Successfully managing smaller projects (In-House)

1 Introduction (Course sponsor)

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

2 Managing smaller projects

• Projects and project management
• Lessons from past projects; the essential requirements for success
• Differences between projects; characteristic project life cycles
• Key issues and challenges of smaller projects
• The multi-project world; project portfolio management

3 Project exercise

• Syndicate teams plan and manage a small project
• Review of the project exercise: What are the keys to successful management of small projects?

4 Setting up the project

• Getting organised
• Managing the definition process
• Identifying and managing project stakeholders
• Working with the customer to define the scope and agree deliverables

5 Case study 1

• Defining the project scope and deliverables
• Syndicate teams define the scope and deliverables for a typical project

6 Project planning

• The importance and cost benefit of effective planning
• Planning the plan; deciding how detailed a plan to create
• Packaging the work and estimating timescales and costs
• Developing project / resource schedules; setting milestones for control v
• Identifying and managing critical path activities

7 Case study 2

• Creating the project plan
• Syndicate teams develop and analyse the project plan

8 Managing project risks

• Identifying risks to the project outcome, timescale and cost
• Evaluating risks and adopting an appropriate risk strategy
• Defining risk ownership; keeping a simple risk log
• Keeping risk management up to date; staying pro-active
• Integrating planning and risk management

9 Project control

• Managing change, minimising scope creep
• Selecting the data needed to provide early warning of problems
• Monitoring performance easily with 'S' curves and slip charts
• Using trend forecasting to assess true project status
• Running project review meetings

10 Managing a multi-project portfolio

• Understanding the world of multiple projects
• Establishing ownership of project / programme management
• Classifying projects and creating the 'master schedule'
• Defining and applying project lifecycle management
• Resource management: essential pre-requisites and mechanisms
• Project prioritisation criteria and techniques; pain / gain analysis

11 Managing the multi-project team

• Characteristics of small project teams / part-time team membership
• Clarifying line and project management responsibilities
• Implementing effective manpower planning
• Establishing professional working practices in the team
• Developing project management competences in the team
• Establishing team roles and integrating team members

12 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