... a highly pragmatic guide to project management. In this sense, it's an experience-based 'how to' book, not a collection of academic theories. Not only does the book provide the fundamental tools that leaders need to get better project results, it lays out the way of thinking that underpins success. Owing to this, the book represents a simple, manageable, actionable, repeatable, and teachable body of knowledge that everyone could benefit from.-Mikel J. Harry, Ph.D., co-creator of Six Sigma, bestselling author, and consultant to the World's Top CEOs
... provides the most significant contribution for leaders to mitigate the project risks, assure sustainable growth and guarantee survival in a global economic scenario full of uncertainties.-Carlos Alberto Briganti, managing director of power systems research, South America & associated partner of MB Consultants
... one of the best books I have ever read on the project leadership. The book has extraordinary concepts on leading a project, which are unique and exceptional. This book reveals the facts behind project failures and the approaches to overcome those failures by leading all projects to a successful close. I highly recommend this book for all project managers and executives who are serious about building successful project leaders in their organization. -John Salazar, CIO Department of Work Force Solutions, State of New Mexico and former CIO of the Department of Taxation and Revenue Department, State of New Mexico
... a thought-provoking book which will accelerate an intrinsic cultural change within your business operations. This book bridges the worlds of academia and business ventures. It provides step-by-step guidance in managing programs and projects that will result in your overall business success! Leading successful innovations always comes with inherent risks and obstacles. In my 30+ years experience in Defense, Space and Academia I have observed that several great opportunities fail due to lack of proper tools and processes. Following the steps outlined in The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence will not only allow program and project leaders to overcome these challenges but also provide managers and leaders checks and balances for total business transformation. I am confident that The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence is a comprehensive guide that will assist any business leader within an organization to consistently achieve excellent business results! A Must Buy - get it Now!-Billy Billimoria, director, customer applications, BAE Systems; program director, Lockheed Martin; manager, Hughes Aircraft; project engineer, Space Shuttle and Support Equipment Design
Buy this book! Your business is dead in the water with unfinished projects... they're like cinderblocks tied to your feet. The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence breathes life back into your project teams. It motivates them to think BIG and then actually DELIVER. Great book, great methodology. -Karl Wadensten, president, VIBCO Vibrators and host of the radio talk show 'The Lean Nation' on 790AM-WPRV
... a true innovation in leadership and human-side of project management. This book provides some simple yet extraordinary tools to help project managers and organizations understand and transform their culture. I highly recommend this book to individuals who wish to be excellent leaders, organizations who wish to consistently run profitable projects and universities who wish to developed future leaders and executives. I strongly recommend this book as the 'must-read and apply' for anyone desiring growth and profits through perfection in leadership and project excellence.-Professor Dr. Vijay Mahajan, John P. Harbin Centennial Chair, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, Austin; Associate Dean of Research, Graduate School of Business, University of Texas, Austin (1991-94); & Dean of the Indian School of Business (ISB) (2002-04)
U.SA. has lost its leadership in manufacturing to other countries because we did not heed our own words to make quality in projects the top priority, especially when we design and manufacture product. The innovative approach laid out by Adil Dalal in his book The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence, which pioneers combining Lean concepts with project management, and focusing on human assets to achieve excellence, takes project leadership to its ultimate pinnacle and will result in Six Sigma type results or 'zero failures' on all projects. I strongly urge all executives aspiring for top quality in manufacturing, software, service or other projects, to make The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence a mandatory workbook for all levels within their respective organizations.
-Manny Chavez, President & CEO, Aristos Technologies, Inc.; Former Pres/CEO of Harvard Technologies
The uniqueness of Dalal's book, The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence, is integrating lean, strategic, and behavioral thinking into project management, so it's a book on leadership, emphasizing projects. Once you are familiar with the tools and techniques of modern project management, this is the book to get, and to digest. And as Dalal notes, as a leader you need to practice new habits of thinking and leadership; otherwise, no book will be of much help. -Robert W. Doc Hall, Author of Zero Inventories and Compression; One of the first examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Recipient of AME's and SME's lifetime achievement awards, & Editor Emeritus of AME's Target Magazine
... a very inspiring text of learning. Adil covers the span of the project management body of knowledge and leadership attributes that one can learn and directly apply to enhance their project management skills. This is formatted with an easy to read, easy to follow array of critical points of learning followed up with an excellence array of case studies and exercises that will give the reader reinforcement of their understanding. This is a must read from the novice to the skilled project leader.-Dewey Butts III, CQPA, CQA, CQE, CMQ/OE, Continuous Improvement, Sr. Lean Six Sigma MBB, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, York, Pennsylvania, USA
... systematic coverage of project management and project leadership based on practical nuggets of over 300 successful projects by Adil Dalal. The book is comprehensive, simple and has a best practice focus. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious in achieving success with their projects.-Manu K. Vora, Ph.D., MBA, ASQ CQE & Fellow, Chairman and President, Business Excellence, Inc., Recipient of US President's Call to Service Award, 2011
In my career as a professor, a manager, and a consultant, I have observed scores of leaders over the past 40 years. Adil is among the best. I observed him leading a group of professionals, all volunteers, tasked with turning around the fortunes of an organization that has been declining for years. Adil is an excellent leader: patient but firm, flexible but always headed in the direction of his vision. His humility left me unprepared for the outstanding quality of The 12 Pillars. It is a must read for anyone who aspires to improve as a leader. While the book is specifically directed to project leadership, it generalizes to all types of leadership. It was so well conceived and well written that I could not put it down.
Once when Dr. Deming was asked why particular stories were included in his book Out of the Crisis, he told the audience in his most emphatic voice 'Because I was there!'. Based on my personal experience of having attended several seminars conducted by Dr. Deming I can say that Adil, like Dr. Deming, shares some great stories in his book, because Adil was also there!'. The analysis in Adil's book is all the more powerful because it forms the basis of his successful leadership of over 300 projects. It is a book with lots of theory backed by Adil's 15 years of experience as a successful leader. I strongly suggest you read it.-Brooks Carder, PhD, Author of Measurement Matters: How Effective Assessment Drives Business and Safety Performance, & Consultant to World's largest corporations including: ExxonMobil, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Abbott Laboratories, IBM, Intel, Bayer, & Monsanto
Having worked in project 'management' for years and seeing the carnage of leaders who have tried to do the right thing, Dalal's book, The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence, truly summarizes the anatomy of the project 'leadership' process. He then helps the reader to functionally address the issues to enable success. This innovative book is written to enable people at all levels to successfully effect project leadership. If you are serious about achieving results in your organizational teams, either as a leader, an interactive member, or as a sponsor; then Dalal's 12 Pillars of Project Excellence book will help you meet that objective. Many thanks to Adil for making this resource available to us all.-Jd Marhevko, ASQ Fellow, CMQ/OE, CQE, MBB, Chair ASQ-QMD, Principal, JQLC Inc.
... Adil F. Dalal offers his years of experience to those willing to invest time and openness to Lean project management methodology. The book not only provides guidance to those individuals desiring to move their project careers from managerial roles to a leadership level, but also serves as a guide, with specific tools and techniques, for organizations looking for fresh ideas from Lean project management methodology. ... not only very readable, but also inspirational. ... Dalal provides both global and tactical advice related to project leadership and Lean project management. The book serves the dual role as mentor in a book for the individual and as consultant in a book for the organization.-Michele Muse, PMP, in PM World Journal, Vol. I, Issue III - October 2012
