Duration - 3 Days
 Successful Techniques of Project Management

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Audience This course is designed for:

Primarily Project Managers and team members. The class is directed toward Project Managers needing to learn specific techniques for planning and controlling projects. Project clients, sponsors, and other stakeholders learn important decision-making models necessary for supporting Project Managers. Team members learn project management techniques that can be applied to sub-projects as well as a common project language and conventions to ensure success. Advanced Project Managers should consider this class a review.
Prerequisites None
Description The workshop covers ten project management steps. In each step, the instructor presents a description of the step, processes governing the application of the step, and guidelines for applying the processes. This presentation uses a case study in a lecture-discussion format. Then teams of four to five participants practice applying the techniques on a project they select at the beginning of the workshop, thus taking the project from definition through the entire planning process. Participants practice project control through a pre-defined case study on the afternoon of the final day.
Specific Topics Covered The following topics are covered in this course:

Introduction: Introduction (1.5 hours)

  • Definition of a Project
  • Definition of Project Management
  • Project Management Phases
  • Ten Project Manager Steps
  • Benefits of Project Management

Step 1: Define the Project (2.5 hours)

  • Project Definition Process Map
  • Project Definition Document Guidelines Team Exercise

Step 2: Generate Tasks (2.5 hours)

  • Work Breakdown Structure
  • Level 1 Element Categories
  • Detail Task Guidelines
  • Task Description Worksheet
    Team Exercise

Step 3: Determine Roles & Responsibilities and Develop Estimates (2.5 hours)

  • Skills Inventory
  • Responsibility Matrix
  • Performance Standards
  • Assigning Tasks
  • Effort and Duration Estimating Model
  • Completed WBS with Effort and Duration Estimates
    Team Exercise

Step 4: Define Task Interdependencies and Analyze Critical Path (1.5 hours)

  • Defining Predecessors and Successors
  • Network Chart
  • Mandatory and Preferential Logic
  • Common Dependency Errors
    Team Exercise
  • Critical Path Identification
  • Calculating Early Start, Early Finish, Project Duration, Late Finish, Late Start, and Float
  • Using Critical Path Calculations to Make Business Decisions
    Team Exercise

Step 5: Develop Schedule (1.5 hours)

  • Building a Gantt Chart from a Network view
  • Dependency Relationships
  • Critical Path Compression Techniques to Meet Mandated Deadlines
    Team Exercise

Step 6: Perform Resource Loading and Leveling (2 hours)

  • Individual Assignments to Detail Tasks
  • Individual Assignments with Rough Commitment Estimates
  • Individual Assignments with Commitment Calculations
  • Resource Histogram
  • Resource Leveling Techniques
    Team Exercise
  • Team Loading

Step 7: Generate Project Budget (1 hours)

  • Expense Categories
  • Order of Magnitude, Rough, and Definitive Cost Estimates
  • Cost Loading Options
  • Budget Worksheets
  • Cumulative Cost Spreadsheet
  • Cumulative Cost Line Graph
    Team Exercise (Optional)

Step 8: Develop Risk Management Plan (1.5 hours)

  • Identifying and Categorizing Risks
  • Risk Management Worksheet
  • Identifying and Ranking Risks
  • Identifying Probable Causes and Developing Preventive Plans
  • Developing Contingency Plans and Identifying Trigger Points
    Team Exercise (Optional)
  • Project Kickoff Meeting
  • Planning Wrap-Up

Step 9: Track and Manage the Project (2.5 hours)

  • Tracking and Control Process Diagram
  • Collect Actuals
  • Compare Actuals to Plan
  • Determine Variance Cause and Analyze Impact
  • Take Corrective Action
  • Make Revisions to the Project Plan
    Team Exercise (Optional)
  • Report Status and Revisions
  • Track and Manage Scope Changes

Step 10: Perform Post-Project Review (.5 hours)

  • Collect Final Actuals
    Conduct Post-Project Review Meeting
    Archive Project Documents

Appendix: Managing Project Relationships (1 hour)

  • Stakeholders
  • Typical Stakeholder Relationship Problems
  • Solutions to Stakeholder Relationship Problems

 

Performance Objectives Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Define project management and its benefits
  • Develop effective project definitions
  • Generate and apply project management tools including work breakdown structures, project networks, Gantt charts, resource loading charts, budgets, risk management plans, and communication plans
  • Use project management tools and techniques to facilitate communication, decision making, and problem solving
  • Control projects effectively by tracking progress, analyzing performance variances, and defining corrective actions
PMBOK Guide® Areas Covered

 

 This course covers the following Project Management Knowledge Areas:
  • Project Integration Management
  • Project Scope Management
  • Project Time Management
  • Project Cost Management
  • Project Quality Management
  • Project Human Resource Management
  • Project Communications Management
  • Project Risk Management
  • Project Procurement Management