow, and contribute the end-to-end success of projects of any size.
It is obvious that the author has hands-on experience, and shares mistakes and the lessons learned required to put together the guidance offered in this book. Any services leader, team, or consultant would see benefits from each chapter in Project Dynamics.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews