Practical Project Initiation: A Handbook with Tools ( Best Practices (Microsoft) )

Zero in on key project-initiation tasks—and build a solid foundation for successful software development. In this concise guide, critically-acclaimed author Karl E. Wiegers fills a void in project management literature by focusing on the activities that are essential—but often overlooked—for launching any project. Drawing on his extensive experience, Karl shares lessons learned, proven practices, and tools for getting your project off to the right start—and steering it to ultimate success.


 Lay a foundation for project success—discover how to:



Effectively charter a project 
Define meaningful criteria for project success and product releases 
Negotiate achievable commitments for project teams and stakeholders 
Identify and document potential barriers to success—and manage project risks 
Apply the Wideband Delphi method for more accurate estimation 
Measure project performance and avoid common metrics traps 
Systematically apply lessons learned to future projects



 Companion Web site includes: 


Worksheets from inside the book 
Project document templates 
Resources for project initiation and process improvement