Project Management, Tenth Edition
by Dennis Lock, 2013
Introduction
Project Management by Dennis Lock, now in its 10th Edition, is a substantial, very thorough and practical book.
From the contents it becomes obvious that the author has a broad range of project experience not just in a wide variety of types of project,[1] but also from end to end - and then some. At first glance the book appears to be written for the British market because the author draws extensively on UK experience and uses budget and cost values in ££s. Some of the terminology used also has a UK flavor.
Nevertheless, in our view, with suitable adjustments of vocabulary, units and acronyms, the contents and examples are applicable to projects worldwide. This is not just another academic book on project management tools and techniques. It is a solid reference book born of first hand practical experience. It has been consistently updated and published for the benefit of practicing project managers, and their supporting teams, working "in the trenches"[2] of any industry involved with projects. For example, to illustrate the text, the book has more than 170 figures including many standard form templates covering active project work situations.
As a matter of content strategy, the author observes: "As with the ninth edition, I have clung as rigidly as possible to the project life cycle, so that the chapter subjects flow as far as possible in a logical sequence."[3] In other words, the material follows the natural flow of a project through its matter-of-course life span. That means that after a brief introduction to project management and its history of evolution, the author covers the territory from the project's original concept through to handover of the product, and beyond through the product's economic life to disposal.
The author goes on to add: "But there are two principal additions [in this edition]. The first of these is seen in Chapter 27, which deals with the implementation of business change projects ... The other new chapter (29) is written as an open letter to senior executives." In this open letter author Dennis Lock makes the urgent plea that: "in all cases where the project management function is run efficiently, it can only reduce total costs and add value to the project and its organization. Project management is not an unnecessary overhead expense: it is a vital management function."[4] Assuming there are projects to be managed, we heartily concur. Indeed, much of the book resonates with our own experience, not just as a project manager but also as a corporate executive.
If you purchase the Tutor's Edition, the book also includes a CD ROM with over 600 PowerPoint slides supporting all of the first 28 chapters as described in the next section. These timed slide presentations are well prepared and represent a valuable asset for instructors wishing to use the book as a basis for instruction. In addition there are a number of optional PowerPoint presentations on specific project management techniques, all as listed in a later section of this book review.
About the author
Dennis Lock is a freelance writer specializing in project management. His broad ranging experience includes heavy engineering, international mining, defense systems, and sub-miniature electronics. He has held a progression of successful management positions in all of these industries. He has also filled consultancy assignments in Britain and overseas and more recently has taught project management to master's degree students as an external lecturer at two British universities. We understand that he has written or edited over 50 management books mostly on project management.
1. What we
normally describe as "Areas of Project Management Application".
2. An expression carried over from the First World War, similar
to working "on the front lines".
3. Lock, Dennis, Project Management (tenth edition), Gower
Publishing Limited, UK, 2013, p xxi
4. Ibid
|
Introduction
to the Books
