by Scott Berkun | Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc. | Release Date: May 2019 | ISBN: 9781492057482

In the updated edition of this critically acclaimed and bestselling book, Microsoft project veteran Scott Berkun offers a collection of essays on field-tested philosophies and strategies for defining, leading, and managing projects. Each essay distills complex concepts and challenges into practical nuggets of useful advice, and the new edition now adds more value for leaders and managers of projects everywhere.Based on his nine years of experience as a program manager for Internet Explorer, and lead program manager for Windows and MSN, Berkun explains to technical and non-technical readers alike what it takes to get through a large software or web development project. Making Things Happen doesn't cite specific methods, but focuses on philosophy and strategy. Unlike other project management books, Berkun offers personal essays in a comfortable style and easy tone that emulate the relationship of a wise project manager who gives good, entertaining and passionate advice to those who ask.Topics in this new edition include:How to make things happenMaking good decisionsSpecifications and requirementsIdeas and what to do with themHow not to annoy peopleLeadership and trustThe truth about making datesWhat to do when things go wrongComplete with a new forward from the author and a discussion guide for forming reading groups/teams, Making Things Happen offers in-depth exercises to help you apply lessons from the audio book to your job. It is inspiring, funny, honest, and compelling, and definitely the one audio book that you and your team need to have within arm's reach throughout the life of your project.Coming from the rare perspective of someone who fought difficult battles on Microsoft's biggest projects and taught project design and management for MSTE, Microsoft's internal best practices group, this is valuable advice indeed. It will serve you well with your current work, and on future projects to come.

1. Opening Credits 00:00:15
2. Chapter 1: A brief history of project management (and why you should care) 00:55:16
3. Chapter 2: The truth about schedules 00:53:47
4. Chapter 3: How to figure out what to do 1:04:35
5. Chapter 4: Writing the good vision 00:53:22
6. Chapter 5: Where ideas come from 1:06:17
7. Chapter 6: What do with ideas once you have them 00:52:38
8. Chapter 7: Writing good specifications 00:57:57
9. Chapter 8: How to make good decisions 00:58:33
10. Chapter 9: Communication and relationships 00:47:38
11. Chapter 10: How not to annoy people: process, email, and meetings 00:57:31
12. Chapter 11: What to do when things go wrong 1:15:31
13. Chapter 12: Why leadership is based on trust 00:54:28
14. Chapter 13: Making things happen 00:59:24
15. Chapter 14: Middle-game strategy 00:57:23
16. Chapter 15: End-game strategy 1:08:38
17. Chapter 16: Power and politics 1:00:24
18. Closing Credits 00:00:25