Effective Portfolio Management Systems

This book begins by defining organizational driving factors such as core competencies and identifying processes that interfere with them. It discusses benchmarks and leading practices, conducting gap analysis, and developing value propositions. The book then covers reviewing and obtaining approval of the value proposition with the executive team. Topics include planning for benchmark and secondary research, identifying performance issue best practices, identify performance gaps, identify short-term improvement opportunities, assess value proposal results, and more.

H. James Harrington, PhD, is chief executive officer of Harrington Management Systems. In the book,Tech Trending (Capstone, 2001), Dr. Harrington was referred to as "the quintessential tech trender." The New York Times referred to him as having a "… knack for synthesis and an open mind about packaging his knowledge and experience in new ways— characteristics that may matter more as prerequisites for new-economy success than technical wizardry… ." The author, Tom Peters, stated, "I fervently hope that Harrington’s readers will not only benefit from the thoroughness of his effort, but will also ‘smell’ the fundamental nature of the challenge for change that he mounts."

Currently, Dr. Harrington serves as the president of the Altshuller Institute. He also serves as the chairman of the board for a number of businesses, and is recognized as one of the world leaders in applying performance improvement methodologies to business processes. He is past president and chairman of the board of the American Society for Quality and the International Academy for Quality. He has an excellent record of coming into an organization, working as its CEO or COO, resulting in a major improvement in its financial and quality performance.

Christopher F. Voehl, PMP^R, CSSMBB is the president of Seven Sigma Solutions, Inc. (Tallahassee, Florida), a company focused on accelerating client performance, customer satisfaction, systems deployment, project management, business development, process optimization, and change management. Voehl has over 20 years of technical, consulting, and executive management experience spanning multiple disciplines in a variety of industries including information technology, business services, human capital consulting, nonprofits, service industry, and healthcare.

Currently Chris’ focus is on Portfolio and Program Management within the private sector and consulting with state agencies and federal programs on systems analysis, process optimization and automation, managing portfolios of programs and projects, and adapting continuous improvement methodologies including TQM, ISO 9001, Agile, RUP and Lean Six Sigma.

William S. "Bill" Ruggles, MA, PMP, CQM, CSSMBB, CSM, is the managing partner of Ruggles & Ruggles, LLC based in New York City. He is an internationally recognized expert in managing and sponsoring projects, programs, and organizational portfolios with over 30 years of experience. He has provided consultative, coaching, mentoring, training, and auditing support services to over 250 organizations and some 25,000 participants in 17 countries on 4 continents in 2 languages. These include many of the world’s largest organizations in the fields of healthcare, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices, information technology, global communication technologies, insurance, banking/financial services, high-tech manufacturing, engineering, shared services, and the public sector for both the state and federal governments.