Project Management Handbook

I have been reading “Project Management Handbook” by Antonio Nieto- Rodrigeuz for a while. Today, I have completed reading. Here is my quick summary:

Antonio brings a fresh look to the old project profession. The book explains the change from an efficiency-driven world to a change-driven one. While operations run the organization, the projects change the organization.

Antonio introduces Project Canvas to provide one tool for any kind of project: traditional, agile, or hybrid. It is simple, universal, and proven. To understand a project at a glance, a project manager should use Project Canvas. It consists of three domains as Foundation, People, and Creation.

In the Foundation domain; you find Purpose, Investment, and Benefits, which are respectively seeking answers to the questions: “What are we doing the project?”, “How much will the project cost?”, “What benefits and value will the project generate?” Antonio underlines the importance of focusing on the benefits rather than delivery.

In the People domain, Sponsorship, Resources, and Stakeholders are diving deep by asking questions respectively; “Who will be accountable for the project?”, “Who will manage the project, and which skills are needed to deliver the project?”, “Who will benefit from and be affected by the project?” Antonio highlights that effective sponsorship and engagement are vital for the project’s successful benefit realization and delivery.

In the Creation domain; by Deliverable, Plan, and Change, you may focus more on “What will the project produce, build or deliver?”, “How and when will the work be carried out?”, “How will we engage stakeholders and manage risks?”

Antonio added two more triangles, such as “the engagement triple constraint” and “the benefits triple constraint” to the well-known iron triangle, consisting of Scope, Time, Cost, and Quality. With new triangles, Project managers ensure the project’s benefits by focusing on Value, Risk, and Sustainability and assure engagement through Alignment, Dedication, and Recognition.

Antonio share hands-on experience in Project Leadership, Portfolio Management, and Building a structure and culture needed for project success. At the end of the book, he explains project management for a better future to cope better with crises and keep up with innovations. His advice on sustainability for a better future and diversity for projects’ success is invaluable.

In PMI TR, we updated the project charter and business case documents by adding the Sustainability Development Goals selection. We are dedicating our volunteering to the Hours of Impact pledge for 17 SDGs. It was one of the suggestions Antonio made in the book; It was a nice surprise that we had implemented this before reading the book.

As a reference book, whether you are a project professional or not, you should read the book as a project and management guide.