One of the basic indicators of increasing professionalism in any occupation is the development of a specialized body of literature dealing with the unique orientations, problems, and techniques associated with the specific occupation. The continuing success of the Project Management Institute and its journal, the Project Management Quarterly, thus provides some evidence to support the idea of a developing professionalism in the field of project management. However, a rather extensive body of literature also exists outside of this Quarterly, both in the form of hardbound texts and articles that have appeared in a wide variety of academic and professional journals. To date, little effort has been made to identify this literature and evaluate its usefulness to the neophyte project manager and to those who wish to expand their knowledge of specific, project management oriented concepts. Yet PMI frequently receives requests from various institutions, groups, and individuals for recommended reading lists on various aspects of project management theory and practice. The Institute is apparently in a position to provide a unique, legitimate and needed service. This article represents a first step in systematically identifying and evaluating publications which might prove useful as a basic reference library for project management.
The Survey
Several issues ago, a survey was circulated in PMQ which listed several well-known texts in the field of project management. The list was not designed to provide advanced references for the professional already versed in the concepts of project management, nor was it intended as a comprehensive list of materials on PERT/CPM, scheduling, resource allocation, or similar topics. Rather, the list included books dealing with project management to which a person unfamiliar with the concepts, principles, practices, and problems in this area could turn to develop a basic understanding. PMQ subscribers were asked to indicate those texts with which they were familiar, and to add to the list any additional texts they felt would make a useful contribution to a basic reference library. The principal assumption of this survey was that the most useful texts in this field would be the best known among the PMQ readers, and hence would receive the greatest percentage of responses on the survey. No claim is made that this sample is representative so the authors will draw no generalized conclusions. Nevertheless, the results may well be useful to PMQ readers as an indication of the current popularity enjoyed by these relatively well-known, basic references on project management. It may also suggest additional source material to those who wish to expand their background on specific concepts/techniques related to project management.
Results and Analysis
The results of the survey are summarized in Table 1. These results clearly indicate that there are a few very popular texts in the project management field. Note, for example, that the Moder and Phillips’ book, Project Management With CPM and PERT, is known and recognized by some 60% of the respondents. Three other texts received positive responses from 50% or more of the respondents. The second aspect of this study proved disappointing, however. It was hoped that a number of other popular texts might be found by use of the write-in vote. While some twenty-five additional texts were listed by various respondents, none of these was named by as many as 10% of them. Apparently, only very few texts in project management achieve a great deal of popularity.
TABLE 1
Results of PMI Survey of a Basic Project Management Reference Library*
| Reference | % Response |
| Moder, Joseph J. and Cecil R. Phillips, Project Management With CPM and PERT, Van Nostrand-Reinhold Company, New York, 1970 (2nd. ed.) | 60 |
| Cleland, David I. and William R. King, Systems Analysis and Project Management, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1968. | 55 |
| Martino, R. L., Project Management and Control in three volumes: “Finding the Critical Path,” “Applied Operational Planning,” and “Allocating and Scheduling Resources,” American Management Association, New York, 1964. | 50 |
| O’Brien, James J., CPM in Construction Management, McGraw- Hill Book Company, New York, 1971 (2nd ed.). | 50 |
| Archibald, Russell D. and Richard L. Villoria, Network Based Management Systems (PERT/CPM), Wiley, New York, 1967. | 41 |
| Harvard Business Review, Managing Projects and Programs Series: Reprints from Harvard Business Review — No. 21300, c 1971. | 41 |
| Wiest, J. D. and F. K. Levy, A Management Guide to PERT/ CPM, Prentice Hall, Inc., New York, 1969. | 36 |
| Baumgartner, J. S., Project Management, Richard D. Irwin Co., New York, 1963. | 32 |
| Clough, Richard H., Construction Project Management, Wiley- Interscience, New York, 1972. | 27 |
| Drucker, Peter F., Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, Harper & Row, 1974. | 27 |
| Bonny and Frein (eds.), Handbook of Construction Management and Organization, Van Nostrand-Reinhold, 1973. | 23 |
| Woodgate, H. S., Planning by Network, Project Planning and Control Using Techniques, Brandon Systems Press, New York, 1967. | 18 |
| Peart, Allan T., Project Management Systems and Records, Cahner, 1971. | 5 |
| *Texts are listed alphabetically by author within the percentages of responses they achieved on the survey. | |
Several comments were returned with the surveys which bear discussion. One respondent defined project management as obtaining delivery of a product through people, within time and cost constraints, producing the best quality these constraints will allow. He then indicated that the survey list contained no cost or behavioral books. His definition has much merit, and his comments have much validity. However, even the write-in aspects of the survey failed to identify any specifically cost-oriented texts that could boast any popularity among the respondents. The behavioral field, on the other hand, has an unlimited number of very popular texts, but (allowing a bit of freedom in interpreting the survey results) apparently few that are particularly applicable to project management. It should also be noted that several of the most popular texts in this survey contain sections which discuss those aspects of behavioral theory, such as conflict management and estimating behavior, which are most applicable to project management.
Another respondent asked if it were not possible to categorize project management references by topic area. This suggestion is a good one because it would be that much easier for the user to identify materials most useful to his needs. The problem is that many of the most popular references might easily fit into more than one category. Nevertheless, Table 2 presents brief annotations of the contents of those texts which received a 20% or higher response rate, categorized under three headings: (1) Project Management Techniques and Tools, which would include PERT, CPM, shceduling, and resource leveling algorithms, and other such technical material; (2) Project Organization and Management, which would include those aspects of organization and management theory developed for and thus directly applicable to project management; and (3) Nonproject Management, which would include literature of a more general nature and thus less directly applicable to project management.
TABLE 2
Brief Annotations on the Contents of Basic Project Management Reference Texts*
| Author and Title | % Response | Annotation |
| 1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS | ||
| Moder and Phillips, Project Management With CPM and PERT | 60 | An excellent text designed to provide an understanding of networking techniques and their relationships to project management. Part I provides a basic introduction to networking theory, including the basic considerations involved in computerizing the network. Part II examines more advanced topics, such as the statistical theory underlying the basic networking techniques, the problems of resource constraints, and basic linear programming approaches to time-cost trade offs. Designed as a college text, the authors approach their topic from a theoretical standpoint and include many problems, exercises, and solutions. Recommended for those who desire a good understanding of basic netword theory which can be easily expanded with the more practical applications of the technique. |
| Martino, Project Management and Control In three volumes: “Finding the Critical Path,” “Applied Operational Planning,” and “Allocating and Scheduling Resources‘9 |
50 | This three-volume set was designed to present “the essence of PERT and CPM” in nontechnical terms. Volume I is devoted to defining the basic concepts leading up to developing the network and critical path. Volume II continues on to present the statistical theory underlying network estimating efforts and briefly examines project control techniques. The extensive bibliography consists entirely of pre-1964 references. Volume III provides a basic discussion of the single resource allocation problem and a limited extension into the problems of “several resources” and “leveling.” While this set can provide an introduction to basic terms and theory, the many advances that have occurred in the last decade seriously date mch of the applications-oriented material. |
| O‘Brien, CPM in Construction Management | 50 | A text designed to provide a basic working knowledge of CPM and its applications in the construction industry. The early portions present the basic theory of CPM and its relationships with PERT and precedence netwroks. Later portions emphasize various construction program applications, including a particularly interesting set of case histories. Chapters include a variety of problems to be worked and numerous “how it was done” examples of forms, computer printouts, and networks. Recommended for those desiring a basic introduction to CPM as a practical technique used in the construction industry. |
| Wiest and Levy, A Management Guide to PERT/CPM | 36 | A general introduction and orientation to PERT and CPM as two models for project planning, scheduling, and controlling. Differences between the two models are noted. Contains a bibliography of 147 items on the two techniques, plus exercises. Recommended for a general orientation to both techniques. |
| 2. PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| Cleland and King, Systems Analysis and Project Management | 55 | A good general text for those who work directly in decision making or are active in project management in industry or government. The authors present the basic systems concept in management and compare its use in strategic decision making with methods used in traditional management. This comparison demonstrates the unity of these methods and their applicability in a variety of environments. A systems view of the organization chart is detailed, as are the philosophy and methods of project authorization, planning, and control. |
| Archibald and Villoria, Network-Based Management Systems | 41 | A general orientation and introduction to project management systems with emphasis on generic network approaches. Sections deal with the general characteristics of network techniques, procedures for tailoring the technique to an organization, illustrative applications, and pitfalls to be avoided in implementing the techniques in various organizations. Appendices include glossary of terms, course outline, and an 81 reference bibliography. Recommended for those interested in generic network approaches and their implementation in project organizations. |
| Harvard Business Review, Managing Projects and Programs Series: Reprints from Harvard Business Review — No. 21300 | 41 | A collection of articles, assembled by Lawrence A. Benningson of Harvard University, which were published in HBR between the late 1950’s and early 1970’s. The articles are arranged by the traditional management functions of organization, leadership, planning, and control. Under organization, the authors of the articles define project management and suggest ways to develop project organizations. In the leadership area, the writers describe the type of person a project manager should be and use case studies to illustrate their message. Under planning, the ABCs of the “PM tools and techniques” are described. The last five of this fifteen article series are categorized under control. They detail ways to use project management tools and techniques and suggest methods of reporting to top management. An excellent collection of papers. |
| Baumgartner, Project Management | 32 | The author fulfills his stated purpose: “to portray the major, fundemental problems which project managers encounter and to outline approaches in resolving them.” He emphasizes the importance of planning and covers the elements of control in a general way. Project management “tools and techniques” are mentioned but not discussed in detail. Comparisons are made between project and standard vertical organizations, and the environment under which a project team should operate is described. A good overview of the general project management topic. |
| Clough, Construction Project Management | 27 | An overview of the role of project management in the life cycle of a construction project with some emphasis on CPM as a technique for scheduling and cost control. Numerous examples and illustrations with samples of “how-to-do-it” forms and related items. Recommended for those in construction projects using CPM. |
| 3. NON-PROJECT MANAGEMENT | ||
| Drucker, P. Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices | 27 | Provides an organized body of knowledge in the concept of management as a discipline. Correlated with the current knowledge base is an attempt to identify what is not known about management. While the book does not make extended, direct reference to project management, the general concepts and principles presented about the state-of-knowledge in management should be studied and understood by any project manager. |
| Bonny and Frein (eds.), Handbook of Construction Management and Organization | 23 | While not specifically project management oriented, this text provides a brief summary of topics vital to project managers. It is a reference text for contractors, professors and students, and covers “the fundamentals of construction management together with the most workable types of organizations” commonly used in the construction field. A voluminous text, the topics include, construction financing, techniques of estimating, equipment maintenance and repair, payroll procedures, employment practices and labor relations, taxes and industrial insurance, safety procedures. It has an excellent, practical introduction to networking techniques, as well as a variety of other useful discussions. Highly recommended as a basic reference for those involved in the broader aspects of construction management. |
*Several texts could be placed in more than one category. In those cases, the judgment of the reviewer was used to classify the text according to the apparent major orientation of its contents. Thus, for example, while several of the texts in Category 2 include descritpions of technical material, the overall thrust of the text was judged to be on the integration of these techniques into the larger managerial and organizing problems of the project. Annotations are provided only for those texts which received a 20% or higher response rate on the survey.
Summary and Conclusion
This article summarized the results of a survey circulated earlier in PMQ by the PMI Education Committee to evaluate the popularity of several well-known texts on various aspects of project management. The relative popularity of each text among the respondents is reported, and brief annotations of each text’s contents are presented under three categories: (1) Project Management Techniques and Tools, (2) Project Organization and Management, and (3) Non-project Management. It is the intent of this article to provide PMQ readers with some assistance in identifying and selecting source material to aid them in exapnding their background in specific concepts/techniques related to project management.
It is apparent from the current survey that at least one of the categories identified may be noted for its dirth of reference entries. In the near future, if the results of this survey receive a favorable response from the readers, the PMI Education Committee will sponsor follow-on surveys specifically designed to provide an expanded list of useful reference sources for all three categories. Meanwhile, the material presented represents the most current information available of the relative popularity of the current project management-oriented textual literature.