Taylor & Francis Ltd Program Management Leadership: Creating Successful Team Dynamics

"Preface About a year ago, a colleague of mine offered me the opportunity to write a book tailored to program managers and, more specifically, how leadership can create high-performing teams (HPTs) that regularly exceed expectations and operate as a collective, innovative, communication-driven, and conflict-positive group. At the time, I jumped at the idea. Not only have I been working as a project and program manager for over fifteen years, I have been teaching program/project/risk management courses both commercially and academically for ten-plus years. The idea of writing about one of my favorite subjects seemed ideal for the next challenge. However, writing this book has truly been a journey and not a dissertation. Through each chapter, case study, and example, I have finally found the opportunity to review the conscious decisions and management styles I have employed and the results of my approaches. There is no doubt that I have had the opportunity to work with some really fantastic teams that truly achieved HPT status, but I have also struggled with team development, cultures, communication issues, and conflicts. If you had asked me a year ago about my ability to develop HPTs and lead programs to successful conclusions, I would have immediately shouted, "Yes, of course I can do that." After writing this book, I realize that so many factors go into developing a team--including each member's skills, abilities, and willingness to join a team--that to be successful, leaders not only must make conscious choices on leadership but also must be able to actively read and interact with the corporate culture and environment, and to personally invest constantly in the team"-- "The book focuses on individuals who have come to understand the values of the tools that are provided by PMI but are still looking for the advantages and the success factors necessary to be truly great Program and Project Managers. The targeted audienceis one that continues to focus on self-actualization and continuous improvement as a way of learning from historical efforts and driving each new initiative to the highest possible set of standards. "--