Choice Review

Lewis, a consultant and business writer, covers the fundamentals of organizing and managing projects in this small, easy-to-read book. Although relatively brief, it provides an accessible overview of the project management discipline to those who may be unfamiliar with formalized project management. The book's single most important asset is its avoidance of complicated descriptions of theories, equations, and calculations. Rather, in ten chapters, Lewis describes project-planning basics and highlights the management activities of various phases of a project. The work reads very much like an executive summary of this discipline. The first three chapters deal with the initial and conceptual planning of a project. Chapters four through six outline elements of a methodical process for developing a project schedule, complete with useful checklists. Chapters seven through nine describe key steps in developing effective project-monitoring procedures and in managing people issues of the project team. Chapter ten enumerates the best practices for successful projects. Anyone interested in the essentials of project management will profit from this book. Recommended for general readers; two-year technical program and lower-division students; and practitioners. P. F. Rad Stevens Institute of Technology