Technical Project Management

In just 3 days, you'll understand the unique challenges of managing IT and technical projects and discover how applying project management methodology can give you a step-by-step approach to tackling your toughest challenges. You'll discuss the value of planning, scheduling and how to manage scope. Use tools and techniques to establish a sound estimating process. Find out how to keep projects on track and evaluate project performance. And participate in communications exercises to help successfully lead project teams.

• Apply WBS and network development
• Identify potential problems and solve them using troubleshooting techniques
• Track projects more effectively
• Create status reports that show top management where budgeting, scheduling and manpower trends are headed
• Cope with tight IT and technical project schedules

Overview of Essential Project Management Tools

• Project management framework and terminology—process groups and the Nine Knowledge Areas of the PMBOK  
• Life cycles in a technical environment

Essentials for Leading Project Teams

• Leading in an IT or technical environment

Project Planning: Beginning with Scope Management

• Using the SMART model when writing objectives
• Creating the detailed scope statement

Defining Project Activities

• Creating a customized WBS
• IT and technical project WBS examples

Developing a Dynamic Project Schedule

• Types of network diagrams
• Overview of critical path methodology

Establishing a sound estimating process

• Five considerations when making estimates
• Consideration of risks when estimating—three-point estimates

Components of Project Planning

• The planning process group
• Project performance baselines

Technical Project Planning Methodologies

• Identify different approaches to planning IT and technical projects: rolling wave planning…stage gate process…critical chain project management
• Common construction project life cycle
• Common pharmaceutical project life cycle

Monitoring and Controlling Projects

• Status reports… project baselines…identifying variances

Project Closure

• Administrative closure vs. contractual closure

The Project Management Framework

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

Initiate the Project

• Discuss How Projects Are Initiated
• Identify the Difference Between Project Requirements and Product Requirements
• Describe the Purpose and Content of the Project Charter
• Describe Two Methodologies for Developing Software—Waterfall and Iterative
• 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 Kickoff Meeting
• Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Estimate the Work

• Discuss Guidelines for Making Better Estimates
• Explain the Use of Three-Point Estimates
• Demonstrate the Concept of Rolling Wave Estimating

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 Budgeting, 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
• Describe the Different Ways That Projects Can Be Terminated
• Explain the Importance of a Repository and Lessons Learned