Project Management at the Edge of Chaos

Project Management at the Edge of Chaos PDF

Author: Alfred Oswald

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-03-21

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 3662482614

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Complexity is a gift that can be made available for the successful implementation of projects, and used to create a new order or to change an existing one. Based on scientific facts, the authors present a systematic approach, which integrates complexity and its multitude of facets and gives practical recommendations for dealing with complexity in projects. The methods paradigm in project management is currently undergoing a massive upheaval. Projects are complex entities that cannot be tackled using traditional methods, such as classical cause and effect approaches. Complexity, and the associated phenomenon of self-organization, is a natural, but hidden designer. It offers a great opportunity in its use as a key driver for the implementation of projects. This requires identification of the principles of complexity and then using these for project management. In this book, the latest findings from natural sciences and brain research are used and transferred within a practice-oriented framework. The authors describe the methods of complexity regulation in projects and how self-organization for the management of projects can be applied.

Thriving at the Edge of Chaos

Thriving at the Edge of Chaos PDF

Author: Jonathan Sapir

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2019-11-20

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 1000732479

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For many organizations, the way in which projects are managed is a fundamental factor in how well they can prosper in today’s marketplace. Unfortunately, the current solutions available to companies for managing projects are proving to be increasingly ineffective in a complex world that is becoming more and more dynamic and unpredictable. Organization’s pay for this complexity in delayed time-to-market, slow response to customer needs, and decreased productivity. While tweaking the current project management paradigm may provide some minimal gains, to have a real impact requires a fundamental change in mindset. New business models like Uber and AirBnB show us that the most efficient operations in today’s business environment behave like complex adaptive systems (CAS) where self-managing participants, following a set of simple rules, organize themselves to solve incredibly complex problems. Instead of trying to function like a "well-oiled machine" where things "work like clockwork", companies like Uber function more like an organism that is alive and constantly changing. They fully embrace the characteristics of a CAS. Viewing an organization as a complex adaptive system drives a radically new philosophy of project management that is much better suited to the needs of the 21st-century organization and can provide the quantum leap improvement in project production that we are looking for. This book exposes the assumptions underlying the accepted paradigm of project management, describes the common practices that are based on those assumptions, analyzes why these practices are unhelpful and even harmful, and proposes an alternative, sometimes seemingly counter intuitive approach to project management based on CAS thinking. By the end of the book, the reader will have a completely new perspective on the way projects can be managed in their organization, and how they can quickly start reaping the benefits provided by a CAS-driven management methodology and supporting toolset that is more in tune with today’s business demands - and that turns complexity into a competitive advantage.

Edge of Chaos

Edge of Chaos PDF

Author: Dambisa Moyo

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 2018-04-24

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0465097472

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From an internationally acclaimed economist, a provocative call to jump-start economic growth by aggressively overhauling liberal democracy Around the world, people who are angry at stagnant wages and growing inequality have rebelled against established governments and turned to political extremes. Liberal democracy, history's greatest engine of growth, now struggles to overcome unprecedented economic headwinds--from aging populations to scarce resources to unsustainable debt burdens. Hobbled by short-term thinking and ideological dogma, democracies risk falling prey to nationalism and protectionism that will deliver declining living standards. In Edge of Chaos, Dambisa Moyo shows why economic growth is essential to global stability, and why liberal democracies are failing to produce it today. Rather than turning away from democracy, she argues, we must fundamentally reform it. Edge of Chaos presents a radical blueprint for change in order to galvanize growth and ensure the survival of democracy in the twenty-first century.

Leading on the Edge of Chaos

Leading on the Edge of Chaos PDF

Author: Emmett C. Murphy

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13:

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Based on 30 years of consulting experience, this unique book provides a concrete program for prospering in dangerous times. Using examples, case studies, guidelines, and worksheets, this father and son team explain how exceptional leaders and companies have transformed the threat of economic meltdown into an opportunity for new levels of success.

Complexity

Complexity PDF

Author: M. Mitchell Waldrop

Publisher: Open Road Media

Published: 2019-10-01

Total Pages: 492

ISBN-13: 150405914X

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“If you liked Chaos, you’ll love Complexity. Waldrop creates the most exciting intellectual adventure story of the year” (The Washington Post). In a rarified world of scientific research, a revolution has been brewing. Its activists are not anarchists, but rather Nobel Laureates in physics and economics and pony-tailed graduates, mathematicians, and computer scientists from all over the world. They have formed an iconoclastic think-tank and their radical idea is to create a new science: complexity. They want to know how a primordial soup of simple molecules managed to turn itself into the first living cell—and what the origin of life some four billion years ago can tell us about the process of technological innovation today. This book is their story—the story of how they have tried to forge what they like to call the science of the twenty-first century. “Lucidly shows physicists, biologists, computer scientists and economists swapping metaphors and reveling in the sense that epochal discoveries are just around the corner . . . [Waldrop] has a special talent for relaying the exhilaration of moments of intellectual insight.” —The New York Times Book Review “Where I enjoyed the book was when it dove into the actual question of complexity, talking about complex systems in economics, biology, genetics, computer modeling, and so on. Snippets of rare beauty here and there almost took your breath away.” —Medium “[Waldrop] provides a good grounding of what may indeed be the first flowering of a new science.” —Publishers Weekly

Aid on the Edge of Chaos

Aid on the Edge of Chaos PDF

Author: Ben Ramalingam

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2013-10-24

Total Pages: 471

ISBN-13: 0199578028

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Aid has become a tangle of donors and recipients, so unwieldy that it is in danger of collapse. This ground-breaking book presents fresh thinking that transcends the 'more' verses 'less' arguments. Drawing on complexity theory it shows how aid could be transformed into a truly dynamic form of global cooperation fit for the twenty-first century.

Napoleon on Project Management

Napoleon on Project Management PDF

Author: Jerry Manas

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 078521285X

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What is it about Napoleon Bonaparte that has led recognized leaders such as General George S. Patton to study his principles-and countless books on management and leadership to quote his maxims? What lessons can today's project managers and leaders learn from Napoleon's successes and failures? "Napoleon on Project Management" explores the key principles behind Napoleon's successes, the triggers that led to his downfall, and the lessons to be learned from his ultimate demise-and applies these lessons to modern-day project management and leadership at all levels.

Handbook of Research on Leveraging Risk and Uncertainties for Effective Project Management

Handbook of Research on Leveraging Risk and Uncertainties for Effective Project Management PDF

Author: Raydugin, Yuri

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2016-11-29

Total Pages: 523

ISBN-13: 152251791X

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The proper understanding and managing of project risks and uncertainties is crucial to any organization. It is of paramount importance at all phases of project development and execution to avoid poor project results from meager economics, overspending, reputation and environmental damage, and even loss of life. The Handbook of Research on Leveraging Risk and Uncertainties for Effective Project Management is a comprehensive reference source for emerging perspectives of managing risks associated with the execution and development of projects. Highlighting innovative coverage written by top industry specialists, such as complexity theory, psychological bias and risk management fallacies, probabilistic risk analysis, and various aspects of project decision making, this book is ideally designed for project and risk managers, project engineers, cost estimators, schedulers, safety and environmental protection specialists, corporate planners, financial and insurance specialists, corporate decision makers, as well as academics and lecturers working in the area of project management and students pursing PMP, PMI-RMP, ISO 31000, etc. certification.

Leading Global Projects

Leading Global Projects PDF

Author: William Youngdahl

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008-09-10

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1136388419

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This book is a must-read for anyone responsible for projects and initiatives that span functional and geographical divides. Authors Moran and Youngdahl bring extensive experience and learning from industry practice to present a clear and straightforward treatment of the leadership skills and knowledge required to lead projects that are global in nature. They have written the first book of its kind to address the three essential skills of global project leaders - strategic project management, project leadership, and cross-cultural leadership. The authors argue that global project leadership is an essential skill in our project-based world and that we are all either intentional or accidental project leaders. Intentional project leaders pursue formal project management education and even certification whereas accidental project leaders find themselves leading global project and initiatives as a result of a special assignment or promotion. Moran and Youndahl have found that the vast majority of global projects leaders fall into the accidental category and have written the book to be accessible to those who have not necessarily pursued formal project management education. Experienced intentional project managers can skip the single chapter on project management fundamentals to move to the more advanced chapters addressing topics such as influencing without formal authority across functional and geographical boundaries and leading global projects at the edge of crisis. • The only book that combines themes of strategic project management, project leadership and cross-cultural leadership • Rich with examples and stories to illustrate key skills and knowledge required to lead global projects

Beyond Chaos

Beyond Chaos PDF

Author: Larry L. Constantine

Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13:

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The popularity of the Management Forum in "Software Development" Magazine is not surprising. Because the majority of software development projects fail to come in on time, on budget, or on specification, software development managers are constantly seeking out management approaches and techniques that will help them achieve success. Many software development projects deteriorate into a state of chaos. In "Beyond Chaos, " the keenest contributions to the Management Forum have been incorporated into a single volume to reveal best practices in managing software projects and organizations. The forty-five essays contained in this book are written by many of the leading names in software development, software engineering, and technical management. Each piece has been selected and edited to provide highly focused ideas and suggestions that can be translated into immediate practice. Pragmatic and provocative, they address key management concerns involving people, planning and productivity, coping under pressure, quality, development processes, and leadership and teamwork. Highlights of the book include: Larry Constantine, "Dealing with Difficult People: Changing the Changeable" Karl Wiegers, "First Things First: A Project Manager's Primer" Capers Jones, "Productivity by the Numbers: What Can Speed Up or Slow Down Software Development" Ed Yourdon, "Death March: Surviving a Hopeless Project" Dave Thomas, "Web-Time Development: High-Speed Software Engineering" Meilir Page-Jones, "Seduced by Reuse: Realizing Reusable Components" Jim Highsmith, "Order for Free: An Organic Model for Adaptation" Steve McConnell, "Managing Outsourced Projects: Project Management Inside-Out" These and many more insightful and advisory essays together represent the cutting edge in software development management and the collective wisdom of the field's most knowledgeable practitioners. Both entertaining and enlightening, "Beyond Chaos" will enrich your skills and enhance your deeper understanding of the process of bringing software from idea to reality. 0201719606B06262001