Foundations of Project Management

Foundations of Project Management Virtual Classroom version fertures three days with both live instructor-led virtual components, as well as pre-recorded videos that will be viewed by participants at strategic points before and during the sessions. Limited homework will be required for pre-recorded video viewing and work required on participants’ own projects. This course structuring allows the instructor to concentrate on more challenging concepts, as well as discussions, polls, breakout groups and the application of key learning concepts.

Course Structure

Course Introduction – Pre-recorded Project Framework – Pre-recorded Definitions, Knowledge Areas, Process Groups – Pre-recorded Roles and Responsibilities – Pre-recorded Business Requirements/Initiation – Instructor Led Project Requirements – Instructor Led Work Requirements – Instructor Led Building the Schedule – Instructor Led Quality and Resources – Instructor Led Project Risk – Instructor Led Stakeholders/Communication – Instructor Led Costs – Pre-recorded Project Execution – Pre-recorded Monitoring and Controlling – Instructor Led Project Close-out – Instructor Led

One follow-up 2-hour session for open discussion and review – Instructor Led (Timing and details to be confirmed in class)

Course Objectives

• Learn the critical components of successful project management
• Turn theory into practical application
• Key learning points – Applied to a select project in class (groupwork)
• Key learning points – Applied to participant project (limited homework)
• Understand the 6 critical documents
• Share experiences

Course Schedule – 3 days

• Morning session 10am-12pm
• Lunch 12-1pm
• Afternoon session 1-3pm

Course content details

Project Management Process Groups

• The project life cycle
  • Phases
  • Characteristics
  • Life-cycle trends
• Initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing phases

Project Selection, Initiation and Team Formation

• Building a project team
• Project selection models
• Identifying, documenting and assigning roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships
• Team charter development

Project Scope Planning and Work Breakdown

• Creating a scope document
• Definition and purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Successful Task Sequencing

• Definition of task dependency
• Fast-tracking – overlapping phases
• Task diagramming techniques

Project Estimating

• What are we estimating?
• Five estimating techniques

Critical Path Analysis

• How do we use the critical path in managing projects?
• Early start and late start scheduling using software
• Crashing the schedule

Resource Planning and Budgeting

• Identifying required skill sets
• Negotiating for and assigning resources
• Verifying effort and duration estimates

Project Risk and Quality Management

• Risk and the project life cycle
• Identification, quantification, response development and control
• Quality concepts

Project Monitoring, Control and Evaluation

• PM control interfaces
• Monitoring time, cost, scope and quality
• Manage project meetings

Leadership Skills in Action

• Leadership vs. management
• Motivational and communications strategies
• Negotiation strategies

Project Close-outs

• How to ensure projects are closed and archived properly