Complete Guide to Creating and Managing New Projects for Charities and Voluntary OrganisationsBy Alan Lawrie Pub: DSC 2nd edition 2002 ISBN 1 903991 153 £12.50 [£15.87 inc p&p] How do you get a new project off the ground, when you seem to be completely tied up with the day to day running of the core organisation? You have the vision and the expertise, you may even have the funding, but sometimes it is difficult to see how it all fits together. This useful book will come to the rescue. It encourages strategic thinking, offers practical advice, and helps to demystify many aspects of project management. The text is immediately accessible, with clear headings, use of bullet points, simple diagrams and charts. No prior knowledge is assumed and any project management jargon is explained in a glossary of terms. Read it from cover to cover, or dip into it as needed: each section is clearly marked. You may be tempted to concentrate on the checklists at the end of each chapter, but I would recommend that you glance also at the fascinating case studies, peppered throughout the book. It is reassuring to discover that others experience similar problems and hopefully we can learn something from their mistakes. Recurrent themes of flexibility, team work, realistic budgets, regular assessment occur throughout the sections, and I personally find it useful to have these points hammered home. The need to prepare well for the end of the project and to make use of milestones throughout is sensible advice. The ‘helicopter vision’ I gained from reading this book has not only clarified many aspects of managing a new project but has also helped me to reassess and evaluate my daily routine.
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