Praise for How to Save a Failing
Project: Chaos to Control
“This book addresses three of my pet peeves: badly chosen metrics, poorly written requirements, and lack of training. … The authors provide both guidance and well-chosen references to help you improve the way you plan and manage your projects. Please don’t just read this book—use it!”
– JUDI GETCH BRODMAN
CEO, LOGOS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
“The authors successfully tackle a subject that challenges large and small organizations, federal, state, and local governments, and any other group managing projects. The rate of project failure is abysmal and establishing controls out of the chaos is critical. These authors have done a wonderful job of bringing practical and time-tested experience together to share valuable insights. Follow the principles espoused in this book and you will reap tremendous returns on your projects.”
– KENT CRAWFORD, PMP
CEO, PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.
“The authors offer a smorgasbord of concepts, tools, and best practices that will help any project manager. Top on my list is encouraging open and honest communication, which I believe is hugely powerful in fostering effective teamwork and progress on projects.”
– STEVEN GAFFNEY
PRESIDENT, STEVEN GAFFNEY COMPANY
“This book provides a very useful summary of stakeholder needs and a good overview of teambuilding, particularly for technical teams. It provides the best discussion I have seen on creating the product breakdown structure and work breakdown structure.”
– DR. WATTS S. HUMPHREY
SEI FELLOW
“In my experience as an expert witness in many lawsuits based on failed software projects, I’ve seen numerous problems occurring over and over. The authors address poor planning and estimating, poor quality control, poor change control, and poor tracking, which are endemic problems in the software industry. The real advantage of this book is that it will also help prevent failing projects, which is much more cost-effective than fixing failing projects.”
– CAPERS JONES
CHIEF SCIENTIST EMERITUS, SOFTWARE PRODUCTIVITY RESEARCH, LLC
“This book is a much-needed breath of fresh air—as a tool to prevent frustration and as a study of common sense, which is all too uncommon in this business. The authors’ depth of real-world experience forms the book’s strong foundation, and it is an enjoyable read, even if you are looking for help in dire circumstances. Absorbing this shared knowledge may just help you move beyond your current dilemma, or, better yet, it may help you prevent your project from needing rescue in the first place.”
– CHARLES D. MARKERT, PE, CPF
PRESIDENT, DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
“This is a well-organized, well-written, and concise resource that PMs who are determined to succeed can turn to when facing project challenges. I particularly like the focus on fact-based communication and decision-making while considering stakeholder points of view. I will return to the checklists and templates, the practical process guidelines, and the recommended reading lists. I am encouraged by the authors’ results-based enthusiasm and optimism—when PMs employ the recommended techniques for continuous, measurable improvement, they can achieve project success!”
– PEGGY OGLESBY, MSC, PMP
IT CONSULTANT, CURRICULUM DESIGNER, AND REQUIREMENTS INSTRUCTOR
“Young, Brady, and Nagle take on a problem that has existed for decades—the failing (‘or challenged’) project. Many others have attacked this problem from different perspectives, and I suspect that the problems will continue to bedevil projects for decades to come. Nevertheless, these problems can be chipped down to manageable size, one step at a time. The authors have the experience and the insights to help guide us toward becoming better project managers and professionals.”
– MARK C. PAULK, PH.D.
SENIOR SYSTEMS SCIENTIST, INSTITUTE FOR SOFTWARE RESEARCH CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
“My software engineering consulting and training practice focuses on helping customers ‘get things done’ in chaotic, turbulent projects. My clients need guidance to implement key workflows of software development. They need to learn how to prioritize and organize projects in a changing world. I am confident that How to Save a Failing Project will be an important resource to help readers get back to fundamentals and systematically tackle unexpected changes in any business, organizational, and technical context.”
– ROBERT SABOURIN
PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, AMIBUG.COM, INC.
“If you want to regain traction, direction, and ultimately success in a failing project, How to Save a Failing Project is a must-read! It is jam-packed with great information that project managers can put to work immediately.”
– STEVE WADDELL
VICE PRESIDENT, REED INTEGRATION, INC.
“The authors provide an extremely helpful and experienced-based process that will enable project managers to save their failing projects. Their approach advocates team activities and the creation of specific artifacts that empower the project team to get things back on track. I am particularly impressed with their awareness and inclusion of organizational change management techniques. If you are experiencing problems on your project, or if you are about to launch a new project, this book will surely help.”
– CHERYL WHITE
EXECUTIVE PARTNER, CHANGE DELIVERY GROUP
“As a veteran project management troubleshooter, I enthusiastically endorse this book. The authors have the experience required to fully understand why projects fail, how to detect a failing project, and how to successfully turn it around. More importantly, this book helps the reader prevent failed projects from ever happening. This book is a must-read for all project leaders and senior stakeholders who care about success … as well as being the best that they can be.”
– NEAL WHITTEN, PMP
THE NEAL WHITTEN GROUP, INC.