Book Structure
The contents of this book are set out in eleven chapters and an Appendix as
follows:
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1.
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Why Project Management is Essential in Research and Development
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2.
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Current Thinking in Managing R&D Projects
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3.
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Fundamentals of Project Management
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4.
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R&D Project Life Cycle
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5.
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Managing Cost, Time and Quality in R&D
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6.
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Managing Risks in R&D
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7.
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Managing R&D Portfolios
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8.
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R&D Project Success Criteria and Success Factors
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9.
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Operational Excellence Concepts in R&D Projects
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10.
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Case Studies of R&D Projects
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11.
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Making it Happen
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Appendix: MSc R&D Project Management — Course Outline
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Glossary
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Bibliography
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This book has a total of 244 pages and, as listed, includes a Glossary of terms relevant to the discussion of project management and R&D, including the many acronyms used in the book. It is also well illustrated with 61 figures and 34 tables. Each chapter concludes with a "Summary and Learning Points".
In reviewing a pre-print copy, Jay Mitra, University of Essex, UK, had this to say:
"Few books are able to grasp the critical elements of the complex R&D process, especially in the corporate context, and it is very pleasing to see Ron Basu's book tackling this subject with rigor and precision. The chapters are well organized and cover the essential practicalities of the project management and R&D processes, enabling an understanding of the latter to be firmly embedded in the realities of project management.
This book addresses key issues directly, illustrating the arguments with some interesting examples of corporate activity in this sphere. The book will be very useful for project managers and senior executives designing meaningful strategies for corporate projects, as well as government agencies looking at new ways to facilitate local and global projects.
I also see this book as being particularly valuable for graduate students of management in general and project management in particular."[3]
These are observations with which we heartily concur. In all, we think the book provides sound and realistic advice.
3. Ibid, Forewords.
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Introduction
