Description

This programme concentrates on the core planning skills needed to develop sound practical project plans in a team environment. This enables the plan to be modified should requirements change or difficulties arise.

The programme also gives participants the confidence to practise those skills and apply them in the work environment and deliver their projects more successfully in the future.

Participants learn fundamental project management concepts and terminology, demystifying the project management process, and, in particular, how to:

Break a project down into manageable sections and ensure nothing is left out
Understand and apply estimating techniques to develop realistic estimates
Sequence work effectively and carry out critical path analysis to determine project duration and which tasks to pay closest attention to
Manage project risk effectively to protect project value
Monitor, control and re-plan the project to best keep it on track
Close out the project and ensure the project comes to an orderly end

1 Introduction

Self-introductions and personal objectives
Course objectives
Sharing of project issues

2 Project management concepts

Characteristics of a project and what should be kept as operational responsibilities
Understanding the triple and quadruple constraints - and their limitations
Prioritising requirements through the MOSCOW technique
Product v project life cycle
Key project roles and responsibilities - the importance of sponsorship and clarity of roles

3 Starting a project, and the importance of the terms of reference / project brief

Avoiding the pressure to 'just do it'!
The importance and benefits of planning
The best time to learn!
Initial project documentation - the BOSCARDI approach

4 Breaking the work down

Understanding alternative breakdown structures such as the product breakdown structure and work breakdown structure
Guidelines for creating a work breakdown structure to ensure the full work scope is identified

5 Estimating

Alternative estimating techniques and associated confidence levels
Further considerations - loss and resource factors

6 Organising the work

Use of network diagrams to develop a clear sequence of work
Critical path analysis and calculating the project duration and task float - and usage

7 The management of project risk

Understanding the nature of project risk
The risk analysis and risk management processes
How to best manage threats and opportunities
Running a risk workshop
Using the risk register

8 Scheduling the work

The importance of the Gantt chart and understanding its limitations
The Gantt chart layout and using alternative views such as the tracking Gantt
Using alternative dependencies

9 Resource issues

Assigning resources and resolving resource overloads
Crashing and fast-tracking your project and potential issues to look out for

10 Controlling the project

The control cycle and alternative feedback mechanisms
Alternative progress reporting
Assessing the impact
The importance of re-planning
The benefits of control
Change control - the importance of impact analysis
The steps of change control and the use of the issue register

11 Closing the project

The project closure checklist
Reviewing the project - things to avoid
Developing meaningful lessons and ensuring they are applied effectively
The post-project review - its importance to the organisation

Course Images

Project planning and control (In-House)

By The In House Training Company

Booking options

Highlights