Design Thinking for Program and Project Management

I am immediately finding this book useful in my work. The author has concisely set out many techniques which can be used to cut through the ambiguity and complexities in my projects and other work. It is a great reference for thinking my way through solving problems. Building to think, executing to think and just thinking in new ways make this a great tool for making progress when traditional ways don’t work.

As a small B2B entrepreneur who works with Fortune 100, I was actually reading this more to understand my client’s processes and needs than my own.It was a pleasant surprise that Dr. Anderson’s strategic approach can be tailored for my small business. Some of the steps identified are, of course, second nature. Others are thought provoking for me in the sense that I can choose to adopt them on a case by case basis. Presumably this will allow me to “ramp up” processes for complicated projects or engagements with corporations that have higher than the norm (or at least what has been my normal) expectations.I have found it both enlightening and valuable to explore the strategies proposed here, as it has helped me to realize the reason that many of my non-entrepreneurial type employees don’t immediately grasp my logic. I have historically hired people with big business backgrounds and they have often struggled to keep up with or understand where we’re guiding the ship. It was as though they didn’t seem to know our next step- a step which seemed painfully obvious to me and my close circle of workers. They (the new employees) simply hadn’t had to walk through all of these steps. In many cases they were apparently viewing themselves as “cogs in a wheel” without ever understanding the A-Z or alpha to omega intent.The identification and labeling of many of these steps (which I never actually realized were in fact individual steps) and the introduction of new ones within this text, has given me a broader platform from which to guide my team.This book has, of course, introduced and named some new steps that (as a small B2B) in many cases I would elect to forgo. Resources, time, and budget would not make them viable for my daily operation.However, some steps that had never occurred to me will be tools that I deploy when faced with unfamiliar challenges from sophisticated clients.And of course the analysis of these processes gives me an understanding of my larger client’s needs -which I doubt any of my competitors possess.It’s always good to have a leg up, eh?

Wow, such a great book - written in common sense, plain English - something that all levels of business folks can understand and relate to. I have rarely done this, but I had to buy a second copy to share with my co-workers.I believe that this is the type of "real world" advice and teaching that is missing from the typical university business management classes. Theory and logic and "we've always done it this way" kind of thinking has its place and value, but in my experience (43 years in the oil business), few business grads get out with a much needed dose of the common sense approach to building and implementing projects. And that is what the author discusses in depth.Frankly, this book should be required reading in a schools business program curriculum. Yes, it is that good!!!!

This book combines the theoretical, the practical and actionable. I was immediately able to implement some of the strategies into my day to day operations.Some of the pictures and graphs are difficult to read so I am looking forward to an additional edition where some of those features are improved.I recommend this to any business leader who is looking to improve not only efficiency but also quality of service to all stakeholders.

I was pretty excited to find this book on Amazon and read some of the reviews. Equally disappointed after I received the book and going through the contents. If you have worked in strategic program management for even couple of years, this book will not add much value.2 stars for good title and few good contents here and there (which you can easily find reading blogs or just googling keywords).

As an HR professional, it was refreshing to read a project management piece that is people focused. We cannot simply go through the motions and expect outstanding results. It's only with empathy and the right set of tools for all players that greatness can be achieved. This is a must read!

This is a must read for anyone working on or leading a project

I found useful techniques organized in a logical way across the project life cycle.