Methods of IT Project Management, Fourth Edition

Methods for Managing IT Projects from Start to Finish

Methods of IT Project Management, Fourth Edition, is a structured textbook for readers who need to understand how information technology projects are selected, planned, executed, monitored, and closed. Written by Jeffrey L. Brewer, PMP, and Kevin C. Dittman, both associate professors at Purdue University, the book connects project management concepts to the day-to-day realities of IT work.

Rather than treating project management as a collection of isolated definitions, the fourth edition follows a lifecycle approach. It moves from foundational ideas and systems thinking into initiation, planning, execution, control, and closeout, with attention to the methods and documents that keep projects moving.

What the Book Covers

The table of contents organizes the material into five parts. Early chapters introduce project management, the triple constraint, organizational structures, and a systems view of projects. The planning section then addresses project selection and initiation, scope and resource planning, schedule and cost planning, quality, communications, stakeholder planning, risk management, and procurement planning.

Later sections turn to execution, monitoring and control, project closure, and advanced topics. Across these chapters, readers encounter the vocabulary, processes, and decision points that shape IT projects from the first proposal through final handoff.

Planning Methods That Shape Real Projects

Planning receives substantial attention because it is where many project outcomes are set in motion. The book examines how scope, resources, schedules, costs, quality expectations, communications, stakeholders, risks, and procurement are planned. These topics are presented as connected concerns rather than separate checkboxes, which helps readers see how one planning decision can affect others.

• Project selection and initiation
• Scope, resource, schedule, and cost planning
• Quality, communications, and stakeholder planning
• Risk management planning
• Procurement planning

Execution, Control, and Closure

The middle and later chapters focus on what happens once a project is underway. Project execution, monitoring and control are covered in dedicated chapters, followed by closure and advanced topics. This progression gives readers a clear path from planning into delivery and then into the formal end of a project.

For readers working in IT, these sections speak directly to common challenges: tracking progress, managing change, communicating with stakeholders, and knowing when and how to bring a project to a controlled close.

Tools, Templates, and Practical Appendices

The fourth edition includes appendices that support hands-on work: a Microsoft Project Help Guide and a collection of project management templates. A glossary and index close the book, while chapter-level features include review questions, problems and exercises, projects and research, minicases, and suggested readings. These elements make the text useful for structured study as well as for reference.

Who May Find This Edition Useful

This book is aimed at students, instructors, and practitioners who want a methodical introduction to IT project management. Its organization and pedagogical features suit course use, while its coverage of planning, control, and closure can also serve professionals who need a refresher or a reference on project management methods.

If you are looking for a detailed IT project management textbook that follows the project lifecycle and includes practical appendices, this fourth edition offers a clear, process-oriented guide.