Top 5 project management books to read

Good books on project management should be in every project manager’s private library. I especially appreciate books that contain many practical examples. Many books describe project management, methodologies, risk management, Gantt charts, project plans, and project management office or company strategy. In the following article, I will recommend those that, in my opinion, combine the “scientific” with a practical approach to project management.

1. Dr. Yuri Raydugin: 'Project Risk Management' or risk management in projects

Dr Yuri Raydugin managed project risks for many years in large corporations such as Royal Dutch Shell, SNC-Lavalin, and TransCanada Pipelines. Virtually all project management methodologies recommend risk management on projects. Indeed, this is particularly important because good risk management minimizes the number of problems during projects. Without a doubt, this book has the advantage of explaining the entire risk management process in detail. The process starts with identifying project risks, describing them, and taking measures to minimize the impact of the risks’ effects on projects. The author describes the project manager’s and management’s responsibilities in the risk management process. The book’s practical examples of risk identification and management from various organizations are not just noteworthy, but they are also a key feature that helps readers understand and apply the concepts in their projects. The techniques for identifying risks based on the project schedule – its WBS – and the risk assessment matrix can help all.

2. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez: 'Project management handbook-how to start, run and supervise successful projects'

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3. Professor Roger Martin: 'Playing to win - how the strategy works'

The author of this book is Professor Roger Martin, regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on formulating corporate strategy. This book is undeniably valuable because it shows the whole process with examples of how a company’s strategy should be formulated. I realize that project management methodologies, project plans, Gantt charts, or other tools typical in project management should be covered in the book. However, every project management office manager should know company strategy design well. It is becoming increasingly common to link a company’s strategic objectives to projects directly. This approach allows projects to be prioritized and the company’s resources to be focused on building value. The concept of creating a company’s strategy starts with defining the company’s financial aspirations. The following steps identify the target group and determine how we want to meet their expectations. The final step is to design management mechanisms that effectively support the strategy implementation process.

4. 'PMBOK Guide - a guide to the canon of project management knowledge'

This is the seventh edition of this manual. This book is the basis for gaining PMI project manager certification. The book covers virtually all aspects of project management in a very comprehensive manner. The book focuses on showing a structured methodology and several definitions and relationships between the different elements of project management. You will not find several practical project management examples in the book, but that is not the book’s purpose. What is undoubtedly noteworthy is that the book shows the whole project management process in a very structured way, focusing on both tool and human and organizational aspects. What caught my attention in the book was the section on adapting the methodology to different organizational situations. This is undoubtedly a valuable aspect that every project management office should consider when designing project management procedures in a company.

5. Harvard Business Review : 'HBR guide to project management-motivate your team, avoid scope creep, deliver results'

Harvard Business Review published this book. It is not extensive, but it contains several good project management practices. Unlike PMBOK, this item should interest those who want basic project management knowledge but are not fully engaged. In the book, the author presents the main phases of project execution and then discusses them in detail. The critical aspects of project planning that lead to developing a project schedule, project budget, or project charter are presented. Then, the key elements to consider during the project implementation phase are discussed. Finally, the author shows how to professionally conclude a project and summarize its progress through lessons learned.

Project management books as an essential source of knowledge

In summary, having the best books on the broad discipline of project management in your library is worth it. Of course, one may assume that much valuable and practical information can be found on the Internet for free. However, it turns out that it is not that easy in practice, and getting to the valuable materials, if successful, can take quite a long time. Therefore, good project management books, always available, can be of great help. Finally, it is worth adding that everyone wanting to acquire new knowledge should have an inner curiosity and reach for the best book positions.

Włodzimierz Makowski

CEO FlexiProject

Włodzimierz is a board member at FlexiProject and an expert in project management. Over the past 20 years, he has gained extensive experience working with international companies on the delivery of dozens of large-scale projects - today, he passionately applies this expertise in developing the FlexiProject system. He leads the team responsible for its development, implementation, and promotion, helping modern businesses achieve their goals.