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The Handbook of Program Management: How to Facilitate Project Success with Optimal Program Management
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO PROGRAM MANAGEMENT--FULLY UPDATED AND REVISED
Program managers must strike a balance between operations and project implementations in order to develop and maintain a culture in which the components of success are repeatable. The Handbook of Program Management is designed to help you do exactly that.
This go-to guide supplies you with the insight and tools you need to establish processes that ensure the success of your project managers--and increase the profitability of your products and services. Fully updated and heavily revised, this new edition helps you incorporate new technologies and people into your processes while delivering improved products and services that continually outpace your competition.
The Handbook of Program Management provides critical information from a trusted expert. In addition to the classic chapters on Attributes of the Effective Program Manager, Stakeholder Management, and Portfolio Management Essentials, this updated edition is packed with brandnew material covering:
Change management Interfaces How bad projects are stopped or postponed How consultants and subcontractors should be used Program performance analysis The role of governanceAvoiding the complicated theories and phantom quick-fixes you'll find in other books, The Handbook of Program Management offers straightforward, actionable methods for establishing a highly effective project management culture: one with integrity, energy, and full stakeholder support.
Nowhere else will you find such comprehensive, authoritative information on creating successful program management outcomes. The author takes you on the entire journey, from strategically creating a program culture, to building effective relationships, and to analyzing ways of accomplishing your program objectives.
The Handbook of Program Management is essential reading for program managers of all levels, whether you're a novice seeking certification in the field or an executive looking to build a flexible organization that can support dynamic on-going product development.
Praise for the previous edition of The Handbook of Program Management:
"Brown's book captures the essential skills of program and project management. It serves as a 'how to' guide for those entering the business, as well as a refresher on the skills and attributes for those ready to take the next step. The book effectively defines the leader’s role in creating the team culture and environment for success." -- Eugene F. Kranz, Apollo 13 Flight Director, author of Failure Is Not an Option, and retired Director NASA Space Operations
"Program management is one of the toughest jobs a person can hold…and James Brown knows Program Management. Here's a chance to learn from the scar tissue of others rather than your own." -- Norman R. Augustine, retired Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation
"Finally, a pragmatic book that shares the secrets behind successful program management. If I was giving one book to program managers, this would be it! Any business leader in today's environment of accelerating change will benefit from this book." -- Jack Cooper, former CIO, Bristol-Myers Squibb
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2007
110 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 26, 2017
This is a great book! I have to admit that skipped a few chapters on topics I'm extremely familiar with, but I still feel confident in saying the book provides a great overview of program management. It doesn't go deep, but it lightly touches on all of the important aspects of the role.
My only complaint is that there was little to no focus on program management for people without any direct reports - much of the focus was for PMs that have project managers working under them. This is a very broad view and I understand why Brown took it, but a little more detail on PM without direct reports would have been appreciated.
The chapters on communicating with stakeholders, team building, and risk management were my favorites as that's where I gleaned the most information, but overall it's a solid guide for PM basics that I would recommend to anyone starting out or looking to improve on bad habits.
My only complaint is that there was little to no focus on program management for people without any direct reports - much of the focus was for PMs that have project managers working under them. This is a very broad view and I understand why Brown took it, but a little more detail on PM without direct reports would have been appreciated.
The chapters on communicating with stakeholders, team building, and risk management were my favorites as that's where I gleaned the most information, but overall it's a solid guide for PM basics that I would recommend to anyone starting out or looking to improve on bad habits.
April 28, 2010
Mr Brown manages, in epic form, to translate a part of his knowledge into 239ish pages of jam packed information for the program manager. Also every page has something powerful on it and this is a book I will reread over and over again as I make my way into the PM world.
What sets this book apart is that you can feel Mr. Brown's experience on every page. While there are many great lessons in this book (the part on meetings and buy-in are worth the price of admission) the big theme of the book is simple. Listen. Always listen. Don't let tools or second hand knowledge rule you. Get down and talk to people. Understand your organization, understand what makes your co-workers tick. From this, all his other points take off.
And what an amazing amounts of points. He doesn't dig too deep; you may need a primer on product management (or, if you've been in the trenches as long as me, you may have gathered this knowledge via osmosis). From dealing with your stakeholder, to software, to Agile, to building teams, to work load; Mr Brown runs the gamut.
If you are a program manager, or want to be one, or want to know what they do - this is an excellent place to look.
What sets this book apart is that you can feel Mr. Brown's experience on every page. While there are many great lessons in this book (the part on meetings and buy-in are worth the price of admission) the big theme of the book is simple. Listen. Always listen. Don't let tools or second hand knowledge rule you. Get down and talk to people. Understand your organization, understand what makes your co-workers tick. From this, all his other points take off.
And what an amazing amounts of points. He doesn't dig too deep; you may need a primer on product management (or, if you've been in the trenches as long as me, you may have gathered this knowledge via osmosis). From dealing with your stakeholder, to software, to Agile, to building teams, to work load; Mr Brown runs the gamut.
If you are a program manager, or want to be one, or want to know what they do - this is an excellent place to look.
January 14, 2024
No-nonsense, practical guide to Program Management
Over the past 3 months, I have read several books on Program Management. Most focused on the PgMP standard, were theoretical, and read like textbooks. This work, by contrast, has commonsense, practical advice for Program Managers and was fun to read. Multiple times I thought to myself - yes, I can use day-to-day on the job.
Over the past 3 months, I have read several books on Program Management. Most focused on the PgMP standard, were theoretical, and read like textbooks. This work, by contrast, has commonsense, practical advice for Program Managers and was fun to read. Multiple times I thought to myself - yes, I can use day-to-day on the job.
September 10, 2018
Contains a serie of tip of advises for new program managers. However, most of the book is recommenations which applies to portafolio, program or project managers. Usually, a new program manager was before a project manager so concepts are clear.
The most I expected of that book was how steps I should take to deal with a program effectively, but not much of that information is presented.
The most I expected of that book was how steps I should take to deal with a program effectively, but not much of that information is presented.
December 24, 2018
As a PgMP I must say this is a very good book on the subject of program management. I recommend it to those who are new to the field.
February 6, 2020
Insightful, good recommendations.
January 9, 2021
Good concepts surrounded by fluff. This book should be condensed in 50-60 pages of advice.
December 17, 2023
Very useful reference for Program Managers. Helps understand critical thinking and associated skills needed to be successful.
July 8, 2010
I got more practical guidance from this book than any of the other Project Management books in our collection. For me the most useful chapters are:
>Stakeholder Management -hugely helpful in anticipating cultural push back, especially the suggestion to "look for the Unofficial People of Influence."
>Program Execution Processes -Rolling Wave Scheduling and the stricture to "Maintain Integrity with Change Control" helped me prepare my managers for needed process improvements (without making it sound like; "You're a bunch of knuckleheads.")
> Program Communication Processes -was tremendously helpful even though my desire for a "Team Charter" was placated and buried.
>Stakeholder Management -hugely helpful in anticipating cultural push back, especially the suggestion to "look for the Unofficial People of Influence."
>Program Execution Processes -Rolling Wave Scheduling and the stricture to "Maintain Integrity with Change Control" helped me prepare my managers for needed process improvements (without making it sound like; "You're a bunch of knuckleheads.")
> Program Communication Processes -was tremendously helpful even though my desire for a "Team Charter" was placated and buried.
April 3, 2017
I'm transitioning to a program management type role at work. I had never heard of program management until the position was mentioned to me in relation to my move, so this was a tremendous first resource.
I basically had three thoughts while reading: I would've never thought of that in a million years; How did I not think of that?; I'm already doing that!
This book is not of the professional management strand that does more cheerleading than teaching. There were parts that I felt like were written especially for others, and then some that were directed at me. I underlined on almost every page, and this will remain at work with me for a while.
I basically had three thoughts while reading: I would've never thought of that in a million years; How did I not think of that?; I'm already doing that!
This book is not of the professional management strand that does more cheerleading than teaching. There were parts that I felt like were written especially for others, and then some that were directed at me. I underlined on almost every page, and this will remain at work with me for a while.
January 26, 2011
A must-read for program managers, and a beneficial read for anyone in a management position. There are some good tidbits such as "Kill what's ugly while it's young," as well as advice about consistency, defining expectations, etc.
October 20, 2011
Very readable book with tons of tips for program an portfolio managers. Recommended.
June 16, 2015
Amazingly concise and well-written. I have never highlighted so many passages in a single book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews