Strategic Project Management Made Simple

Learn to plan and execute projects in any organization with this practical and insightful resource

The comprehensively updated and revised edition of Strategic Project Management Made Simple cements this series’ status as the leading resource for anyone looking for step-by-step guidance on project design and action initiatives.

Written by celebrated management consultant Terry Schmidt, this book fully covers the necessity of systems thinking and the logical framework approach to solve today’s challenging problems. Strategic Project Management Made Simple also includes:

• An expanded section on turning ideas, problems, and opportunities into projects
• A newly created chapter on managing your “inner game” to achieve project excellence
• Fresh case studies that cover how to pivot your business to meet changing needs
• A new approach, Iterating to Excellence, to create your Minimum Viable Project and produce solutions smoother and faster

Strategic Project Management Made Simple, Revised and Updated is an indispensable volume for leaders and workers seeking to transform their approach to planning, driving, and executing projects in their organizations.

Acknowledgments xix

Introduction xxi

Part I: Gaining the Strategic Advantage

Chapter 1: Developing Your Strategic Project Mindset 3

What NASA Rule #15 Can Teach Us 4

Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap 5

Shoot for the Moon 6

Different Contexts But Similar Issues 10

Preview the Solution Tools 13

Review Key Points 17

Coming Up Next 18

Chapter 2: Visualizing Project Strategy 19

Make Simple Strategy 20

The Power of Causal Logic 21

Organize Objectives into Trees 24

Illuminate Multiple Solution Paths 25

Develop Your Own Objectives Tree 28

Review Key Points 30

Coming Up Next 30

Chapter 3: Speaking a Common Language 33

Communicate with Clarity 34

Set Clear Objectives 35

Communicate in Words and Diagrams 37

Simple Project Logic and the Strategic Hypotheses 40

How Projects Deliver Benefits 42

Turn a Problem into Objectives 45

Review Key Points 47

Coming Up Next 47

Chapter 4: Exploring the Logical Framework Approach 49

Equip Leaders with Practical Tools 50

Examine the LogFrame Structure and Questions 52

How a Stalled Team Finally Got Going 55

Strengthen Your Project Design 58

Think from Multiple Perspectives 60

Case Study: Managing Enterprise-Wide Change 62

Review Key Points 69

Coming Up Next 69

Part II: Mastering the Four Critical Strategic Questions

Chapter 5: Question #1—What Are We Trying to Accomplish and Why? 73

Define and Align Key Objectives 74

Let’s Go to the Moon! 74

Start with the Big Why 79

Identify your MVP 82

Review These Project Designs 84

Review Key Points 88

Apply Step #1 88

Coming Up Next 89

Chapter 6: Question #2—How Do We Measure Success? 91

Develop Success Measures and Verifications 92

Measure What Matters Most 92

Determine How to Verify 96

Measures Help You Choose Among Alternative Approaches 98

Special Types of Indicators 99

Case Study: Winning the Peace After Winning the War 101

Review Key Points 105

Apply Step #2 106

Coming Up Next 106

Chapter 7: Question #3—What Other Conditions Must Exist? 107

Surface and Test Assumptions 108

Spot Trouble Before It Strikes 108

Evaluate Assumptions in Three Steps 110

Case Study: Battling the Asian Gypsy Moth Invasion 115

Turn Objectives Trees into LogFrame Plans 118

Review Key Points 122

Apply Step #3 122

Coming Up Next 123

Chapter 8: Question #4—How Do We Get There? 125

Identify Action Steps 126

Build It Big 126

Gateway to Multiple Execution Tools 128

Decide Which Lifecycle Fits Best 129

Manage the Ongoing Strategic Action Cycle 132

Keep Your Project on Track 134

Review Key Points 136

Apply Step #4 137

Coming Up Next 137

Part III: Putting These Concepts into Practice

Chapter 9: Getting Your Project Off the Ground 141

Move from Storming to Performing 142

Prepare for a Productive Project Launch 143

Conduct a Project Design Workshop 146

Hold a Project Kickoff Meeting 148

Engage Your Stakeholders Early 149

Create a High-Performance Culture 151

When to Pivot Your Strategy 154

Case Study: Upgrading Group Performance 154

Review Key Points 159

Coming Up Next 159

Chapter 10: Managing Your Inner Game 161

Leverage Your Internal Operating System 162

Take Charge of Your Thoughts 163

Manage Your Emotions 165

Strengthen Your Courage Muscles 167

Build Your Emotional Resilience 168

Manage Your Internal PROJECTS 171

Review Key Points 172

Coming Up Next 173

Chapter 11: Building Your High-Performing Team 175

Components of a Stellar Team 176

Create Engaging Virtual Meetings 180

Case Study: Transforming a Team Through Caring 181

Help Others to Become Their Best 183

Review Key Points 186

Coming Up Next 186

Chapter 12: Managing Your Life Projects 187

Design Your Future 188

Craft Your Personal Vision 189

Develop Your Life Project Portfolio 191

Commit Yourself to Make It Happen 195

Manage Your Dreams and Disappointments 198

Project Yourself into the Future 200

Review Key Points 200

Coming Up Next 201

We Are Here to Support You 203

Glossary and Usage of Terms 205

About the Author 211

Index 213

TERRY DEAN SCHMIDT is an internationally recognized management consultant who assists organizations with strategy, productivity, and profit. He has over 30 years of experience as an executive, educator, and strategy coach helping leaders in 42 countries across the globe turn their strategies into projects that succeed. He is the founder of Seattle-based ManagementPro.com.

Today, with the newly revised and updated Strategic Project Management Made Simple, accomplished management consultant and strategy expert Terry Schmidt delivers a thorough and rigorous approach to understanding and implementing practical systems thinking in your organization. You’ll discover a Logical Framework Approach you can use to solve real-world problems today and in the days to come.

The book includes a newly expanded section on turning ideas, problems, and opportunities into projects, new content on managing your “inner game” to achieve project excellence, and fresh case studies to help you learn how to pivot your business to meet changing market needs. The author also shows you how to build psychological safety in your teams and how to create your Minimum Viable Project and produce solutions faster and easier.

You’ll find diverse examples of applications to help you link the concepts and ideas introduced in the book to the concrete realities of your organization, whether it be a business, government agency, research institution, or nonprofit. These innovative concepts have been proven worldwide in organizations of all sizes and types.

The Logical Framework introduced in this book is the simplest and most practical form of systems thinking, and is ideal for tackling a wide variety of organizational programs, projects, and problems. It includes tips on how to engage and involve stakeholders and provides ways for you to integrate this approach into the larger organization and its processes.

Perfect for project managers, executives, consultants, and other leaders seeking to transform their approach to planning, driving, and executing projects in their organizations, Strategic Project Management Made Simple is an indispensable guide for anyone looking for step-by-step guidance on project design and action initiatives that deliver real results.

Praise for STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE

"A much stronger focus on implementation is urgently needed in this change-driven world, where most fundamentals of the past 50 years have been disrupted. Terry’s book is the perfect guide to help you and your organization navigate through this new reality successfully."
—Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, Former Global Chairman, Project Management Institute; Co-founder, Strategy Implementation Institute

Terry has made a valuable contribution to worldwide project management with this second edition. Today’s project leaders need a holistic and strategic approach to enable project management success in this world of complexity and change."
—Jesús Martínez-Almela, former President, International Project Management Association

This is the book to read if you are serious about approaching projects from a strategic perspective. I have hundreds of project management books in my personal reference library, and this one quickly ascended to the top of my list. Bottom line: Terry may well have created the PM book that will stand the test of time!"
—Lee R. Lambert, a founder of the PMI original PMP Certification, and a PMI Fellow

"This book reveals what may be the best kept secret in project management. I love how it connects the strategic purpose of a project to the nuts and bolts of execution in a clear, consistent format. Every project business case should include a Logical Framework. This powerful technique is the missing link in project design."
—Eric Verzuh, author, The Fast-Forward MBA in Project Management; President, The Versatile Company

"This book is a fantastic resource for any leader who wants to gain more control of their projects’ strategy and execution. This simple framework will guide executives on the critical questions they should ask to lead successful projects—highly recommended!"
—Hassan Osman, PMO Director, Cisco; author, Project Kickoff

"Terry’s book has served as a blueprint for implementing change in our nonprofit organization and establishing our very first PMO. His simple and accessible approach made it possible for our managers to begin thinking and planning strategically to accomplish our most important goals."
—David Sheppard, Director of Business Systems and Project Management, The Navigators

"My teams love this methodology and are actively applying these concepts to projects and programs that improve national security. This approach makes strategy simple, practical, and actionable. I recommend this to any leader who faces big challenges and wants to make a greater impact."
—Tammy P. Taylor, Former Chief Operating Officer, National Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

"Terry's humor and life experience add a dimension to this topic not usually found in business strategy books. Not only does he offer a simple and effective approach to planning and achieving results, but he also recognizes that a project leader’s self-mastery skill set plays a huge role in leading teams to project success. This is a very human book."
—Susan S. Radwan, President, Association for Strategic Planning, 2021-22

"Great project management is the ‘superpower’ that turns vision into reality, but it is rarely taught well, if at all. Terry’s book is a refreshing return to common sense, providing simple tools and a common language to help teams increase their impact."
—Deepa Prahalad, Design Strategist; co-author, Predictable Magic; Thinkers50 India