Project management books are everywhere, but very few on the market dive into specific topics beyond theories of project management or the role of the project manager in an abstract sense. Even fewer focus on operational technology, and none discuss managing automation projects from a technician's perspective — except for Project Management: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition by Leo Staples.

This book, part of the International Society of Automation (ISA)'s Technician Series, explores automation projects from end to end, walking through the various phases as a technician would experience them. It addresses everything from documentation and communication requirements to planning and resource coordination, monitoring and control, administration and closeout. The final chapter also includes sample case studies of six automation projects.

Who Should Read This Book?

The subjects covered in Project Management: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition are included on the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) exam. Technicians working toward their CCST certification will benefit from the book, as well as engineers and project managers unfamiliar with the important role CCSTs play in automation projects.

What's Different in the Second Edition?

The second edition accounts for transformational changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain difficulties, project teams working remotely, rapid deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and elevated cybersecurity risks at all project stages. It also addresses team diversity, updates to regulations and standards and the impact of the CCST on automation project implementation in various industries.

Who's the Author?

Leo Staples has more than 38 years of power industry experience with Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E). He has worked in the areas of automation, analysis, performance and compliance testing, natural gas measurement, predictive maintenance, compliance and business resiliency. Since retiring in 2016, he has been providing consulting services through his company Automation Solutions Advisors LLC.

Staples is an ISA Fellow who has authored and delivered technical and leadership papers at various events around the world. In 2011, Staples served as the ISA president. Since 2008, he has held various leadership positions in the Automation Federation, and he chaired the organization in 2012. Staples served on the Automation Federation Cybersecurity team that worked with the White House and NIST on the creation and implementation of the Cybersecurity Framework, and he currently chairs the Automation Federation Energy Committee.

To learn more about Staples and the newest edition of his book — Project Management: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition — check out this Q&A with the author.

Further Reading

The book is available for purchase from the ISA website, where even more resources are available on managing automation projects, including the Automation Project Management (APM) Specialist Certificate.