Successful project management (In-House)

1 Introduction (Course sponsor)

• Why this programme has been developed
• Review of participants' needs and objectives

2 Key concepts and requirements for success

• Projects and project management
• Lessons from past projects; the essential requirements for success
• Differences between projects; characteristic project life cycles
• The challenges of project management; the role of the project manager
• Project exercise
  • A team exercise to demonstrate the challenges of project management

3 Defining project objectives and scope

• Identifying the stakeholders; key roles and responsibilities
• Getting organised; managing the definition process
• Working with the 'customer' to define the project scope

4 Project case study: part 1

• Defining the project objectives: syndicate teams define the objectives and scope for a typical project

5 Project planning

• The nature of planning; recognising planning assumptions
• Planning the plan; the importance of team involvement
• Developing the work breakdown structure
• Estimating task resources, timescales and costs
• Developing the project schedule
• Analysing the plan and identifying the critical path

6 Project case study: part 2

• Creating the project plan
• Syndicate teams begin development of their project plans (for completion after session 7)
• Team presentations and group discussion (after session 7)

7 Managing project risks

• Understanding and defining project risks
• Classifying risks and adopting an appropriate risk strategy
• Identifying, evaluating and managing project risks
• Agreeing ownership of project risks; the risk register
• Integrating planning and risk management

8 Project control

• Pro-active and re-active control; striking the right balance
• Pre-requisites for effective, pro-active project control
• Avoiding unnecessary 'scope creep' and controlling change
• Selecting the data needed to provide early warning of problems
• Monitoring project performance: 'S' curves, slip charts, earned value
• Getting good data and assessing project status
• Defining the roles and responsibilities for control
• Setting up a routine process for keeping up to date
• Managing and controlling multiple projects

9 Project case study: part 3

• Controlling the project
• Teams control their project as new developments take place

10 Course review and transfer planning (Course sponsor present)

• Identify actions to be implemented individually
• Identify corporate opportunities for improving project management
• Sponsor-led review and discussion of proposals
• Conclusion