The Study Guide
Johnathan Richards
Getting started in project coordination requires having the right resources on hand. Like any class, sometimes the best resource is a textbook. The expanded study guide is our collection of essential reading to get educated, and get ahead in project management.
Essential Reads
These are important texts to read and to keep as a reference throughout your career. Some of these may seem high-level to beginners, but having, reading, and engaging with these materials will build your skills as a project coordinator and, hopefully, as a project manager.
The PMBOK, now in its 7th edition, is published by PMI: the Project Management Institute. As one of the most important certifying bodies in project management, this guide is a core text in building your skills and pursuing your certification as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or as a Project Management Professional (PMP). If you buy no other book, buy this one.
Written by Scott Berkun, a former Microsoft project manager, this book focuses on real world, practical experience. While many texts will describe the theory, Scott talks practice coming from his robust experience in the field.
Lean, Agile, and Scrum
Some of the most widely used project management methodologies aren't in classic texts and require some more research as well as a different set of skills. These books cover a vital section of the field of knowledge worth diving further into as you grow into a more specialized role in your career as a project coordinator.
This O'Reilly classic by Andrew Stellman & Jennifer Greene is a great overview of a collection of agile project methodologies commonly used in technical project management and software projects, however the practice itself comes from manufacturing. Learning about these methods is crucial to any project coordinator's journey.
Jeff & J.J. Sutherland's book goes on a deep dive of scrum and agile management practices that makes this a must-read. This book will help you understand how to improve efficiency, collaboration, and delivery speed in one of the most popular project management approaches today.