Typically today's management tasks include project management, running workshops and working with consultancies - all complex activities, which require a multitude of skills and competencies. This book gives you a reference or cookbook-style access to the most important skills in a user-friendly format. Nicolai Andler presents in his book about 100 of such tools arranged according to task complexes. To make personal use of the tools as easy as possible, they are grouped into task-specific categories entitled Define Situation, Gather Information, Creativity, Goal Setting, Organisational Analysis, Technical Analysis, Strategic Analysis, Decision Making, Project Management, Checklists and Questions as well as Scenarios.Elements of information this books covers are: relevant and appropriate for your needs; up to date and as timely as possible; and, comprehensive and sufficiently wide in scope, combined with a practical level of detail without being too academic. The book offers reliable information from numerous tested sources and real implemented cases. It is accessible and easy-to-use due to many different search options and self-help guides.
This book is a unique reference work and guide for those wanting to learn about or who are active in the fields of consulting, project management and problem solving in general. It presents cookbook-style access to most important skills, including a rating of each tool in terms of applicability, ease of use and effectiveness.
Table of Contents
Brief contents/Overview of tools. Application areas of each tool. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Structure of this book. 1.2 How to use this book. 1.3 The target audience of this book. 1.4 The scope of this book. 1.5 Skills and competencies for your personal development. 1.6 Clarification on methodologies, models, tools and techniques. 2 The concept and application of this book. 2.1 Problem solving. 2.2 Categories of tools. 2.3 How to select the right tool. 3 Diagnosis. 3.1 Definition of situation/problem. 3.2 Information gathering. 3.3 Creativity and grouping of information. 4 Goals and objectives setting. Goal catalogue. 4.2 SMART goals. 4.3 Well-defined outcomes. 4.4 3 P statements. 4.5 Goal hierarchy. 4.6 Goal grid. 4.7 Charter. 4.8 SNAP. 5 Analysis and synthesis. 5.1 Organisational analysis. 5.2 Technical analysis (system, process, data, technology). 5.3 Strategic analysis. 6 Decision making (incl. evaluation, prioritisation). 6.1 Introduction to decision making. 6.2 Decision tree. 6.3 Perspectives. 6.4 Argument balance. 6.5 Cross of beliefs. 6.6 Polarities tool. 6.7 Utility analysis. 6.8 Nominal group tool. 6.9 100 Points. 6.10 Cartesian coordinates. 6.11 Vroom Yetton. 6.12 Risk analysis. 6.13 Prioritisation matrices. 7 Project management tools. 7.1 Project management skills radar. 7.2 Expectation review tool. 7.3 Roadmap. 7.4 Gantt chart. 7.5 Work breakdown structure (WBS). 7.6 Action steps and reviews. 7.7 Project management roles and responsibilities. 7.8 Accountability matrix (CIDA). 7.9 Project structure. 7.10 Project communication plan. 7.11 Workshop guideline tool. 7.12 De Bono thinking has (6 hats). 7.13 Booz ball evaluation. 8 Annex A - Check Questions. 8.1 Check questions for a project start. 8.2 Check questions to define the current situation - diagnostic. 8.3 Check questions to define goals and objectives. 8.4 Check questions during an analysis. 8.5 Check questions during decision making. 9 Annex B - Scenarios ('Shopping Lists' of tools). 9.1 Feasibility study. 9.2 System development. 9.3 Organisational restructuring. 9.4 Strategy workshop. 9.5 Business process improvements. 9.6 Project definition/scope. Bibliography. Application areas of each tool (in alphabetic order).
Author Biography
After working for BSG (Business Systems Group) and Gemini Consulting Nicolai Andler started working as a free consultant and executive coach in 2003. He lives in Roggebaai, South Africa, and works for enterprises in South Africa and Central Europe.
