Q.)  How do I gain a better understanding of project management methods that I can apply to upcoming projects (on a smaller scale)? 

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A.) I know it sounds funny – almost juvenile – but I have found that the most easily applied materials for general project management are the very simple ones.  Remember, in our recent PM class we discussed the 80/20 rule?  I firmly believe that, for the vast majority of basic projects being conducted by the vast majority of “beginning” project managers, the (unfortunately named) Dummies and Idiots Guides are the most cost-effective & rapid way to get started.

In small projects, establish a formal process for approaching and defining the project, the scope, the goals & objectives, and the roles/responsibilities of the people involved.  If you merely change this single group of approaches, you will have stepped across an enormous failure gap.  Work out a simple series of standards for each of the project management process groups (PMI.org - PMBOK).  Begin keeping both the project manual and the lessons learned notebook.  Monitor what goes right – and wrong – in your projects and make simple adjustments in your process to identify what really works in your unique project environment.  Keep it evolving forward.

Naturally, I am going to also suggest that you take my courses, but not for the reasons you may expect.  In building this course series throughout 2005 & 2006, I conducted extensive research into the content and delivery processes of close to 80 distinct project management training programs across the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia.  While I will use many of the approaches used by others, my programs are unique in that they focus on helping you jump ahead of the pack by learning to recognize and avoid many of the most common mistakes in managing projects and project environments.  Also, to the best of my knowledge, this is one of the very, very, few blended learning programs that continue to provide personal/professional coaching to attendees after the courses are formally concluded.

Finally, the reality of project management is that the vast majority of projects – irregardless of their massive or tiny size – will use almost precisely the same methodologies.  As a new project manager, it is critical that you identify, and learn, the formal methodologies of your choice--Such as the PMI standards. The only real modification is in the scope of the project.

Special Note: There are many standardized approaches to managing projects. While I extensively use PMI's, I also have closely studied the methodologies developed by several major PM organizations. This enables me to adjust my project approaches to the specific needs of the sponsor / stakeholders. You may have a perfectly acceptable PM organization operating in your country. Use their standards but don't stop learning alternative approaches.