Traditionally, projects were rather complex and tedious. The first project to use modern management techniques, the Polaris weapons system in the early fifties, was a technical and administrative nightmare. As a result, we began to perceive project management as a highly technical discipline requiring the use of confusing graphics. This book is intended to help overcome this misunderstanding, and is designed to simplify the basic principles and tools of project management. Knowledge alone won't make you a good project manager, so you need to apply that knowledge. We've written this guide in a practical, relatively easy-to-understand style. But, rest assured, it's still a straightforward review of the most commonly used project management tools. We present these tools in chronological progression, following the logical flow of a project. Our aim is that, after reading this guide, you'll be determined to apply the knowledge you've acquired in all your undertakings.