Projects have always been essentially human endeavours. Large modern projects are generally highly complex, fraught with technical difficulties and supported by diverse, often apparently conflicted stakeholders. The spirituality that originally defined some of the great construction projects of the classical era surely has a role in project management today. The Spirit of Project Management explains the context for spirituality in projects and explores how it can be used to create a larger sense of purpose and achievement; to help encourage an esprit de corps amongst all those involved; to act as a touchstone for ethical and sustainable decision-making. This is a very pragmatic book. The first part includes an explanation and a variety of useful models for understanding the significance and value of spirituality in projects. Judi Neal and Alan Harpham devote the second part of the book to help you integrate these ideas into your day-to-day management of projects. Thus there are chapters on spirituality from the perspective of the individual, the project team, the project organization and even project management within a sustainable world framework. Read this book, use the ideas to help you articulate your projects; engage and sustain your project team and your stakeholders; and frame how you work in terms of your organisation, society and the environment.
Biography
Dr Judi Neal is Director of the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. The Center supports research, education, and business outreach for those interested in faith and spirituality in the workplace. Judi is President of Edgewalkers International, a consultancy committed to helping leaders, teams and organizations to be on their leading edge. She is the author of Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build Bridges and Break New Ground and The Handbook for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. She was the founder of the International Center for Spirit at Work, and a co-founder of the Management, Spirituality and Religion Interest Group at the Academy of Management. Judi has consulted to organizations such as Pfizer, Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Jackson Newspapers, and numerous others, and has spoken about spirituality in the workplace internationally. She is considered one of the pioneers and experts in the field and has been quoted in The London Sunday Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Tokyo Shimbum, and has appeared frequently on television and radio in the U.S. Alan Harpham is a management consultant focused on change management, programme management, project management and executive coaching. He is Chairman of The APM Group, Chairman of Workplace Matters Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and a previous Board Member of The International Center for Spirit at Work. He is also on the selection committee of the International Faith and Spirit at Work Awards. He is Chairman of Cranfield University's Science & Engineering Research Ethics Committee and the SPD Research Ethics Committee (medical). Alan was co-owner and a founding director of P5 - the Power of Projects. He is also a former trustee of several charitable organisations including MODEM, and The Friends of the Bedford Child Development Centre. He was a founding member of the Jury for the IPMA International Project Management Awards and continued as such until 2006. Alan Harpham is also a former Managing Director and senior consultant of Nichols Associates (now part of The Nichols Group), one of the UK's leading consultancies in project and change management. Before that he was the Director of Cranfield University's MSc in Project Management.
'Spirituality is a sense of meaning, purpose and wanting to make a difference. Projects are also about making a difference. Judi and Alan have brought together a wide range of sources to put Spirituality into context and provide ideas for greater understanding of oneself and your team. A very thought provoking read.' Richard Pharro, CEO of the APM Group 'This book makes a strong case for project management and spirituality being a powerful context for full self expression in the workplace. Judi and Alan's words bring life to the notion that people at work are committed to contributing and making a difference. They do a brilliant job of integrating, what at first may seem, disparate subjects.' Mel Toomey, D.H.L., Scholar in Residence at The Graduate Institute, Bethany, USA 'Of great interest to anyone concerned with (or about) Project "Humankind". The combination of wide experience of project management, an open explorative spirituality with a vision of future development, is a call for responsible study and action. I hope that others will be encouraged to explore the emerging spirituality in their own 'secular' work and share it as lucidly and creatively as these authors. I also hope that all spiritual and religious traditions will recognise their own roots in such emergence and set about examining their management of their own God-given project.' The Revd Dr Norman Todd, former Adviser for Bishops' Ministry to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York 'Read this book for a vision of wholeness. Judi and Alan hold together what we so often seem mad keen on dividing - a sense of the spirit, and competence in getting things done. They show with wit and humanity that you can live a life of spiritual wisdom without losing the plot. Great!' The Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Anglican Bishop of Hertford 'Spirituality in our everyday lives - not just on Friday, Saturday or Sunday - is truly our best hope for a peaceful world. This important book shows how everyone involved in projec
