Project Management Fundamentals

Many projects are performed by highly competent and effective people who have little or no project management training. They perform projects like process improvement, marketing campaign development, new product development, event planning and production, and other “tasks” which are projects.

Project Management Fundamentals (PMF) is designed to support those people who need a solid foundation in project management, without being unnecessarily burdened to learn it while on the job. The course offers practical skills, concepts, and principles that can be taken back to the workplace, along with insights needed to adapt them to specific project environments. 

Since PMF’s course goal is to achieve quality performance by learning effective planning and control, the focus is on a process orientation and an analytical, systems-oriented approach.  Together, these frameworks promote project-related problem solving and decision-making skills necessary for real world projects.  They honor project needs for collaboration, clear communications among people, and interpersonal and relationship skills.  Recognition of these needs are woven throughout PMF, but are highlighted in two specific areas: Module 2 – People and Projects; and Module 8 – Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team.

The design of PMF as a learning experience is also rooted in real world perspectives.  It minimizes instructor-led segments (~30%) while maximizing time devoted to interactive events (~70%), including whole group discussions, structured groupings, case study-based team exercises, individual reflection, and creation of a Personal Action Plan. Built into the experience are also embedded interactive role plays and puzzles.

Who Should Attend

This course is for people responsible for managing, leading, coordinating, and working on projects who have limited experience or knowledge of practical, formal project management methods. Among those who can benefit from this course are:

• Project managers who want to improve formal knowledge and skills
• Administrators and managers responsible for coordinating, facilitating or managing projects and programs
• Technical professionals and engineers moving into project leadership and coordination
• General managers responsible for projects and programs
• People in a whole range of roles that rely upon projects to achieve business objectives, e.g.,
• Marketing, training, and technical writing professionals
• Six Sigma consultants
• Members of process and performance improvement teams
• Participants in R&D

What will you learn

At the end of this program, you will be able to: 

• Use standard project management terminology
• Describe the benefits and importance of strong project management
• Identify characteristics of a successful project and project manager
• Recognize the need to evolve and adapt in project environments requiring a higher degree of change
• Explore project management processes, including Initiating, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing
• Utilize project management processes and tools, based on case studies and real world situations
• Create an initial project plan

Course Outline

Getting Started

Foundation Concepts

• Project management and definitions
• Value and focus of PM
• Triple constraints and competing constraints
• Project life cycles

People and Projects

• People and projects overview
• The project manager
• The project team
• People and projects in organizations

Initiating and Defining Requirements

• Initiating the project
• Developing the project charter
• Conducting stakeholder assessments
• Defining requirements
• Establishing the change control process 

Using the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• Defining the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Developing a usable WBS
• Using the WBS

Managing Project Risk

• Making the case for risk management
• Using risk management processes and tools
• Overview
• Identification
• Analysis
• Response
• Control

Estimating

• Defining an estimate
• Distinguishing estimating approaches
• Using estimating practices and duration techniques
• Estimating cost
• Validating an estimate – schedule or budget

Scheduling

• Defining the scheduling process and related terminology
• Sequencing and defining dependencies
• Determining the critical path
• Considering schedule risks and optimizing the schedule

Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team

• Documenting the baseline
• Defining execution
• Executing through effective communication and stakeholder relationships
• Executing with high-performing teams

Monitoring and Controlling

• Defining monitoring and controlling
• Viewing control through the competing demands lens
• Using earned value for schedule and cost control

Closing the Project

• Closing projects overview
• Focusing on project transition
• Focusing on post-project evaluations

Summary

• What did we learn, and how can we implement this in our work environment?