In today's economy, organizations must perform faster, better, and cheaper. Projects have to conform to ever-tightening schedules and budgets. Because Practical Project Management: Learning to Manage the Professional, Second Edition focuses specifically on techniques proven to be effective in industry, it is the ideal reference for both new and experienced project managers. Readers enjoy a brief discussion of project management theory mingled with practical applications intended to avoid reinventing the wheel. This resource maximizes the reader's time, providing the tools necessary to save time and money. Practical Project Management: Learning to Manage the Professional, Second Edition, goes beyond the scope of a simple how-to book. It defines each unique phase of a project and then provides practical knowledge in areas such as budget and cost estimates, contracts, negotiating, team building, scheduling, and choosing project management software. In addition, the book provides sample forms, contracts and bids for industrial projects. The second edition updates some of the newer concepts including SCRUM Project Management. This methodology offers some new techniques that may be used with automation-related projects.