Fundamentals of Project Management

 

Target Audience

This course is designed for existing or aspiring Project Managers who wish to understand the fundamental elements of project management and how they are practically applied. However, anyone who is performing aspects of project management will also benefit from the course.

Approach

This is a highly interactive course where delegates are encouraged to learn though a mixture of lectures, exercises and group discussion. There is an emphasis on practical application where delegates can apply their learning to a case study during the course which in turn will help increase confidence back in the work place.   

Instructors

All of our instructors have real world experience of working as project managers and are not just ‘training specialists’. Whilst our emphasis is on practical knowledge and skills, all of our instructors are also accredited to teach qualification based courses in project management.

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental aspects of project management including the overall lifecycle, common problem areas and the tools and techniques that can help achieve a successful conclusion.

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

  • State the benefits of implementing change through the use of Project Management
  • Identify the characteristics of a project by comparison with normal ‘day-to-day’ work
  • Understand the overall project lifecycle including the process steps that can help achieve a successful project conclusion
  • Apply a range of project management techniques to the various aspects of a project (planning, estimating, risk management, benefits management & change management)
  • Understand how the project is monitored and controlled including what information needs to be recorded and reported
  • Understand how to record and escalate project issues
  • Close the project in a controlled manner ensuring that outcomes are acceptable to the business and that plans are made to deliver the business benefits

Course Information

Pre-requisites:

  • None other than a general understanding of the business or project environment

On-Going Support:

  • 90 days post-course support via email or telephone
  • Sample templates of common project documents provided as part of the course

Duration

  • 4 days

Participants

  • Maximum 10 delegates per course

Delivery Method

  • Public Schedule or On-site

Venues

  • London or your own

Course Content

1. Project Management Concepts

1.1 How projects support organisational change

1.2 The relationship between project, programme and portfolio management

1.3 Characteristics of a project and how they differ from BAU

1.4 Common reasons for project failure

1.5 The project management lifecycle

1.6 Common project components

2. Controlled Start – Project Start Up

2.1 The specific activities in Project Start Up

2.2 Creating the Project Management Team including primary stakeholder representation

2.3 Understanding the specific roles and responsibilities within a project organisation

2.4 Specific responsibilities and competencies of a Project Manager

2.5 Creating a Business Case

2.6 Identifying Benefits

2.7 Cost / Benefit Analysis

3. Controlled Start – Project Initiation

3.1 The specific activities in Project Initiation

3.2 Understanding the steps for effective risk management

3.3 Planning to achieve the appropriate levels of quality within the project

3.4 Understanding Stakeholder Identification, Stakeholder Analysis and Stakeholder Management

3.5 Creating a Communications Plan

3.6 Establishing project controls through the use of stages and setting tolerances

3.7 The role and contents of a Project Initiation Document

4. Plans in a Project Environment

4.1 The Planning Cycle

4.2 Understanding the different levels of plan in a project

4.3 Creating Product Breakdown Structures and Product Flow Diagrams

4.4 Understanding Network Analysis and Critical Path

4.5 Assigning and optimising resources

4.6 Estimating activities

4.7 Milestones and Gantt charts

4.8 Understanding what a plan should contain

5. Controlled Progress

5.1 The specific activities that enables a Project Manager to control a stage

5.2 Obtaining Information to help monitor and control progress throughout a stage

5.3 Capturing, examining and prioritising Issues and Changes

5.4 Understanding the change control procedure

5.5 Measuring progress and reporting highlights

5.6 Handling Exceptions

5.7 Dealing with Configuration Management

5.8 The specific activities in managing a stage boundary

6. Controlled Close

6.1 The specific activities to bring the project to a controlled close

6.2 Handing over the project’s products

6.3 Evaluating the project including lessons learned

6.4 Capturing lessons

6.5 Understanding and documenting follow-on actions

6.6 Planning to measure unrealised benefits

Available Courses

This is available as an on-site course only, no public courses are scheduled.



If you would like further information on our courses, or would like to discuss how we can build a course for your organisation using our training modules, please contact us.