Project Management
Overview:
A project is a human undertaking having a defined starting point and objectives with which to identify completion.
All projects have two common characteristics:-
- A project involves change.
- Projects are unpractised and unrehearsed.
Project management is a set of practices and interpersonal skills designed to ensure the success of a project within available resources.
The management of a project must progress through consecutive stages:-
- Planning
- Execution
- Evaluation
Good project management is about defining the success criteria with your customer, building a team which buys into the objectives and monitoring progress against transparent milestones. However:
We are all constantly faced with a variety of deadlines all of which have top priority. Then, just when things are going smoothly a crisis erupts, priorities change and the rush is on.
Objectives:
On completion of the programme delegates will be able to:-
- Define the role of the project manager
- Identify the key activities
- Describe the interrelationships between a project’s three prime constraints and their effect on its management
- Plan a project
- Communicate the plan using report documents
- Identify and deal with problems during a project’s execution stage by means of monitoring, reviewing and re-planning.
- Recognise the importance of leadership, communication, motivation and negotiation skills during a project’s execution.
Content:
Introduction:
- Objectives of the programme
- Why project management is important
- The key stages
Understanding The Contract:
- Project definition
- Considering the need
- The three elements of the contract
The Process:
- A definition of the roles in project management
- How is a project manager different to that of a traditional manager?
- Defining the flow chart for project approval
- What are the rules for project management?
The Constraints:
- The time cost specification triangle
The Planning Process:
- Why plan?
- Problems of planning in project management
- Scoping the project
- Setting objectives
GANTT Charts:
- How to produce a Gantt chart
- Exercise: Drawing a chart for a project
- Limitations of the Gantt chart
- Critical path analysis
- Risk and uncertainty
Resource Management
- Identifying resources
- Managing the load
- Exploring risk
Executing the Project:
- Project exercise “Eggs Can Leap”
- Project review
People Management:
The four functions of managing a team
- Leadership
- Motivation
- Negotiation
- Communication
Tracking and Control:
- Identifying checking procedures
- Monitoring the project
- Reviews: What do you review and how often
- ‘Go No-Go Decisions’
What if’ Scenarios:
- Developing ‘What if’ scenarios
- Role of the Project Manager
- Re-planning the project and management presentations
Project Evaluation:
Case Study: discussion of outcomes
This workshop is designed for the busy manager or professional person who coordinates projects, deadlines and multiple demands.
The course will enable delegates to rise above the day to day detail of project management and look objectively at what they are trying to do.
It will be highly participative in style, involving exercises, role play and discussion. Participants will be encouraged to look at themselves, learn about their own leadership style and to practice different strategies.
The focus of the course will be on how delegates can use some of these new skills outside the course, with their colleagues and customers.
Who Will Benefit From The Course?
Existing or newly appointed project managers and persons who have specific project responsibilities in the business or organisation .
Benefits
- How to set deadlines in a way that is transparent to everyone
- Create an efficient working environment recognising areas of wasted work
- Systemising paperwork to improve organisation
- Recognising and handling ‘no-win’ situations whilst maintaining your enthusiasm and positive attitude
- Building key relationships with people and avoiding excessive defensiveness
- How to delegate responsibilities whilst avoiding the pitfall of perfectionism.