The new edition of this best-selling text presents the tools and techniques for effectively managing every kind of development and change in health and community services, while also balancing the needs of a range of stakeholders. It offers practical, problem-solving strategies based on real-life scenarios.

A core competency for health and community service practitioners internationally, project management is a key challenge for both new and existing staff. This practitioner’s guide uses project stories and examples to illustrate the core challenges that practitioners may face, including managing the project life cycle, project planning, execution and evaluation, risk management, handling change and building effective teams. Alongside new interviews with staff working across a range of sectors, this edition includes new content on career development and pathways as well as the growing integration of project methods into general management, and the impact of broader changes like digital innovation and transformation.

Written by highly experienced authors, and underpinned by the latest research, this enlightening and practical guide is an essential resource for anyone studying or working in health and community services.

Dr Zhanming Liang is an Associate Dean of Research Education and Associate Professor in the School of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University. She is a leading researcher in management competency development in the health sector. As President of the Society for Health Administration Programs in Education she has played a key role in building capacity in health management workforce training and research in Asia Pacific. She received a La Trobe University Chancellor’s Award in 2021 for her significant contribution to regional assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8022-4017

Ms Valerie Thiessen has a distinguished career as a project manager and academic. She holds qualifications in health information management, health services management and project management. Her experience includes roles in health information, health services management and consulting in both the private and public sectors in Australia and internationally. She has expertise in electronic health record and patient information system implementations, as well as specialty clinical systems and staff training for successful implementation.

Dr Judith Dwyer is an adjunct Professor in the Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, and Deputy Chair of the Board of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. She is a former CEO of Southern Health Care Network in Melbourne, and of Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide. She was for several years a Research Program Leader for the Lowitja Institute, Australia’s national Aboriginal health research institute. In 2014, she received the Sidney Sax Medal for her outstanding lifelong contribution to the Australian health system.

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9275-5918