Project Management for Success in Research: The PM-Cube: a Guide for Professors, Postdocs, PhD Candidates, Master Students

by Carine Galli Marxer

Overview

Research projects are challenging because of their exploratory character and the special environment in which they are executed.

The PM-Cube is a practical tool that has allowed thousands of researchers, regardless of their field and their position, to successfully manage the complexity of their projects and to deliver high-quality results.

 

The PM-Cube will allow you to:

• plan your work while maintaining flexibility
• write convincing proposals
• lead performing teams
• communicate effectively
• find innovative solutions
• control projects 
• work in a more relaxed manner

 

All steps of the PM-Cube are embedded in the story of a PhD candidate who not only applies project management methods to her research work but also uses them to tackle the challenges and problems she faces.

Project management (PM) is a quite new discipline whose importance is increasing in our competitive world. However, even if such fundamental skills enable researchers to improve their performances, PM is still rarely taught. According to a European survey, senior researchers regretted not having received training in PM early in their career. Studies in the private sector support the fact that such expertise is crucial for successful organisations. Therefore, the acquisition of project management skills will be useful throughout your career.

Project Management for Success in Research: this guide is dedicated to Professors, Senior Scientists, Postdocs, Phd Candidates as well as Master students from any academic field and whose aim is to ensure the success of their projects. In summary, it is for researcher performing or supervising research project(s), or anyone writing a research proposal or grant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783952513156
Publisher:	Cubisma GmbH
Publication date:	02/14/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	38 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Carine Galli Marxer, PhD, is a physicist and project manager (MAS degree) who worked on interdisciplinary research projects in Switzerland and USA. She also managed several national strategic projects.In 2011, she founded her own company, https://www.cubisma.ch, to train researchers in project management. Since then, she has worked with professors, postdocs, PhD candidates and master students at various universities and institutions in Europe, USA and India.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

Is this book for you?

Do you face similar difficulties?

How to use this book

THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT - CUBE

BASICS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Well-managed projects create winning teams

What is a project?

What does it mean to manage a project?

Agile planning: the key to success

DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR PM SKILLS

What happened in your past projects?

METHODS OF THE PM-CUBE

A WHY - INVESTIGATE THE CONTEXT

1. Benefits of your project

2. System analysis and the CREATES © method

3. Stakeholder analysis

B WHAT - DEFINE YOUR TARGETS

1. Project objectives and the Project-Cone ©

2. Deliverables

C HOW - PLAN YOUR PROJECT

1. Structuring your project: the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

2. Milestones

3. Resource plan

4. Risks

5. Budget

6. Precise scheduling during the course of the project

D WHO - PEOPLE

1. Project organisation / Team

2. Roles

3. Communication plan

4. Project handbook

E ACT - PERFORM AND ACHIEVE WHAT YOU PROMISED

1. Project contract / charter

2. Kick-off meetings

3. Basic people skills

4. Closure meeting

F OK? - CHECK THE PROJECT'S STATUS

1. Project controlling

2. Solving project management challenges

CONCLUSION

THANK YOU!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Is this book for you? (Introduction)

Yes, if you are a researcher performing or supervising research project(s), or anyone writing a research proposal or grant. This book is written for professors, senior scientists, postdocs, PhD candidates or master students from any academic field and whose aim is to ensure the success of their projects.

Olivia, the heroine of this book, is a motivated and smart PhD candidate who is facing challenges during her thesis. Her story will allow you to discover the Project Management-cube © (PM-Cube), a powerful tool empowering you to not only successfully complete your projects, but also to find a path to follow in the face of adversity. This has been confirmed by many voices from researchers who have applied the PM-Cube.

According to a European survey, senior researchers regretted not having received training in project management (PM) early in their career. Studies in the private sector support the fact that such expertise is crucial for successful organisations. Therefore, the acquisition of project management skills will be useful throughout your career.

You may wonder when is the best moment to read this book. The answer is "right now!" in order to improve the success of your current projects and to start new ones under the best conditions. As you will learn from Olivia's story, the activities undertaken at the beginning of a project pave the way for its successful completion.