Q2:  Where can I get student files and lecture notes?  

Q3:  Any suggestions to help learn all the project management terminology?

Q4:  I'm an instructor and like to use different case studies every term.  Where can I find more?  Also, is there a good test bank for this text?

Q5:  I'm supposed to propose a real project for class.  I'm not sure what to propose.  Do I have to find a paying sponsor?  What are deliverables, anyway?

Q6:  I'm supposed to do one of the exercises at the end of chapter 1, and I haven't received my book yet.  What should I do?

Q7: I can't save my work in the Fissure simulation. Are there any updates to that software?

You should normally buy the latest edition since the field continues to grow and change. Our plan is to come out with a new edition of my books every two years, with releases in the early spring/summer so faculty will have time to review for fall classes.  New editions will always include changes based on the latest PMBOK Guide and the latest edition of Microsoft Project, plus updated research, examples, features, etc.   You can see corrections here. Let me know if you find more errors. Reprints include known corrections, so it depends which print run you get if corrections are included. Faculty should be on Course Technology's mailing list to receive preview information.  Go to www.course.com to see the latest information on their books.  Faculty can order desk copies there, and students can purchase books online there, too. Faculty should set up accounts with Course Technology to access instructor materials and the companion Web site for the text. You can also buy some electronic versions of my books and just access codes (around $5) for the companion Web site. Go to www.course.com to find different purchasing options or contact them for help.

Q2:  Where can I get student files and lecture notes?

You can access all of Course Technology's companion Web sites from http://login.course.com. You receive a password for companion Web sites with new books. Instructors use their www.course.com accounts and passwords. THESE FILES ARE COPYRIGHTED, SO DO NOT POST THEM FREELY ON THE INTERNET OR YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAWS. Instructors who require my books can modify lecture slides, for example, and post them in a password protected area for their own students. You can also download the template files and files for Appendix A from the student downloads section of www.course.com.  You can also download these files here for my ITPM book: 5th edition Appendix A files (for Project 2007, same for my Intro to PM book, second edition), 5th edition template files, 4th edition templates, 4th edition Appendix A files (for Project 2003, same for my Intro to PM book, 1st edition), 3rd edition templates, 3rd edition Appendix A files. Here are the template files for my Intro to PM book (both editions).

Q3:  Any suggestions to help learn all the project management terminology?

Each chapter has a list of key terms along with their definitions at the end of the chapter.  You can also access sample quizzes and podcasts on the companion Web sites to help you learn the lingo, and a free Jeopardy game from my home page.  Creating stories or focusing on real applications, like the many examples in the text, often help you to remember the terminology.

Q4:  I'm an instructor and like to use different case studies every term.  Where can I find more?  Also, is there a good test bank for this text?

All of my books include several cases or team projects. You can also access more on the companion Web sites.  Instructors can get the suggested solutions from the instructor section of www.course.com.  Contact Course Technology to set up an instructor account if you don't already have one.  Instructors also get a great test engine and large test bank from the publisher to make it easier to create tests.  You can select and edit questions already in the test bank or enter and save your own questions.

Q5:  I'm supposed to propose a real project for class.  I'm not sure what to propose.  Do I have to find a paying sponsor?  What are deliverables, anyway?

Always check with your instructor.  He or she should provide some examples of appropriate projects. Often you only need to pick a few of the projects that students propose since they're done in groups, but you still want to try to come up with a good project idea.  If yours is chosen, you can get a lot of great work done!  All projects should have sponsors.  For class projects, you normally cannot charge the sponsor for the project, but it depends on your college/situation.  I do find it a good idea to ask for-profit companies to make a small donation to your college if you do their project.  If they refuse, it probably means they don't really need the work done and may not give you the feedback you need to do a good job!  Sponsors can be you, your classmates, your parents, friends, spouses, or people in charge of clubs or organizations that you belong to.  Part of the learning experience of doing a real group project is learning how to work with a real sponsor.  Deliverables are what you will deliver to your sponsor.  For example, you might create a survey, develop a database to analyze the survey, and write a report with your analysis of the survey.  The survey, database, and report would all be deliverables related to that project.  You'll also produce project management-related deliverables like a charter, scope statement, etc. 

Q6:  I'm supposed to do one of the exercises at the end of chapter 1, and I haven't received my book yet.  What should I do?

You can read all of the first chapter from either of my recent books on the Chapter 1 Preview links (just below the picture of the book).

Q7:  I can't save my work in the Fissure simulation. Are there any updates to that software?