Review:
As a practicing project planner/scheduler and a Primavera P6 instructor,I have found Project Planning and Control Using Oracle Primavera P6 Versions 8.1 &8.2 Professional Client &Optional Client immensely useful.
The book layouts out in very clear terms,everything needed for a user to master this often-times complex application. This is the only book that I have found that comes from an objective point of view,explaining the “ins and outs” of this expansive program.
Planning and scheduling a project can be an extremely difficult and unforgiving task for an individual or organization.
Adding the need to model the delivery method in Primavera P6 can cause many unprepared users high anxiety. In his book,Paul layouts out in very clear and concise steps the project plan development process in Primavera P6 and why they are needed. I find this section in itself indispensable.
As a part-time instructor of the software,I always,always,always refer my student to this section of the book so they can formulate in their minds the approach needed for creating an effective project plan. Other sections of the book also add enormous value in understanding things such project creation via the project creation wizard,importing and finally the reflection process.
Other important topics covered are work breakdown structures,activities types,duration types,percent complete types,activity relationship types,baselines,as well as the updating/progressing process. Advance topics are also covered for those needing an understanding of multi-project scheduling,global functionally and software administration.
Project Planning and Control Using Oracle Primavera P6 Versions 8.1 &8.2 Professional Client &Optional Client book brilliantly handles project modeling categories of task driven schedules and resource loaded schedules. Paul initially layouts out a developmental structure to expose the P6 user to methodologies associated with each modeling category and then throughout the remainder of the book,details out each of the processes.
This framework can serve as a repeatable model when creating organizational processes and procedures that will maximize and individual or an organizations use of Primavera P6.
As a project planner/scheduler,I use the book as an invaluable desktop reference. I find it priceless when trying to model complex delivery methods. The book is set up in a fashion that allows a user to quickly get to needed information. It also is written from an unbiased point of view explaining various pitfalls of potential methodologies to be utilized.
Paul has wisely included how Microsoft Project,Primavera P3 as well as previous versions of P6 handle certain functions as compared to the current version referenced in the book. Paul’s experience with these other software programs allows him to give valuable insight into these concise excerpts. He also points out in the book,areas of caution that gives the user important advice on utilizing various components of Primavera P6.
If somebody would ask me what words of advice I would give a new user of Primavera P6,I would without a doubt say get training and get Paul Harris’s book on Primavera P6. It is well worth the investment.
Reviewer:
Michael J. Kehoe,PMP,MBA
Project Planner/Scheduler,Instructor,EVP IP System 3
Cherry Hill,New Jersey,www.ipsys-3.com
Diploma Project Management - Project Activity Sequencing