Managing Today’s Projects | Procept Associates

Whatever your role in a project, it is important that you are familiar with best practices in project management so that you can effectively participate in the project work and increase the likelihood of project success.

This course is designed to provide project participants with the knowledge and practice in using a flexible, efficient ten-step process. This process maps to best practice models and an international project management standard which focus on five key areas: Project Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Close-out.

Participants apply techniques for gathering, analyzing, and communicating essential information specific to each step. Working in small teams, participants practice project definition and planning techniques on projects they select at the beginning of the workshop.

The workshop introduces main process concepts and proven practices from the Project Management Institute’s (PMI^®) five process groups, Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Control, and Closing. The instructor presents each topic in a tell-show-do format using a simple case study. Working in teams of four or five, participants then practice applying the tools and techniques on projects they select.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will gain practical skills to:

Define project management and the five process groups of project management.
Apply a flexible ten-step model that provides a process with tools and techniques to effectively manage a project.
Create and interpret project management deliverables, including: project charter, work breakdown structure, project network diagram, Gantt chart, resource histogram, budgets, and cost spreadsheet, risk management plan, status report, project notebook, and post-project review.
Apply project management deliverables to facilitate communication, decision making, and problem-solving in a project.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Individuals with current or future assigned project management responsibilities.
Project Managers responsible for managing small, medium or large projects.
Project leads or team members working on sub-projects of larger projects.
Project clients, sponsors, and other stakeholders who contribute to projects.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Materials

You will receive a course binder containing copies of presentation slides, case studies, templates, exercises, and suggested solutions.

What you will learn

Introduction

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

Step 1 – Define the Project

Project Definition Process Map
Identifying Stakeholders and Developing a Communication Plan
Project Management Phases
Project Definition Team Exercise

Step 2 – Define Scope

Generating Work Breakdown Structure
Generating Work Packages and Activities
Involving Project Team Members in the Planning Process Team Exercise

Step 3 – Determine Roles and Responsibilities and Develop Estimates

Clarifying and Documenting Roles
Generating and Documenting Realistic Estimates
Motivating Team Members to Commit to the Project

Step 4 – Define Work Package and Activity Sequencing and Analyze Critical Path

Defining Predecessors and Successors
Building the Network Chart
Identifying the Critical Path
Determining Float
Using Critical Path Information to Make Business Decisions

Step 5 – Develop Schedule

Building a Gantt Chart from a Network view
Using Critical Path Compression Strategies to Meet Mandated Deadlines
Clarifying Individual Assignments
Posting Team Assignments on the Schedule
Reviewing Assignments
Resource Over Allocation Resolution Strategies
Documenting Reassignments

Step 6 – Generate Cost Estimate

Determining Relevant Expense Categories
Estimating Costs by Task

Step 7 – Identify, Analyze, and Document Risks and Responses

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
Revising the Schedule to Accommodate Risk Planning

Step 8 – Approve Project Management Plan and Establish Baselines

Validating the Plan
Project Planning Checklist
Establishing Baselines

Step 9 – Track and Manage the Project

Collecting Actuals and Comparing Actuals to Plan
Determining Cause and Analyzing Impact
Taking Corrective Action
Making Revisions to the Project Plan
Tracking and Documenting Scope Changes
Reporting Status and Revisions
Project Control Pitfalls
Negotiating with the Project Sponsor and Stakeholders

Step 10 – Perform Post-Project Review

Collecting Final Actuals
Project Completion Checklist
Celebrating Accomplishments and Recognizing Achievements

Appendices – Managing Project Relationships

Project Management Templates for Use Back on the Job
Recommended Readings
Project Management Glossary

PMI is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

COURSE INFO

Course ID: TS-2704

Course Level: Beginner

Duration: 2 or 3 Days

UPCOMING SESSIONS

Sessions not found.

PMI PDU BREAKDOWN

The following table provides the breakdown of the professional development units (PDUs) for this course aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle^TM.

	WoW	PS	BA
PMP	21	0	0
PgMP	21	0	0
PfMP	0	0	0
PMI-ACP0	0	0	0
PMI-SP	0	0	0
PMI-RMP	0	0	0
PMI-PBA	0	0	0

The three columns in the above table are Ways of Working, Power Skills & Business Acumen.

Other Credits

Other professional (re)certification credits are available, including:

Certified Business Analyst Professionals (CBAPs) earn 21CDUs (Category 2B)
Certified Software Quality Engineers (CSQEs) earn 3 RUs
CIPS Information Systems Professionals (ISPs) earn 21 Learning Credits
CIPS Information Technology Certified Professional (ITCPs) earn 21 Learning Credits