Project Management: basics and characteristics

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Project Management

This article is based on the free eBook "Project Management"

Nowadays, project management is regarded as a very high priority as all companies or organisations, whether small or large, are at one time or another involved in implementing new undertakings, innovations and changes etc. – projects! These projects may be individually diverse, however over time, some tools, management techniques and problem-solving approaches have proven themselves to be more rewarding than others in bringing projects to a successful end.

The source of modern Project Management

The development of project management has always been in parallel to the development of general trends in worldwide economics. The 1990′s were all about globalisation; the 2000′s are about velocity and close to the edge of a new decade in which the world maybe has to face an economic recession. Nowadays, almost more than ever, everybody asks for “projects” to return the world economy to its former speed. This also underlines the importance of continuous learning and development of project management capabilities in organisations to allow corporate teams in a fast changing world to work collaboratively in defining plans and managing complex projects by synchronising team-oriented tasks, schedules, and resource allocations.

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Time to fully enjoy your day job again

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Overcoming Perfectionism

This article is based on the free eBook "Overcoming Perfectionism"

Be honest: are you enjoying your work? If not, you are one of many who have forgotten why they enjoy working in the first place. But maybe it is not the work itself but your attitude towards it that is the problem. Is it possible that you’ve become bogged down in trying so hard that you’ve forgotten to take care of your own needs – forgotten how to lighten up – and are finding the perfect excuse in blaming your work? Isn’t it time to start enjoying your work again?

There are different ways to start becoming less driven and enjoy your work instead of seeing it as a stressor. Let’s take a look at some techniques for enjoying your work.

Develop a positive mental attitude

That includes being aware of your negative thinking and challenging it. If you are giving a presentation, are your thoughts interfering with your performance, e.g. ‘They can see I’m nervous!’?  If so replace them with more helpful, realistic thoughts such as ‘everyone gets a bit nervous when they give a presentation – it’s normal!’ Lighten up – don’t take yourself so seriously! Work on your sense of humour.

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The ABCDEFG of presentation skills

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The A to Z of Presentations

This article is based on the free eBook "The A to Z of Presentations"

Are you planning on becoming a professional presenter? Whether you are giving a presentation at university, trying to win business from a valued customer, selling an idea to your board of senior executives, or making a farewell speech to a retiring colleague, these A to G tips will help you come across as someone who is knowledgeable, skilled, and enthusiastic. With these tips your next presentation can come!

Audience

The main purpose of a presentation is to win an audience over to your views, whether they are facts, opinions or interpretations of facts and opinions.

You can only do this by one or a combination of the following:

1. Focus on meeting their needs

2. Charm them by your manner and manners

3. Be distinct and memorable

4. Provide an attention-grabbing idea

5. Reassure them that there are minimal risks in what you propose

6. Keep them interested

7. Work to a plan which the audience can follow

8. Lead them to where you want to take them

9. Be yourself and naturally confident

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How organizations can sustain excellent performance

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In Pursuit of World Class Excellence

This article is based on the free eBook "In Pursuit of World Class Excellence"

Having become a highly successful organisation and maybe even achieved world class excellence, however admirable it may be, it is just the beginning of a never ending journey. In the relentless, head-snapping global competition, standing still is the quickest way to slip back. A truly world class excellence must be resilient, long-lasting, and can by definition stand the test of time.

How to sustain excellent performance

Admittedly, maintaining and sustaining world class excellence is a lot more challenging than achieving it. This is because organisations, after they have achieved leading positions, often lose their further directions and are unable to set the next target. At this stage, the conventional goal setting and organisational learning techniques may cease to be effective. What must be installed is an innovative learning and creative process.

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4 popular free career eBooks: CVs, interviews and more

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Are you applying for a job at the moment or have you thought about changing jobs for a while? On bookboon.com you can find over 50 career eBooks which can help you put a career change into action and get the job you want.

These eBooks can show you how to write an outstanding CV, convince the interviewer to hire you or what to do when you hate your current job.

Change your future today by downloading our free career eBooks.

Start with the 4 popular titles below!

 

Creating your CV as a self marketing tool

This book shows you how to build up your CV. Increase your opportunities of securing that fantastic job! Start now!

Creating your CV as a self marketing tool

 

Interview Secrets Exposed

Prepare yourself effectively for the next interview: learn how to answer the most common interview questions, what to wear to the interview and how to follow up after the interview. Good luck!

Interview Secrets Exposed

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Introducing the elite strategies of Internet Marketing

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Developing an Internet Marketing Strategy

This article is based on the free eBook "Developing an Internet Marketing Strategy"

A successful Internet marketing strategy needs different tools and techniques to reach its desired target group. In addition to common types such as keyword marketing, there are additional kinds of Search Engine Marketing techniques that you can use in your Internet marketing strategy. These SEM techniques will require more advanced knowledge, more application of software, and more investment. Let’s take a look at these advanced techniques.

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10 networking tips: How to be active, successful and indispensable

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Networking

This article is based on the free eBook "Networking"

The future belongs to those who can create networks. Sound networking abilities are essential in a knowledge-based society. In consequence, people with broad and effective networks are usually both successful and in demand.

Futurologists tell us that in time to come, the route to success will be ever more dependent on wide and relevant networks – you will have problems if you just sit back and hope that everything will work out. This is why you should know what good networking is all about. To become a skilled networker, you can start by studying the following 10 pieces of advice.

Networking skills from A to Z

  • 1. Remember always to carry your business cards – which should include all relevant details. A photo on the business card makes it easier to call a person to mind, if you want to contact them later.

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The 5 golden principles of goal setting

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Managing your Career

This article is based on the free eBook "Managing your Career"

Goal setting is a powerful tool that can be used to motivate and challenge yourself further towards meeting your career management goals. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to set goals. Well set goals are clear and you can objectively determine whether or not the goal has been reached. Poorly set goals are not clear and you can’t necessarily tell what it will look like once the goal has been achieved. The result is frustration and lack of effectiveness.

In 1990, Locke and Dr. Gary Latham published “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance” in which they identified five principles that were important in setting goals that will motivate others. These principles are: clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity.

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Learn about the benefits of strategic thinking

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Strategic Thinking

This article is based on the free eBook "Strategic Thinking"

Strategic management is a widely studied field because it is through strategy that organizations attempt to reach their goals and out-think the competition. Thinking strategically requires research, analysis, and forethought in order to create a plan for how you will proceed as an organization.

We must start by asking ourselves if we are doing the right things in our team, in our division, in our department, and then in our organization as a whole. We must create a plan for how we will make choices in the future – ideally making only the choices that align with our strategic plan. And we must be willing to identify and make changes to the way we currently think and operate so that we are truly guided by the strategic plan that we have adopted.

Before you begin thinking strategically and creating your strategic plan, you will want to understand why you are spending the time to create it, follow it, and adjust it as necessary. Plus, you can’t create a plan until you know what your overall guiding purpose should be.

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Interviewers, beware! Keep away from these interview mistakes!

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The Seven Deadly Sins of Employment

This article is based on the free eBook "The Seven Deadly Sins of Employment"

Unfortunately, most of us know this kind of situation: We had one of these unpleasant job interviews and got rejected. What did I do wrong? Am I unqualified or not convincing enough? We can lay you at rest there. It is not always the job candidate, almost as often it is the interviewer himself who is to blame for interviews that yield relatively poor results. Below you can find several traps an interviewer can fall into.

Too much perfume or make up

We all have preferences in terms of appearance and behavior and it’s easy to be disproportionately affected by these. But note that these minor things don’t mean that the candidate can’t do the job. The types of thing that interviewers may recoil from include: baseball caps, scruffy clothing or trainers, too much perfume or make up. There are many more! Recognize and put aside your personal preferences and concentrate objectively on the relevant facts.

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