Arguably the most vital role in an IT development project's success is that of the Project Manager (PM). And in the big world of IT Project Management, there are many resources available to the PM from process improvement systems like CMMI and ISO 9000 to all-in-one reference guides, seminars, webinars and PM workshops.

Syngress Publishing's How to Cheat at IT Project Management by Susan Snedaker is a recent entry into the project-management reference-guide category. And though this book is a reference guide, its title is somewhat misrepresentative. Not unlike crying in baseball, I say there is no cheating in project management. Effective project management requires too much preparation and planning to risk any half-baked shortcut that the word "cheating" implies. But don't let my critique of the book's title scare you away. Just read on.

How to Cheat at IT Project Management makes no bones about the results one can achieve by following its methods and techniques. The bar is set in the Foreword with the following statement: "In this book, you'll learn how to become an exceptional IT professional." Wow! I want to be an exceptional IT professional. I can't wait to read this book!

From the start, it's very obvious that the author is extremely knowledgeable about project management. She has not only accurately captured the more common and even obvious aspects of the role, but she speaks to topics such as politics, leadership buy-in and team member cultural issues — all subjects that are usually encountered on the job and not in books.

And as accurate and insightful as the information is, it is made even better in the way the book is organized. Each chapter contains a concise introduction, well developed topics, a thorough summary, concise bullet lists covering each section's main points and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) that reflect the chapter's contents.

Additional features include:

• Enterprise 128--This is a case study from an actual project gone awry that illustrates how effective project management could have helped avert its doomed destiny.
• Cheat Sheets--These mini-topics (usually no more that a few short paragraphs) contain helpful tips on many subjects, including IT Team Performance, Task Ownership and Selecting Project Management Software Tools.
• Applying your Knowledge--These topics help readers apply what they've read in the previous section.
• The IT Factor--These entries contain interesting and applicable information relating to the current topic.