Reviews of Project Lessons from the Great Escape (Stalag Luft III)
Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views
(2/07)
Project Lessons from the Great Escape
Project Lessons from the Great Escape
"Let me start this review by stating
I’ve read and reviewed Mark Kozak-Holland’s works before and have
given his books high marks. He is an excellent author and brings
content to the reader that is both an enjoyable read and presents
real value to the reader. He is business-oriented and provides
workable solutions to project management that work. Having rated his
work highly, when I read this book I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I’ve studied history, including military history and watched the
movie The Great Escape many times. It is a story of extraordinary
courage in the face of life-threatening odds and represents the
people who fought and died for their countries. I was hoping Mr.
Kozak-Holland would present a work that did not detract from the
honorable actions of great men. He didn’t, and I am privileged to
offer yet another outstanding review for his efforts."
Reviewed by Amanda Bragg for TCM
Reviews (2/07)
Project Lessons from the Great Escape
Project Lessons from the Great Escape
"Every project manager knows
that having a sound project plan could make or break a project.
Should the project fail, the project manager has to worry about
job security, their egos, as well as their reputation as a
professional. But at the end of the day, do they have to worry
if they will live or die?
In Project Lessons from The Great Escape (Stalag
Luft III), Mark Kozak-Holland takes a historical event and
relates it to Project Management principles used in the
workplace today. As a current student of Project Management and
an employee working with many Project Management Professionals,
I found this book to be a nice contrast from the other Project
Management materials currently used in the classrooms and
workplace. Kozak-Holland uses terms and ideas found in the guide
to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). He also
relates the events to the nine knowledge areas used by Project
Management Professionals today. By applying these principles to
a famous historical event, Kozak-Holland takes the blandness of
the PMBOK and combines it with a story, which makes the reader
forget that they are reading a book to be used for teaching."
"Having spent over 45 years as a
project management practitioner and educator I have read my
share of books on the subject. Too many quickly reduce the
reader to a semi-conscious state. Not so "Project Lessons from
the Great Escape (Stalag Luft III)". It is exciting, pertinent,
and fun. Mark Kozak-Holland takes a great (and true) story and
makes the connection to todays project management challenges. A
great read and "lessons learned " of the best kind. Must read
for PMs."
Project Management
Trainer/Consultant President of Mass Bay Chapter
"This book and others by Mark
Kozak-Holland are a tremendous resource for educators-the stark
reality of failed projects and Mark’s detailed research,
historical accuracy, and the link to the PMBOK, helps us to
analyze and understand we are not alone in managing our complex
projects today. The incredible resourcefulness and bravery of
these men gives us hope on our own troubled projects.
Unfortunately it is still true today that the risk knowledge
area is one that plagues us, especially in the lack of adequate
risk response and contingency planning."
Project Manager WSIB
The study of history, gives
us an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and yet we
continued to repeat those mistakes. In project management,
the outcomes of lessons learned should be applied and it
most cases we ignor those lessons and continue to make those
mistakes. We have all experience in our careers as project
management that project that no one wants to do, but it is
the right thing to do and yet we are faced with the lack of
funding and resourcing making it possible to go forward. The
historical example that author has presented in one of those
projects. The author has careful dissected the historical
event by relating it to the different phases of a project
and the nine PMBOK knowledge areas. His assessment is
straightforward and to the point. From a project management
perspective, Project Lessons from the Great Escape (Stalag
Luft III), provides a unique opportunity to learn more about
project management and apply that knowledge to our daily
activities. Mark again has proven that he is extreme
adaptive in taking selected moments in history and exposing
us to the principles of project management. Once I started
reading, I found that I could not put the book down. I had
to finish reading the book. The book even started me
thinking about other historical examples that could be used.
I would love to opportunity to colaborate. Again, kudos and
more kudos to Mark for an excellent effort.
HP Education Services
"Thanks very much for
the opportunity to read an advance copy of Mark Kozak-Holland's
new book, "Project Lessons from The Great Escape". I am
an avid reader of history/military history, and had an
opportunity this past December to sit in on a
presentation Mark delivered at an internal-HP event
regarding one of his earlier books. I found Mark's most
recent book to be quite excellent. His ability to apply
project management theory and methodologies to
historical events is quite unique - and informative. I
have read other accounts in the past regarding the
events at Luft Stalag III, but none from Mark's
PM-focused perspective. This perspective really provides
an interesting and more complete context to the life and
death efforts made by the brave POWs at Stalag III. It
was very thoughtful, and fitting, for Mark to include
information concerning the Great Escape Memorial project
in the book as well. Thanks again for the opportunity to
read this advance copy - I very much enjoyed it."
Reviewed by James E Crotty, PMP (3/07)
HPS Engagement Program Management Office Americas PM Profession Lead
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning from the Great Escape. I started and finished in one sitting of a few hours; I couldn’t put it down. It has many great lessons and relevance to today’s projects and project managers and stakeholders."
Reviewed by James E Crotty, PMP (3/07)
HPS Engagement Program Management Office Americas PM Profession Lead
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning from the Great Escape. I started and finished in one sitting of a few hours; I couldn’t put it down. It has many great lessons and relevance to today’s projects and project managers and stakeholders."