Planning, Organising and Controlling Projects Training Course

Reviewing the Fundamentals

• Understanding projects: Differences between large/small and simple/complex projects
• The 'project life cycle' and the role of project management
• Current trends in project management: Project management associations and qualifications
• Project performance measurement: Understanding why some projects succeed and others don’t
• A framework for building project success: Improving project management performance
• The different project roles, responsibilities, and boundaries: RACI Charts
• Key financial concepts: Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, and Payback Periods

Initiating and Defining Projects

• Initiating projects: Project context and environment
• Setting realistic objectives: Defining project scope and deliverables
• Managing expectations and agreeing priorities: Ensuring value for money
• Developing a work breakdown structure: Defining roles and specifying work packages
• Developing a cost breakdown structure: Techniques for making preliminary estimates of time and cost
• Using appropriate project planning methods: Applying a structured approach
• Initiating risk management: Using qualitative risk analysis techniques

Planning Projects for Results

• Building a realistic project plan: Using Gantt charts and activity networks
• Using the plan to develop detailed task and resource schedules
• Identifying the critical path and setting milestones: Getting buy-in from the key players
• Techniques for developing detailed estimates for time and cost: Managing estimating uncertainty
• Minimising project timescales: Exploring time-cost options and understanding trade-offs
• Managing project risks: Qualitative and quantitative risk management methods and techniques
• The importance of continuous planning: Maintaining and updating plans and risk registers

Organising, Implementing, and Controlling Projects

• Handling the changes and challenges that affect projects
• Running effective change control processes
• Project performance tracking, management, and control systems
• Pro-active and re-active control: Measures that give early warning
• Using predictive control techniques: Gantt charts, burn-down charts, and earned value methods
• Managing project communication and decision making: Running effective meetings
• Exploiting information management technology: Managing project documentation

Project Leadership and Team-Working

• Working in project teams: Building collaborative working relationships
• Understanding leadership and management: Qualities and skills that enhance results
• The role of the leader in building team cohesion and performance: The team development cycle
• The keys to effective influence and persuasion: Characteristics of successful leaders
• Improving communication, delegation, and motivation skills
• Working with senior stakeholders: Creating rapport and understanding, managing expectations
• Lean concepts and the learning cycle: Implementing continuous improvement