Improving Your Project Management Skills: The Basics for Success

As the business world grows more competitive, organizations find it necessary to take on an increasing number of projects. Unfortunately, these same organizations often don’t have skilled project managers to handle the work. In this seminar, you will learn and practice the critical tools and techniques that have been proven necessary for project management success. In lectures, discussions and exercises, you’ll cover the essential aspect of managing projects.

While aligned with the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) framework, this course is specifically designed to focus on the practical application of concepts. You’ll return to work with the knowledge and tools you need to get your projects started right and completed successfully.

• Ensure that your projects are set-up for success from the start
• Learn the basics for effectively gathering and documenting requirements
• Understand the role of the project manager, business analyst, and others in managing projects
• Develop an integrated project plan including realistic scope, schedules, budgets, and risks—and turn that plan into successful action
• Learn how to effectively track and report on project progress
• Gain the respect of your project team and build credibility with top management

An Overview of Key Project Management Concept

Discussion of key concepts, terminology, and roles, including:

• The project triangle
• The definition of the "project"
• The five core PM process groups

Initiating the Project

• Creating a project charter and tying it to the business case
• Gathering and documenting requirements
• Setting customer, sponsor, and team member expectations

Identifying the Work

• Creating the work breakdown structure (WBS) based on the charter and product requirments
• Assigning ownership to tasks

Estimating the Work

• Discussing industry best practices for creating realistic estimates

Scheduling the Work

• Creating precedence (network logic) diagrams to show task dependencies
• Producing Gantt charts to graph project timelines
• Determining the critical path and calculating float

Creating the Budget

• Estimating and tracking personnel and (out of pocket) expenses

The Project Management Framework

• Define the Basic Project Management Framework
• Describe Key Project Management Terminology
• Explain the Triple Constraints (Project Triangle)
• Differentiate Between Operations and Projects
• Describe Project Management in a Business Context

Initiate the Project

• Describe How Projects Are Initiated
• Describe the Difference Between Project Requirements and Product Requirements
• Describe the Purpose and Content of the Project Charter
• Describe the Purpose and Content of the Product Requirements Document
• Use the SMART Model When Writing Requirements
• Identify Information-Gathering Techniques

Identify the Work

• Discuss the Purpose of a Kick-Off Meeting
• Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Estimate the Work

• Discuss Guidelines for Making Better Estimates
• Explain the Use of Three-Point Estimates

Schedule the Work

• Describe Task Dependencies
• Identify the Sequence of Tasks via Precedence Diagramming
• Develop the Project Schedule

Create the Budget

• Determine the Personnel Costs Needed for the Success of the Project
• Determine the Expense Costs Needed for the Success of the Project
• Differentiate Between Bottom-Up and Top-Down Cost Budget Planning, and State Which Is More Appropriate for Different Situations

Complete the Plan

• Create the Project Communications Plan
• Describe the Project Risk Management Processes
• Describe the Purpose of the Project Procurement Plan
• Discuss the Purpose of Reserves

Execute the Plan

• Create a Project Status Report
• Describe the Key Elements Required to Determine Project Health
• Describe How to Run an Effective Project Status Meeting
• Describe the Change Management Process

Close the Project

• Identify the Elements of Both Administrative and Contractual Project Closure Procedures
• Describe the Different Ways That Projects Can Be Terminated
• Explain the Importance of a Repository and Lessons Learned

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

• Provide Project Management Methods, Skills, Tools, and Techniques to Help You Plan and Manage Projects Successfully

LESSON ONE

The Project Management Framework

• Define the Basic Project Management Framework
• Describe Key Project Management Terminology
• Explain the Triple Constraints (Project Triangle)
• Differentiate Between Operations and Projects
• Describe Project Management in a Business Context

Initiate the Project

• Discuss How Projects Are Initiated
• Describe the Difference Between Project Requirements and Product Requirements
• Discuss the Purpose and Content of a Project Charter
• Discuss the Purpose and Content of a Product Requirements Document
• Use the SMART Model When Writing Documents

LESSON TWO

Initiate the Project (cont’d)

• Discuss How Projects Are Initiated
• Describe the Difference Between Project Requirements and Product Requirements
• Discuss the Purpose and Content of a Project Charter
• Discuss the Purpose and Content of a Product Requirements Document
• Use the SMART Model When Writing Documents

Identify the Work

• Discuss the Purpose of a Kickoff Meeting
• Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Estimate the Work

• Discuss Guidelines for Making Better Estimates
• Demonstrate the Use of Three-Point Estimates

LESSON THREE

Schedule the Work

• Describe Task Dependencies
• Identify the Sequence of Tasks
• Develop a Project Schedule

Create the Budget

• Determine the Personnel Costs for a Project
• Determine the Out-of-Pocket Expense Costs for a Project
• Differentiate Between Bottom-Up and Top-Down Cost Planning, and State Which Is More Appropriate for Different Situations

LESSON FOUR

Complete the Plan

• Create the Project Communications Plan
• Describe the Project Risk Management Process
• Describe the Purpose of the Project Procurement Plan
• Discuss the Purpose of Reserves

Execute the Plan

• Create a Project Status Report
• Describe the Key Elements Required to Determine Project Health
• Describe How to Run an Effective Project Status Meeting
• Describe the Change Management Process

Close the Project

• Identify the Elements in the Project Closure Procedure
• Describe Administrative and Contractual Closure
• Describe How Projects Are Terminated
• Explain the Importance of a Repository and Lessons Learned