Publisher's Synopsis
Project Math is not another project management exam prep book. If you only want a primer to just get you thru the math questions on the certificate exam; keep looking. This book contains all the mathematics you will encounter on the project management exam, plus a whole lot more that is not on the exam; such as using Microsoft(R) Excel(R) to resolve project management issues and make better real world decisions.
Project Math includes the stuff you will encounter in the real world of project management, not just on the exam. For example, it not only describes "rough order of magnitude" and "definitive estimates," it explains when each should be used to convey information (not just numbers). It also includes "ballpark estimates" and "wild ass guesses" (WAGs) and even "scientific wild ass guesses" (SWAGs). It covers the simple math topic of rounding, but it also includes why rounding is appropriate and sometimes necessary to properly communicate your message to your stakeholders.
If you want to be a better project manager, a better agile coach or a better scrum master, this book is for you. If you are an aspiring project team member wanting to become a project manager, this book is for you. If you are a project sponsor, or a business analyst, this book is for you. If you are an engaged project stakeholder, this book is for you. If you want to run a better project management offices, this book is for you. If you want to learn how to use Microsoft(R) Excel(R) to solve complex project management problems, this book is for you. If you want to compare the total project risk between alternative projects, this book is for you. If you want to define the total cost or duration of your project as optimistic, pessimistic and most likely, this book is for you.
Project managers are skilled leaders, team builders, motivators, conflict resolvers, negotiators, and coaches. They have good "people skills" but their toolbox might be only half full.
Successful project managers also have good decision making and communicating skills. They know how to use quantitative and qualitative analysis to make the right decisions, and they know how to summarize data and make meaningful presentations to team members, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
Great project managers are equally prepared to deal with people and with numbers. They are "ambidextrous thinkers," equally skilled at using their left brain and their right brain. They are equipped to handle any issue; opportunity or threat; quantitative or qualitative. Great project managers have all the necessary tools in their toolbox, and they know how and when to use each of them.
If that is your objective, to be a great project manager, this book is for you.
