《Briefcase Books Project Management》.pdf

1 Congratulations ... You’re the Project Manager! rad picks up the phone before the second ring. It’s his boss, BSusan. “Brad, I’d like you to stop by my office right after lunch today.” Brad is not really sure why the boss is calling him into her office, which makes for a long lunch hour. He knows he’s been doing a good job lately. As a matter of fact, he knows that he’s probably the most technically capable person in the group. Brad’s mind begins to race…. Maybe it’s an award? Could it be a promotion? “No, wait,” he says to himself in a frenzy of self-doubt. “Maybe I did something I wasn’t supposed to? Or maybe I didn’t do something I should have?” Countless positive and negative scenarios run through Brad’s overworked mind until one o’clock finally rolls around and he cautiously enters Susan’s office. “Brad, I’ve got some great news for you,” Susan begins. “Since it’s so closely related to what we do here, Project Apex has been assigned to our group.” Brad smiles without knowing why. 1 2 Project Management Susan continues, “You’re one of the best engineers I have.” Brad’s smile widens in anticipation. And then—without warn- ing—Susan utters those fateful words. “Congratulations, Brad, I’m assigning you as the project manager for Project Apex.” Great news? Did she say great news? “What do I know about managing projects?” Brad thinks to himself. As Brad begins to leave Susan’s office, she delivers the knockout punch. “By the way, Brad,” Susan says with a curious inflection in her voice, “I think you should be aware ... manage- ment is really going to be watching closely. There’s an awful lot resting on the success of your project.” As Brad slips out of Susan’s office, the same two words keep ringing in his ears—“your project.” The Accidental Project Manager The story above is not an isolated incident. Eve