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Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams
When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions
1. What are we trying to accomplish and why?
2. How will we measure success?
3. What other conditions must exist?
4. How do we get there?
This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.
1. What are we trying to accomplish and why?
2. How will we measure success?
3. What other conditions must exist?
4. How do we get there?
This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.
251 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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May 3, 2021
For those of us who need the Big Picture and a sense of purpose in their work
Let me start with the negatives, for a change..
This book is not ideal, far from it. As most authors of a new or particularly interesting concept, Terry Schmidt preaches that his LogFrame is a miraculous gift upon humanity with the potential to solve world hunger and bring peace to Middle East. *eyeroll*
Come on, we get it that it's great! More so, I am absolutely convinced that the LogFrame is an almost perfect framework for tying individual activities into an overreaching strategy. I don't need a million examples of varying relatability, I believed you after the first two!
Also, the later chapters about emotional intelligence and ramping up a project watered down the positive impression the first two thirds of this book left on me. The whole chapter on managing people / emotional intelligence was unnecessary, in my opinion. The book's focus is the LogFrame, so stay with it. Don't try to be another Ultimate 360° All-inclusive Guide on project management, especially not with a 200-page booklet. If you have a unique idea to present - stick with it and keep it to the point.
As for the positives, I still loved this book. As mentioned, I do believe in the concept of the LogFrame and I will be applying the methods in my daily work. It is not a magic cure for all your project pains, but it is an effective tool to pinpoint the lack of coherence and alignment between different activities within one company, department or even team. I am a big sucker for "big pictures", I am one of those people who need to see beyond their immediate task to be able to do it right. And I've been in my share of projects where no one was quite sure what we were doing and why.
So, despite my rambling above, I really recommend this book to everyone who needs to find the link between strategy and purpose in their daily work. Everyone else would at least benefit from being able to make the connection for their stakeholders.
Just manage your expectations going in and don't expect a panacea.
4/5
Let me start with the negatives, for a change..
This book is not ideal, far from it. As most authors of a new or particularly interesting concept, Terry Schmidt preaches that his LogFrame is a miraculous gift upon humanity with the potential to solve world hunger and bring peace to Middle East. *eyeroll*
Come on, we get it that it's great! More so, I am absolutely convinced that the LogFrame is an almost perfect framework for tying individual activities into an overreaching strategy. I don't need a million examples of varying relatability, I believed you after the first two!
Also, the later chapters about emotional intelligence and ramping up a project watered down the positive impression the first two thirds of this book left on me. The whole chapter on managing people / emotional intelligence was unnecessary, in my opinion. The book's focus is the LogFrame, so stay with it. Don't try to be another Ultimate 360° All-inclusive Guide on project management, especially not with a 200-page booklet. If you have a unique idea to present - stick with it and keep it to the point.
As for the positives, I still loved this book. As mentioned, I do believe in the concept of the LogFrame and I will be applying the methods in my daily work. It is not a magic cure for all your project pains, but it is an effective tool to pinpoint the lack of coherence and alignment between different activities within one company, department or even team. I am a big sucker for "big pictures", I am one of those people who need to see beyond their immediate task to be able to do it right. And I've been in my share of projects where no one was quite sure what we were doing and why.
So, despite my rambling above, I really recommend this book to everyone who needs to find the link between strategy and purpose in their daily work. Everyone else would at least benefit from being able to make the connection for their stakeholders.
Just manage your expectations going in and don't expect a panacea.
4/5
April 3, 2022
I was under the impression that the book was about strategy and project management. If I eliminate the advice on life coaching (last part of the book), the common sense management practices (middle of the book) and author's personal experiences (aka advertising his company), I'm left with a small part of some useful indeed approaches on how to inherit strategy in your projects to motivate and plan ahead an envisoned project.
Although some use cases are interesting and core idea offers insights, the biggest part of the book is governed by stereotypic ideas and advice.
The last part is really unnecessary and misleads readers with career mentoring / coaching examples and ordinary self-improvement comments. Moreover, the author attempts to connect all these with PM. Once I watched Nymphomaniac by Lars von Trier. He tried to relate life aspects and eternal moral questions to sex. Easy task since sex is in fact human nature! Author tries to do the same with Project Management. Lame and misplaced.
Although some use cases are interesting and core idea offers insights, the biggest part of the book is governed by stereotypic ideas and advice.
The last part is really unnecessary and misleads readers with career mentoring / coaching examples and ordinary self-improvement comments. Moreover, the author attempts to connect all these with PM. Once I watched Nymphomaniac by Lars von Trier. He tried to relate life aspects and eternal moral questions to sex. Easy task since sex is in fact human nature! Author tries to do the same with Project Management. Lame and misplaced.
January 30, 2016
This book is about planning, and to a lesser extent about management. Good plans results from four questions — what are we trying to achieve? What are the success criteria? What assumptions are we making? And finally How to get there? In addition, a matrix, which opposes the objectives to the success criteria and the assumptions, permits to convey the key aspects of the plan. Although the arguments are convincing, the practice will tell me whether this approach turns out to be as effective as described.
September 26, 2023
This book provides valuable insights into the essential strategies for achieving successful project delivery in today's dynamic business world, emphasising the need to move beyond conventional management approaches. It offers practical guidance on navigating the challenges of rapid-paced environments, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to excel in project management.
Takeaways:
- The key is to lead strategically
- Track what matters, not just what’s easy.
- What are you trying to accomplish, and why? How will you measure success? What conditions must exist? And how will you get there?
- Identify all your project stakeholders – including customers and end-users. Also consider the project team members, sponsors, participating organizations, vendors, gatekeepers controlling needed resources, and even opponents or potential blockers.
- Analyze each stakeholder’s interests, influence, and the level of support they’re likely to provide compared to what’s needed. If gaps exist, take proactive steps to get their buy-in.
- Remember, people support what they help create
- What are you trying to achieve, and why?
- Carefully examine presumed “if-then” links between levels to strengthen your strategy’s validity – and avoid wishful thinking or faulty logic
LogFrame matrix:
In your first row, your goal encompasses the broader objective the project aims to contribute to. This is usually at the company level – where are you heading in the long term. Next up is your purpose, or outcome – the direct impact of the project. You’ll get a little more specific here. Why are you doing this project, and how does it support your longer term goals? Third are your outputs, which are the specific results or products that need to be produced to accomplish the purpose. Outputs are tangible deliverables that are totally in your team’s control. In your final row, list your activities – the tasks that need to be done to achieve the outputs. These are your specific, day-to-day actions.
Assumptions always exist, whether they’re verified or not:
Every project rests on assumptions – those pesky, uncertain external factors. But assumptions often go unacknowledged, sinking progress when they fail. Answering the third question, “What conditions must exist?” helps prevent unexpected surprises by bringing any hidden risks to light.
Favourite quote:
- “Isn’t it ironic that those people who claim they don’t have enough time to plan always have enough the time to start over when their shoddy initial planning drives their project over a cliff?”
Takeaways:
- The key is to lead strategically
- Track what matters, not just what’s easy.
- What are you trying to accomplish, and why? How will you measure success? What conditions must exist? And how will you get there?
- Identify all your project stakeholders – including customers and end-users. Also consider the project team members, sponsors, participating organizations, vendors, gatekeepers controlling needed resources, and even opponents or potential blockers.
- Analyze each stakeholder’s interests, influence, and the level of support they’re likely to provide compared to what’s needed. If gaps exist, take proactive steps to get their buy-in.
- Remember, people support what they help create
- What are you trying to achieve, and why?
- Carefully examine presumed “if-then” links between levels to strengthen your strategy’s validity – and avoid wishful thinking or faulty logic
LogFrame matrix:
In your first row, your goal encompasses the broader objective the project aims to contribute to. This is usually at the company level – where are you heading in the long term. Next up is your purpose, or outcome – the direct impact of the project. You’ll get a little more specific here. Why are you doing this project, and how does it support your longer term goals? Third are your outputs, which are the specific results or products that need to be produced to accomplish the purpose. Outputs are tangible deliverables that are totally in your team’s control. In your final row, list your activities – the tasks that need to be done to achieve the outputs. These are your specific, day-to-day actions.
Assumptions always exist, whether they’re verified or not:
Every project rests on assumptions – those pesky, uncertain external factors. But assumptions often go unacknowledged, sinking progress when they fail. Answering the third question, “What conditions must exist?” helps prevent unexpected surprises by bringing any hidden risks to light.
Favourite quote:
- “Isn’t it ironic that those people who claim they don’t have enough time to plan always have enough the time to start over when their shoddy initial planning drives their project over a cliff?”
September 26, 2023
"Strategic Project Management Made Simple" by Terry Schmidt offers a comprehensive guide to successful project management in today's fast-paced business environment. The book emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking and alignment with organizational goals while remaining flexible to adapt to changing circumstances.
It begins by stressing the need for a solid strategic foundation, using tools like the Logical Framework Approach to define objectives, purpose, outputs, and activities. This structured planning approach ensures clarity and logical progression in project goals.
Involving stakeholders early is highlighted as a crucial step, as their commitment and support are vital for project success. The book suggests identifying all stakeholders, analyzing their interests and influence, and actively engaging them in the planning process.
The four critical strategic questions are presented: What are you trying to achieve, and why? How will you measure success? What conditions need to exist? How will you get there? These questions help in clarifying project objectives, defining measurable success criteria, identifying assumptions, and creating an execution plan.
The book emphasizes the importance of quantifiable success measures at different levels of the project hierarchy, from goals to activities. Clear indicators and verifiable measures keep teams focused on delivering real impact.
The concept of addressing assumptions explicitly and ranking them by risk is introduced to minimize potential roadblocks. Proactively surfacing and testing assumptions reduces surprises and allows for adaptive planning.
The final section discusses the importance of strategic learning cycles, including monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating progress. These cycles enable continuous adjustments based on new insights, maintaining project relevance and effectiveness.
In summary, "Strategic Project Management Made Simple" provides practical tools and strategies for project leaders and teams to align their efforts with organizational strategy, engage stakeholders effectively, and adapt to changing conditions. It emphasizes a strategic mindset as key to successful project execution in today's dynamic business landscape.
It begins by stressing the need for a solid strategic foundation, using tools like the Logical Framework Approach to define objectives, purpose, outputs, and activities. This structured planning approach ensures clarity and logical progression in project goals.
Involving stakeholders early is highlighted as a crucial step, as their commitment and support are vital for project success. The book suggests identifying all stakeholders, analyzing their interests and influence, and actively engaging them in the planning process.
The four critical strategic questions are presented: What are you trying to achieve, and why? How will you measure success? What conditions need to exist? How will you get there? These questions help in clarifying project objectives, defining measurable success criteria, identifying assumptions, and creating an execution plan.
The book emphasizes the importance of quantifiable success measures at different levels of the project hierarchy, from goals to activities. Clear indicators and verifiable measures keep teams focused on delivering real impact.
The concept of addressing assumptions explicitly and ranking them by risk is introduced to minimize potential roadblocks. Proactively surfacing and testing assumptions reduces surprises and allows for adaptive planning.
The final section discusses the importance of strategic learning cycles, including monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating progress. These cycles enable continuous adjustments based on new insights, maintaining project relevance and effectiveness.
In summary, "Strategic Project Management Made Simple" provides practical tools and strategies for project leaders and teams to align their efforts with organizational strategy, engage stakeholders effectively, and adapt to changing conditions. It emphasizes a strategic mindset as key to successful project execution in today's dynamic business landscape.
February 11, 2021
I found this one really challenging to get through, even though it is a quick read. There is a lot of common sense that I felt was forcibly squeezed in his own trademarked tool the "LogFrame". Personally I did not get any value from it, but I could see people in different parts of their journey getting more out of it.
Since the book focuses mostly on purpose and planning, I think I would mostly recommend it for leaders who are overseeing projects or portfolios, rather than the project managers responsible for execution.
Since the book focuses mostly on purpose and planning, I think I would mostly recommend it for leaders who are overseeing projects or portfolios, rather than the project managers responsible for execution.
September 17, 2018
Very practical and interesting
I found this book very interesting. It covers an area in project management that often lacks proper attention irl: why are we doing projects and how we understand when we done. A suggested framework is very simple and stimulates to see blind spots in project environment.
I found this book very interesting. It covers an area in project management that often lacks proper attention irl: why are we doing projects and how we understand when we done. A suggested framework is very simple and stimulates to see blind spots in project environment.
August 5, 2018
Practical and logical
I recommend this book to project managers new or seasoned. The logical framework is a great way to think for projects but also most if not all problem solving tasks. I also loved all of the questions to ask for each step and function of the process.
I recommend this book to project managers new or seasoned. The logical framework is a great way to think for projects but also most if not all problem solving tasks. I also loved all of the questions to ask for each step and function of the process.
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February 10, 2020this book helps you to convert strategies into operation
Read
July 24, 2021Worth the read
November 26, 2021
Make logic framework simple
4 key question
4 key question
January 30, 2023
Easy to follow but somewhat uneven book. Veered from project management into self-help.
August 27, 2023
Practical book to apply different strategies for projects. I find it useful especially the list of questions to brainstorm and organize the mind of the upcoming projects.
July 7, 2009
Purposeful project management tools
Have you ever been part of a project that seemed to be an empty exercise in chart maintenance? Terry Schmidt shows you how to avoid that pitfall by designing your project to provide real strategic value to your company. He also provides excellent tools you can use on every project to make sure that its work is meaningful, that your logical design for the project is sound and that you have organized its work in purposeful chunks. Since project management depends on people, Schmidt shows you how to involve your colleagues, team members and stakeholders. He organizes his chapters for clarity and ends them with summaries of the main points. He provides the forms you need, and explains how to adapt and use them. Schmidt illustrates his principles with real-world examples drawn from his long experience consulting with companies and governments. He even throws in some nice humor and a few quite funny cartoons. getAbstract recommends this helpful, thoughtful look at project management. Schmidt goes beyond explaining the right techniques to focus on doing projects in a way that provides strategic value.
Have you ever been part of a project that seemed to be an empty exercise in chart maintenance? Terry Schmidt shows you how to avoid that pitfall by designing your project to provide real strategic value to your company. He also provides excellent tools you can use on every project to make sure that its work is meaningful, that your logical design for the project is sound and that you have organized its work in purposeful chunks. Since project management depends on people, Schmidt shows you how to involve your colleagues, team members and stakeholders. He organizes his chapters for clarity and ends them with summaries of the main points. He provides the forms you need, and explains how to adapt and use them. Schmidt illustrates his principles with real-world examples drawn from his long experience consulting with companies and governments. He even throws in some nice humor and a few quite funny cartoons. getAbstract recommends this helpful, thoughtful look at project management. Schmidt goes beyond explaining the right techniques to focus on doing projects in a way that provides strategic value.
April 11, 2014
I should've stopped reading the book in the first chapter. I should've stopped reading the book after the fourth instance of the author boasting about the amazing things he made happen (e.g., reduced hunger, built 747s) all because of a project management tool he invented. I'm sure this is an excellent book full of insights, but unfortunately because of the writing style, I found myself more annoyed than inspired.
July 24, 2014
Served useful, I think, in the kick off of a new project team I'm leading. We shall see how the work pans out, but the framework helped me to frame how we went about initial planning and we left with a clearer sense of our purpose, desired outcomes and our immediate next steps to strive towards them.
March 30, 2015
I read this as part of my MBA program. Terry Schmidt offers some very good information regarding the strategic management of projects. He had some good insight and there are some accompanying YouTube videos that can help the reader grasp and apply the concept. I would recommend this for project management teams.
January 20, 2023
Terry Schmidt with his book provides framework for initiating, monitoring and closing projects. Book guides the reader through this framework. Encourages first to answer why? before jumping to how? This framework can be used to visualise high strategic goals to daily project contributions, thus better motivating contributors.
March 22, 2017
This book includes an excellent framework and practical tools for managing projects. Highly recommended for practitioners in any field.
October 18, 2017
Useful and clear resource to manage project using a focus on clear objectives.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews