Table of Contents

 

Project Lessons from the Great Escape (Stalag Luft III)

The chapters are laid out so to highlight the evolution of a project from conception to implementation, and to anticipate some of the more complex issues likely encountered. This framework also allows for a rapid audit of an organization’s ability to create a solution. Each chapter is written to give a better appreciation of the kind of questions that need to be asked at each stage in the project lifecycle, which is shown below.

Forward

Preface

Chapter 1: The Story Begins

Today’s Project

What Is Project Success?

What Is Project Failure?

The Story Begins

Being Prepared

Avoiding Captivity

No Public Sympathy for Airmen

Psychological Effects

Coming to Terms with Captivity

Conclusions

Chapter 2: Background and Environmental Situation

Location of the Camp

The Opposing Team

The Captured

Living Conditions

Keeping Busy

Conclusions

Chapter 3: Gathering the Requirements

 

Problems of Escape

Reasons to Attempt Escape

Ways Out

Previous Attempts

Odds of Getting Out

Conclusions

Chapter 4: Project Initiation

 

Escape Committee

Previous Experiences

Integration Management

Conclusions

Chapter 5: Planning and Design

 

Integration Management

Time Management

Cost Management

Quality Management

Human Resource Management

Communications Management

Risk Management

Procurement Management

Blueprint and High-Level Design of the Solution

Conclusions

Chapter 6: Constructing Solutions to Problems

 

Daily Project Meetings

Intelligence Branch

Internal Security

Dispersal Diversions

Supplies

Construction of the Tunnel

Sand Removal and Dispersal

Integration Management

Scope Management

Time Management

Cost Management

New Compound for American POWs

Risk Management

Tom Is Found

Project Focuses on Other Areas

Equipment and Toolmaking

Mapmaking

Document Production

Production of Clothing

Quality Management

Keeping the Project Going

Project Tracking

Harry Is Reopened

Tunneling Resumes on Harry

Survival Rations

Scope Management

Conclusions

Chapter 7: Implementation and Breakout

Scope Management

Breakout

Profiling POWs

The Escape

Integration Management

Final Preparations

Various Things Go Wrong

Alarm Is Sounded

Conclusions

Chapter 8: Closing: A Project Success or Failure?

 

Aftermath

Reprisal

Success or Failure?

Postmortem

Conclusions

Chapter 9: Evaluating the PMBoKTM Knowledge Areas

 

Risk Checklist for Projects

Some Best Practices

Conclusions

Epilogue

 

Transferring to Stalag VIIA

Liberation

Remains of Stalag Luft III

Great Escape Memorial Project

Other

 

Timeline of Significant Events

The Ones that Got Away

Notes and References

Photo Credits

Glossary

About the Author

The Great Escape Memorial Project

About the “Lessons from History” Series

Location of the Camp