Project management is fundamental to the success of an organization. With the increasing competition between organizations, there has been an increase in the demand for project managers to oversee projects from conception to completion. A good project manager must be a strong leader, an effective communicator, and well-versed in the latest project management methodologies and principles. Whether you’re just starting your career as a project manager or have decades of experience under your belt, here’s a list of the top ten project management books (from beginner to advanced) to help you sharpen your skills.
10 best project management books
1. project management absolute guide for beginners
author: greg horine
You are reading: Software project management books
level: beginner
This book is one of the most popular beginner’s books on project management. It covers all the major project management concepts every project manager should master, from planning and controlling to getting started with agile project management. The fourth edition of the book has also been updated with all the latest and most popular web project management tools to prepare you for the latest pmp certification exam.
2. be quick or be gone: race against the clock with critical chain project management
author: andreas scherer
level: beginner
If you like to read fiction novels, this project management book is perfect for you! the book explains critical chain project management (ccpm) through two characters: mike knight and her son, tim. When Tim is diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, Mike quits his job to help a pharmaceutical company bring the only known cancer solution to market faster using CCPM. The best part of this book is that it makes a complex topic like CCPM more interesting and accessible for a project manager just starting out.
3. project management for non-project managers
author: jack ferraro
level: beginner
This book is exactly as the title describes: a project management book for non-project managers. As a functional manager, you may already be implementing project management principles in your work without even realizing it. this book encourages all functional managers to enter the project management space by equipping them with the most critical project management skills such as work breakdown structures, risk management methods, performance reporting, business analysis techniques and program sequencing techniques.
4. project management case studies
author: harold kerzner
See Also: Trade Secrets Law | Legal Solutions
level: intermediate
this is one of the best project management books containing case studies of disney, airbus, motorola, the olympics and much more. Since case studies are essential for project managers, this book will give you a unique opportunity to experience project management in action for some of the world’s high-profile companies. This fifth edition of the book also focuses on agile and scrum methodologies and supports preparation for the latest pmp certification exam.
5. make things happen: mastering project management
author: scott berkun
See Also: Trade Secrets Law | Legal Solutions
level: intermediate
This book is especially useful for project managers in the software industry. It is based on the author’s years of experience as a project manager for Internet Explorer, Windows, and MSN. does not cite specific methods for project management, but rather focuses more on the philosophy and strategy of good project management. Some of the topics in this book include – “how not to upset people”, “how to make things happen”, “make good decisions” and “what to do when things go wrong”. is an interesting book that will serve you well in your current and future projects.
6. agile project management with scrum
author: ken schwaber
See Also: Trade Secrets Law | Legal Solutions
level: intermediate
Written by the co-creator of scrum, this book provides an introduction to all the rules and principles of scrum through simple, straightforward examples. You will learn how to scale projects and solve complex projects using scrum, set up a scrum team, set up artifacts and ceremonies, and other key scrum principles. You will also learn about the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) which describes best practices in software development.
7. epiphanized: a novel about the unifying theory of constraints, lean and six sigma
author: bob sproull and bruce nelson
level: advanced
This book provides a comprehensive look at how project managers can use the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to increase an organization’s overall productivity. It also offers essential information on how to implement TOC, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies to produce even better results. . The book is divided into two parts: The first part covers the basics of TOC, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies; the second part provides a more detailed explanation of each of these basic concepts for those who want to explore them in detail.
8. the lazy project manager: how to be twice as productive and still leave the office early
See Also: Top 5 NAPLEX Review Books for Pharmacy Students
author: peter taylor
level: advanced
This book also sheds light on the importance of using TOC, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies to achieve better results. focuses on advanced project management skills and techniques to achieve superior on-time delivery coupled with unprecedented levels of profitability. It also includes the famous Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule that specifies that 80% of the consequences come from 20% of the causes.
9. the agile mindset: making agile processes work
author: gil broza
level: advanced
This book provides an introduction to using the agile mindset in project management. provides important information on best practices and tools for agile and how you can make them work for your team. You will also learn about the four core values of agile: putting people before products and processes, adaptation, early and frequent value delivery, and customer collaboration.
10. advanced management of multiple projects: achieve outstanding speed and results with predictability
author: gerald i. kendall, pmp and kathleen m. austin
level: advanced
This book provides an advanced multi-project management approach to complete projects faster and increase the number of projects executed with the same resources. it also addresses the key issues senior project managers have in implementing the right projects at the right time. You’ll learn how to control the flow of active projects, implement strategic buffering, enable faster execution, and recover lost projects.
find our pmp training in the main cities
this is what you can do next
Project managers are a major asset for any organization to complete large projects within budget and without disrupting other business activities. As such, the demand for professionals with project management skills is projected to grow faster than any other occupation. Simplilearn’s Project Management Graduate Program in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst will provide you with the latest tools, skills, frameworks, and best practices to drive transformational projects. It is also aligned with the project management institute standards where you will have the opportunity to earn 146 pdus and renew pmi related certifications.
See Also: Books on Stroke Recovery: Top 15 Reads, Updated for 2022