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

This was a really great read for many reasons. The focus on ensuring your project has a strategic purpose is so important these days, where Program and Project Managers need to make sure the projects they are leading are providing value to the organization. The framework is one that can be applied immediately with the explanation and tools provided in the book and on the author's website. The real-life stories and projects were not only fun to read, but very helpful in understanding how to apply the framework. The examples were very thorough and helpful. There is great information on what is needed from a PM to be successful including managing the team and stakeholders. On top of all that, when I got to Chapter 10 it was like a bonus chapter for me. Chapter 10's focus is on "managing your inner game", and has great information on ensuring you have the right mindset to be successful. Project Managers have the opportunity (and challenge) to work with many different personalities and in many challenging environments. This chapter provides really great information on how to navigate those waters and be successful. Chapter 10 could seriously be a book in itself. Chapter 12 was yet another bonus chapter, especially for lifelong learners. It's all about the idea of taking everything we've learned and applying it to our life. As the author states, our lives are essentially a project. Why not apply the same principles to ensure we are achieving our purpose and providing value, with yet again, really great examples to get us started. Anyone who leads or is involved in any kind of projects or who wants to work better in a team environment would benefit from reading this book.

I told Terry Schmidt that would be a better title for his book, “Strategic Management Made Simple and Effective”. The time-tested Logical Framework Approach (LFA) that Terry champions goes far beyond project management. With its exploratory LogFrame matrix leading from inputs to outcomes, outcomes to purpose, and purpose to goal, the LFA forces you to understand the reason for the project. Projects are not executed for their own reason but to achieve something specific. The LogFrame traverses the ladder from inputs to goal through objectives with success measures, ways to verify success, and assumptions that must hold true be successful. Terry adds his own concept -- that he calls the Implementation Equation™ -- to help you build the LogFrame: IF inputs AND valid assumptions, THEN outcomes / IF outcomes AND valid assumptions, THEN purpose / IF purpose AND valid assumptions, THEN goal. This methodology offers you a way to view the LogFrame with multiple perspectives: scientific method, strategic planning, project management, risk management, management by objectives, and, although he does not mention it, also quality management. In particular, his use of assumptions has helped me to redefine my view of risk management. Rather than brainstorm a large list of possible risks in a registry that becomes impossible to manage, I use the probability that the assumptions needed for success are not valid – and their impact on achieving success, as the true risks that must be actively managed. A highly entertaining as well as informative book, “Strategic Project Management Made Simple”, or whatever you choose to call it, should be the first guide you reach for when building a portfolio, creating programs or products, or starting a project.

This book is perfect for those curious problem solvers looking to solve simple and complex situations with achievable solutions. The additional resources that come with the book are incredibly helpful in reviewing the multitude of case studies shared. Further, the author provides easy to follow guidance on how to apply the log frame to any situation and shares common pitfalls to avoid. Anyone looking to better understand and implement strategic project planning easily, buy this book!

This books is not just for PMs, it is also for people in operations that are facing the challenge of aligning the output of their day-to-day activities and multiple projects with the bigger picture of their enterprise. Personally, what I liked the most (and which it has been very helpful) is the visualization and alignment of the strategy with the operational side of the business: Logical Framework Approach (LFA) -- I call LFA my hidden super-power! Strategy is an abstract concept and often difficult to communicate to those responsible for the execution of the projects. Terry made this task very simple by addressing the most important aspect of any project: What are we trying to accomplish and Why?

(Review by Scott Miller) I met the author at the PMI Global Summit 2022 and became intrigued with his background and approach. In buying the book, I found it enlightening and practical, for both my work and myself. This is an easy read and is structured in a way to allow me to easily refer to and use the tools it highlights. I encourage anyone interested in project management to buy this book and give it a read...and keep it as a reference for your career! Great work Terry!

This is the best project management book I have found. Clear, concise, provides visuals, online material, he gives you a variety of examples, goes as far as to tell you how to utilize the PM skills to better your personal life, AND when I sent him an email, he called me and we chatted. All you have to do is implement what he provides into your life. Very grateful to have found this book and it’s author.

This book would be helpful to office managers who are overseeing small self-managed projects. There is heavy emphasis on people management and almost none on any practical project management techniques. It gave me flashbacks of a couple of project managers I've worked with who were completely useless and left the team to pick up their slack; the kind that talk endlessly without saying anything meaningful and struggle with the basics, like scheduling a meeting. I'm giving it 2 stars because it takes quite a bit of time and effort to publish a book.

This is an amazing book packed with real life applicable strategies.

Great book and worth searching out Terry's videos on the techniques built into this approach.

Written with lots of exxamples from modern tech companies.

Love how straightforward and actionable the content of this book is - very effective and readily digestible. Fantastic