Relationship Management and the Management of Projects - Softcover

‘This is a comprehensive work that shows how productivity and effectiveness in projects can be improved by mobilising the under-utilised asset of social relations. This book provides a guide on how to structure the project in a robust task-oriented way that engenders the outwards orientation and trust that underlies all value-creation in projects.’ - Magnus Gustafsson, PBI Research Institute, Finland

‘Projects are not islands and neither is the management of projects. As this book argues, we need to consider projects and project management in light of relationship management. This book is an excellent contribution to the theory of the management of projects and to our understanding of how projects and project business are formed in a relational context. It offers fresh ideas for both theorists as well as practitioners. It tackles a host of important topics, including trust building in project business, social capital in projects, moral issues in project business, and the development of long-term and short-term relationships for better projects and more successful project business.’ Jonas Söderlund, Professor, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

Relationship Management and the Management of Projects is a guide to successfully building and managing relationships as a project manager and in the project business.

Relationship management is a core skill for any project business to develop capabilities and manage the interface with projects, providing guidance to project managers as they negotiate with business partners and coordinate between business functions. Whatever the structures and procedures an organization has and whatever the project management tools and techniques, they are only as good as the hands they are in. Yet relationship management, though a well-established discipline, is rarely applied to the process-driven world of project management.

This book is a much-needed guide to the process of enhancing these skills to boost firm performance, team performance and develop collaborative practices. Hedley Smyth guides you through the processes of relationship management examining the theory and practice. This book highlights the range of options available to further develop current practices to ensure a successful relationship management in all stages of a project’s lifecycle.

Relationship Management and the Management of Projects is valuable reading for all students and specialists in project management, as well as project managers in business, management, the built environment, or indeed any industry.