The ComSoc Guide to Managing Telecommunications Projects

As the telecommunications industry experiences ongoing rapid change, projects remain the driver of the industry's evolution. Projects continue to be crucial to the success of the companies offering products and services in this area. Written by a prominent leader in the field, this pocket guide provides an overview of the telecommunications environment as it has evolved over the past few years, illustrating the need for project management and providing a basic understanding of project management concepts. Going beyond standard processes and techniques to address the special—and changing—needs of the telecom industry, the book then demonstrates the application of project management best practices in the field.

Beginning with a clear definition of a project and an outline of the players involved, the guide then helps you set your project and business objectives (and explains why they are not always the same). It explains how to analyze your project's scope and manage procurement. Next, various aspects of project risks are reviewed, along with communications requirements. From here, you'll delve into some of the core concepts of project management—building and maintaining a schedule, managing the costs, and keeping on top of developments. Then the task of managing people is explored, addressing management styles, team building, leadership, workloads, and rewards.

The guide illustrates, via sample projects, the application of project management—as advocated by the Project Management Institute—to the special needs of the telecom industry. The chapters work through three telecom projects from different corporate perspectives: the first involves the introduction of a new wireless technology, which will allow telecom services to remote cities using fourth-generation cellular technology; the second evolves an existing landline network from circuit switched to IP-based, delivering Internet services; and the third designs and installs a corporate customer network showcasing services offered by the industry.

People in both line and staff functions at telecommunications companies who manage either large or small projects will find the featured project management techniques and their real-world applications invaluable. In addition, telecom companies, manufacturers and suppliers who serve the telecom industry, Internet providers, and companies that make products for the datacom industry will also benefit from this brief, accessible guide.