Project Office Books

If you only had to choose a handful of books with a PMO theme what would you choose? Here we share our six essential reads that feature on our PMO book shelf (each selection contains a few of our thoughts)

Author: Craig Letavec, Dennis Bolles
Publisher: PMI

This new handbook has been developed by the PMI's specialist interest group - the PMOSIG. Topic areas include Project Portfolio Governance, the role of the PMO, stakeholder relationship management, getting your PMO on the right track, branding your PMO and the PMO Maturity Cube.

Author: OGC
Publisher: Stationery Office

This new core guidance from OGC describes why, when and how to use portfolio, programme and project Offices (P3O) models. It describes what a P3O is, defining the two key types of P3O, and goes on to answer the question posed by Senior Management: 'Why have P3Os and what value-add do they bring to the organisation?'

Chapter 1 Review | Chapter 2 Review | Chapter 3 Review | Chapter 4 Review |

Author: Mark Price Perry
Publisher: Roundhouse

I attended a PMO Workshop in February 2011 where Mark Price Perry was delivering a workshop based on this book. If you're looking for pragmatic practical advice on all things PMO this book is for you. Books like P3O are great for theoretical content however it lacks the practical aspects of setting up and running a PMO structure - especially in a business driven (read private sector) world. I took a lot of new things away with me from this book - and that's after 12 years in and around PMOs - a must read.

Read the blog article about the PMO workshop

Authors: Lia Tjahjana, Paul Dwyer and Mohsin Habib
Publisher: Amacom

The Program Management Office Advantage is a new text which also brings something to the PMO table. Ideally it should be read alongside P3O if you're a practitioner, or given to senior management if they prefer a business book that not only delivers an overview but also just enough depth to be useful in decision making.

Arras Book of the Month: December 2009

Author: Michael Hatfield
Publisher: PMI

Michael Hatfield has written an easy to read, easy to digest book outlining the problem areas when implementing a PMO and ultimately what makes PMOs fail.

Authors: Robert J. Graham, Randall L. Englund, Paul C. Dinsmore
Publisher: Crisp Publications Inc

A good book for PMO Managers, if not only for the distinct lack of good books in the area of project offices.

Author: J. Davidson Frame
Publisher: Crisp Publications Inc

A small book but gives a straight forward view on how to implement a project office within an organisation. A great book for junior project support as it gives a good overview of each element of a project office. Not so good if you need in-depth information.

Author: Trevor L. Young
Publisher: Kogan Page Ltd

Included this on the project office side because this is an excellent book to introduce project support to the science that is project planning!

Author: David E. Marsh
Publisher: Project Manager Today

The first of two handbooks/study guides that will assist you if you intend to take the ISEB examinations of the same name. Highly recommended for such test makers, a resource that delivers the basics and the advanced topics as well.

Author: David E. Marsh
Publisher: Project Manager Today

The second of two handbooks/study guides that will assist you if you intend to take the ISEB examinations of the same name. Highly recommended for such test makers, a resource that delivers the basics and the advanced topics as well.

Author: David T. Hulett
Publisher: Gower

In the preface, Dr David Hillson describes Hulett's book as "how to actually apply the statistical techniques of Monte Carlo analysis in a way that combines intellectual rigour with practical realism". This book is all that, and more. It provides a structured development of ideas for modelling all random and systematic effects on the schedule.

AVAILABLE AT DISCOUNT TO ARRAS CUSTOMERS THROUGH GOWER

Arras Book of the Month - January 2010