Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams

Terry presents a tool and a way of thinking that is widely adaptable to the planning and execution needs of the organization, regardless of where you are on the Org-Chart. Terry demonstrates how to clearly walk through the logical connections that tie the highest level strategic objective to the lowest level activity; an essential exercise to effectively and efficiently deploy ever scarce resources. Perhaps most importantly, Terry's model provides a common platform, a foundation, for organizational leadership and staff to understand how their work contributes to the organization's success, and aligning their efforts toward those ends. In sea of jargon and ad hoc tools, Terry presents a simple, natural, way of tying it all together. Regardless if you or your organization are just starting down the road of strategic management, or you have a well-established process in place for making strategic decisions, Terry's book provides insight; identifies the right questions to ask; and gives a framework for organizing and prioritizing the steps for your success.

As a systems engineer, I found Terry Schmidt's application of a systems thinking approach to project management to make excellent sense. I've uncovered important insights about my projects while applying the strategic planning processes described in this book. Highly recommended!

I am the inventor of the Logical Framework tool Terry featured in his book. As a physicist, I saw the need for a more scientific approach to help the USAID (US Agency for International Development) do a better job of planning, implementing, and evaluating their multi-billion dollar project portfolio in developing countries. My team installed this method in USAID missions in 50 countries, and many organizations around the world have adopted it as a way of doing business. Terry was one of the most creative consultants and trainers in my company Practical Concepts Incorporated: it was my pleasure to mentor him and work together on projects in Bangladesh, Thailand and elsewhere. Then we lost contact until recently when, voila, he sent his book. I am pleased that it makes available some powerful and practical concepts for leaders at all levels, private and public sector. Terry has taken my original work to another level, adding strategic questions and other features to make this approach easier to understand and use. This publication adapts the Logical Framework to a mainstream business and technical audience. My hope is that knowledge workers of all types will recognize the power of this approach and put it to use. STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE: PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR LEADERS AND TEAMS can help address the problems and opportunities you face. Leon J. Rosenberg

Terry takes a novel look at project management and delivers a book that provides a comprehensive approach to applying the principles of project theory across many industries. The importance of addressing projects from a strategic perspective, something most organizations fail to consider, is clearly demonstrated. The author does an excellent job in detailing a proven approach to completing simple and complex projects, along with showing the importance of managing the strategic action cycle and people dynamics. The Logical Framework, Systems Thinking Theory, the Four Critical Questions, and the Cycle-Logical Approach are clearly described and laid out in a manner that executives, functional management, and project managers at all maturity levels can find immediately useful. Terry provides a very structured yet practical and flexible way to improve project portfolio management. If you follow the steps outlined in this text, your ability to align project activities with higher-level goals and objectives will increase substantially. A wealth of tips, tools, resources, and helpful case studies are given throughout the book. If you see the need for a more structured project management approach, one that will reflect the mission of your organization, department, or personal life, then this book needs to be one of your most often referenced resources.

Terry Schmidt's book provides simple concepts and hands-on tools to take any strategy and convert it into an executable action plan that links the big picture with the right details to reach the project goal(s). Many good efforts are doomed by the inability to turn strategic intent into results. When I read the book, I was impressed by the number of testimonials from top project managers and leaders who have proven how smoothly these tools hammer out tough projects.