Managing Public Sector Projects

Filling a gap in project management literature, this book supplies managers and administrators—at all levels of government—with expert guidance on all aspects of public sector project management. From properly allocating risks in drafting contracts to dealing with downsized staffs and privatized services, this book clearly explains the technical concepts and the political issues public managers need to understand. In line with the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) and the PMBOK® Guide, David S. Kassel establishes a framework those in the public sector may follow to ensure the success of their public projects and programs. The book supplies more than 30 real-life examples to illustrate the concepts behind the framework—including reconstruction projects in Iraq, the Big Dig project in Boston, local sewer system and library construction projects, and software technology. This second edition includes all-new extended case studies examining recent issues including the rollout of healthcare.gov, the controversial California High Speed Rail system, and refurbishing the Harvard Town Hall. Contributing to critical discussions on budgeting for capital projects and cost-benefit analysis for preliminary planning, this authoritative new edition provides strategic recommendations for effective planning, execution, and maintenance of public projects. In an age of downsized government and in the face of a general distrust of public service, this book is a dependable guide for avoiding common pitfalls and for delivering projects on cost, on schedule, and of the highest quality.