Books: "Concept to Customer" -- Strategic Project Management

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers presents a new book from Michael J. Termini, Concept to Customer: Portfolio, Pipeline, and Strategic Project Management  (SME, 2009). Termini wrote Concept to Customer in response to the many questions from project managers and novices who have sought his assistance regarding managing projects in today’s global marketplace.

The book provides a logical way of learning the various methodologies that project managers rely on for making the right decisions; the case studies ensure that readers can grasp these methodologies and are exceptional examples of what to do and what not to do.

The author gives a comprehensive approach with a broad scope from basic tasks to top-management decisions, including:

• Portfolio and pipelining management techniques to drive strategic projects
• Leadership techniques
• Planning projects that are doable with goals aligned to team capabilities
• Writing effective project proposals
• Reducing project cycle time and costs
• Acquisitions planning
• Budget planning and cost control
• Contingency planning
• Graphical evaluation and review techniques
• Process management methods
• Program evaluation and review techniques
• Risk management tools
• Using Gantt charts

“One of the most valuable concepts is the ‘12-month rule’ on project duration and the reduction in the ability to influence project success as time passes,” says John P. McGrath, Ph.D., corporate vice president of quality for Edwards Lifesciences LLC. “Many of us have learned this through the school of hard knocks. It is more effective to learn about others’ mistakes and missed opportunities through reading rather than from direct experience,” McGrath adds.

Termini is president and CEO of The Consulting Alliance Group Inc. He has more than 40 years of pragmatic industry experience, holding executive management positions with corporations such as United Technologies, Hallmark Cards, Dresser Industries, and Johnson & Johnson. He is also the author of The New Manufacturing Engineer (SME 1997), Strategic Project Management (SME 1999), and Walking the Talk: Moving into Leadership (SME 2007).

For more information visit www.sme.org.

About The Author

Laurel Thoennes

Laurel Thoennes is managing editor for Quality Digest.