Virtual Project Management

"addresses one of the most challenging problems facing modern software development in an Internet world." -Dr. Jeffrey S. Poulin, Chief Technology Officer, Atlas Commerce "hits a grand slam in Chapter Seven!" -Bob Epps, Manager, Architecture Integration Technology Center, Lockheed Martin Management & Data Systems "I got "hooked" and couldn't put it downThis book will guide managers to make collaboration-at-a-distance a far smoother, more reliable operation. It introduces just the right amount of rigor; it discusses methods for preventing things from falling through the cracks; it shows managers how to deal with the many very real human emotional reactions in working with collaborators (especially competitors) with whom communication is necessarily restricted; and it illuminates the strong role of informal communication." -William S. Bennett, Independent Consultant, Author: "Visualizing Software: A Graphical Notation for Analysis, Design, and Discussion," "I would highly recommend that Engineering/Program Managers read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section in Appendix JThis book will help you understand the inevitable problems and put you on track with effective techniques to create an efficient and successful collaborative team on day one of the contract; earlier if you implement the recommendations during the proposal phase." -Bruce Crandall, Program and Technology Development Manager, TRW Corporation "The cultural semantics in today's global economy is a big deal. The notion of using a common project memory (RFPM) makes a lot of sense to those of us that grew up in a culture that embraces collaboration." -Dr. Frank Tsui, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Southern Polytechnic State University, Chief Technology Officer, River Logic, Inc. "A timely answer to a pressing management dilemma - how to bring distributed critical skills together without collocationaccurately hits the "high nail" issues facing today's management challenge of collaborative developmentexcellent job in highlighting both the potential pitfalls as well as recommended formulas for success." -Bob Wuestner, General Manager NLX Corporation

Paul E. McMahon

Introduction. An Overview and a Roadmap - For Busy Project Leaders. Traditional Collocated Engineering From the Inside. The Tale of Two Cultures (The Schizophrenic Project). Remote Task Management: Am I Doing What You Think I'm Doing? An Implementation of a Virtual Culture: The Rapid Filtered Project Memory (RFPM). Team Communication: The Rules of the Game Have Changed. The Integration Side: It Isn't a Seamless World Just Yet. Eight Practical and Affordable Steps to Set Up and Maintain a Successful Virtual Project. Conclusion.