Politics and Project Management - Turn Project Politics into a Positive Force for Project Objectives: On-Demand The goal of this course is to provide project managers with a strong working ability to recognize and successfully navigate organizational politics for the good of projects. What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Explain how positive politics are a valuable method for getting things done in projects Apply positive political principles and techniques in an ethical manner Use politically sound strategies, tools, and techniques for positive achievement of project objectives Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Introduction to Project Politics Framing project politics Characterizing project politics Distinguishing self-interest from project politics Political Skills in Projects Embracing positive politics Identifying political competencies in projects Exploring personal political competencies Politics and Power in Projects Positioning power in projects Exploring sources of power Comparing power and influence Developing strategies for power and influence Project Politics and Conflict Facing conflict - a fact of life Turning conflict into a positive force Channeling conflict into good decisions Resolving conflict in and around project politics Tackling deeper conflicts Managing conflict that escalates Summary What did we learn and how can we implement this in our work environments? Creating your own personal action plan
Leading People Through Change (Free L&I Conference Course): On-Demand The goal of this course is for you to effectively lead and manage people through times of change. Research shows that 70% of change initiatives fail in large organizations. The largest factor contributing to this failure rate is leadership - the inability to plan and lead people through change. In many change situations, tremendous focus is put on strategy, processes, and systems, while the issue of changing people's behavior is assumed it will 'just happen'. In this interactive course, you will learn why the people's side of change is crucial. We will begin by understanding why and how people resist change, and how important it is to become strong and effective change champions. Next, we will focus on critical change management practices - creating our vision of the future state, planning for acceptance in our change audience and stakeholders, mitigating threats, and capitalizing on opportunities. We will use metrics to plan, show progress, and confirm success. Lastly, we will focus on the need to reinforce and sustain change, and to prevent relapse to old ways and methods. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Realize the nature of change and describe how resistance manifests in people Compare prevalent change models and categorize their similarities Identify and rate the skills, traits, and behaviors of effective change champions Envision the future state and assess stakeholders Plan for change communication, training, and risks Evaluate change effectiveness using feedback and metrics Develop reinforcement practices for benefits and communication Foundation Concepts What is Change? Resistance to Change Common Change Management Theories Becoming a Change Champion Plan Envisioning the future state Planning for people Change management plan Do Change communication Training Piloting Risks Study Feedback Metrics Variance analysis Act Benefits realization Change sustainment Reinforcement messaging and communications
Business Analysis Fundamentals - Solving the Business Problem: On-Demand This course teaches participants the overall process of business analysis and where it fits in the bigger picture of the project life cycle and the business context. The course is interactive and combines discussion, active workshops, and demonstrations of techniques. The goal is bottom-line results that cut through the real-world problems facing people seeking to improve the way they operate to develop new and improved systems and products or otherwise deliver results through project performance. What You Will Learn Upon completion, participants will be able to: Define the solution scope Work with the development team in the systems testing stage Ensure the solution is usable in the business environment Foundation Concepts Defining the Business Analyst Function Role of the Business Analyst as Change Agent An Introduction to the BABOK® Guide Business Analyst Roles and Relationships through the Project Life Cycle Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring - Defining the Process Overview of Business Analysis Planning & Monitoring (BAP&M) BAP&M - Process and Tools BAP&M - Roles and Responsibilities BAP&M - Governance, Information Management & Performance Improvement Elicitation and Collaboration - Gathering and Confirming Information Overview of Elicitation and Collaboration Elicitation and Collaboration Techniques Requirements Life Cycle Management - Maintaining Requirements and Design Information Overview of Requirements Life Cycle Management Requirements Life Cycle Management Tasks - Details Strategy Analysis - Providing Context to Requirements Analysis and Design Definition Overview of Strategy Analysis Analyze Current State Define Future State Assess Risks Define Change Strategy Requirements Analysis and Design Definition - Defining Solution Options Overview of Requirements Analysis and Design Definition (RA&DD) The Anatomy of Requirements RA&DD Task Descriptions RA&DD Techniques Solution Evaluation - Assessing Solution Performance Overview of Solution Evaluation Solution Evaluation Tasks Solution Evaluation in Development Stages Underlying Competencies Overview of Underlying Competencies (UCs) Underlying Competencies - Details
Project Management Fundamentals - Français Many projects are managed by very efficient and very competent people who have no training in project management.They manage projects as they would manage a process improvement, the deployment of a marketing campaign, the development of a new product, the planning or implementation of an event, or many other 'tasks' referred to as projects.The 'Project Management Fundamentals' course (in English 'Project Management Fundamentals', or 'PMF') is designed to support those people who need a solid foundation of project management knowledge, without being unnecessarily overloaded by learning in addition to the usual work. The course provides a set of practices, concepts and principles that can be brought to the workplace, as well as knowledge to adapt to specific project environments.Nowadays, this relates for example to Agile or iterative methods.Thus, we recently added the key concepts of Agile to allow a basic understanding of how these two methods can possibly coexist. What You Will 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 the character of a successful project by a successful project manager. Recognize how agile/adaptive practices are incorporated into project management. Explore project management processes, starting, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Use project management processes and tools based on case studies and real-world situations. Create a first project plan. Getting Started Basic Concepts people and projects Getting started and defining requirements Use the Project Work Flowchart Manage project risks Estimations Deadlines Execute, communicate and develop the team To master Close the project Summary and Next Steps
Project Accounting and Finance Skills: On-Demand Do you manage both project schedules and budgets, but do not have insight into how actual results relate to the approved budget? Do you desire to have more clarity about the relationship between your project's performance with the accounting and financial systems in your organization? Do you need to understand financial and accounting terminology to bridge the gap between the 'world of finance' and the 'world of project management? Organizations have a need to manage-by-projects, because projects are the means to deliver on strategic goals and objectives. Therefore, the project manager must have an understanding of the financial world of investments to ensure the organization will realize expected business value. This requires a foundation in the principles of accounting and finance to comprehend how the project's contribution provides an organization with a competitive advantage. Learn what you must do to give your organization the assurance it needs that its investment in your project will realize business value. Learn what you must do to give your organization the assurance it needs to know that its investment in your project will realize business value. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the aspects of classical corporate accounting and finance effects on managing projects Determine how your project fits into the corporate income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement Analyze the financial aspects of managing projects Use earned value management as the basis for decision making throughout the project life Recognize the importance of the project manager's financial responsibilities Focus on what PMs do and should be doing, in support of accounting and finance Use financial information within a project environment to meet financial results Track and analyze the project's financial status and forecast with the goal of realizing benefits Generate work performance data to ensure a project's outcome aligns with financial metrics Foundation Concepts Accounting and Finance Terms and Concepts Accounting and Finance Essentials Financial Terms and Concepts Projects as Financial Investments Overview of 'Two Worlds' Project as Investments Accounting and Finance World: Standards, Principles and Practices Accounting and Finance Standards and Principles Accounting and Finance Practices Capital Budgeting Corporate Budgeting Accounting and Finance World: Economic Project Selection Methods Economic Project Selection Methods Economic Project Selection and the Business Case Project Management World Project Management and Financial Controls Project Management and Work Performance Data Project Management and Earned Value Management Project Management and Work Performance Reporting
Agile Sprint Planning: On-Demand The goal of the course is to provide you and your team with the ability to develop effective and realistic Sprint plans. Without effective Sprint Plans, iterations are set up for failure. But Sprint Planning cannot be improved on its own, in isolation. The Scrum processes are highly intertwined and influence each other. The surrounding artifacts, events, and roles must be examined closely, and enhanced, in order to improve Sprint Planning. This course will remind you of the theory to reinforce the principles, but will concentrate on next-level skills, so that you and the team are able to create realistic and usable Sprint Plans. This course is not introductory. You are already aware of the Scrum framework and have been implementing Scrum on your projects. Now is the time to improve efficiency and effectiveness, to facilitate successful Agile projects. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Identify and correlate the key symptoms and root causes of ineffective sprint plans Improve key Product Backlog elements Evaluate Agile roles in sprint planning Appraise key product practices Enhance project transparency The Product Backlog User stories Acceptance Criteria Backlog Refinement Supporting Roles Product Owner (the Backlog) Development Team Stakeholders and SMEs Supporting Product Practices Roadmaps and release plans and story maps Definition of Done Technical Debt Transparency Daily Scrums Information radiators Retrospectives Sprint Planning Capacity and Velocity Sprint Planning Meetings The Sprint Backlog Summary What did we learn, and how can we implement this in our work environments?
Strategic Thinking: On-Demand The goal of this course is to provide you with the building blocks and the motivation to develop the critical skill of strategic thinking. The participants will consider a four-part model that distinguishes strategic thinking from strategic planning and managing. With that understanding, you will investigate the critical components of strategic thinking and how to apply it effectively. What you Will Learn Define strategic thinking and distinguish it from strategic planning and management Explain a high-level approach to gaining strategic thinking skills Integrate other interpersonal skills, such as self-awareness, systems thinking, leadership, constructive conflict, and collaboration, into the fabric of strategic thinking skills Select appropriate techniques to apply strategic thinking in specific situations Recognize and emulate effective strategic thinking behaviors Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Foundation Concepts Interactive event: Define Strategic Thinking (ST) Interactive event: Discuss relationship of ST with Strategic Planning, Management and Decision Making Strategic Level Framework - Tying it all together Strategic thinking attributes Strategic Thinking Critical Success Factors Strategic Thinking Critical Success Factors - 5-part model Strategic Thinking and the Organization Critical Success Factors Model applied to an organization Tools Introduction (5): Environmental, 5 Forces, SWOT, Value Proposition, Integral Theory of Worldview Video: Fog of War Strategic Thinking and the Individual Critical Success Factors Model applied to an individual Tools Introduction (5): Thinking Styles, Six Thinking Hats, Reverse Thinking, Systems Thinking, Integral Theory of Worldview Strategic Thinking at the Interpersonal and Team Levels Emotional Intelligence - Self Awareness and Working With Others Team Leadership and Trust Constructive Conflict as the Gateway to Collaboration Interactive event: Testing the Models - Challenge Perspective; What's Missing Applying the critical skill of Strategic Thinking Worldview: Team versus client Trusted Advisor Interactive event: Doing what is asked (Case study, wherein participants review the default case scenario prepared for this workshop and add specific details to make the scenario more relevant to their experiences / needs. Teams develop an action plan for applying ST concepts and techniques they have learned here to the situation, then compare and contrast results.)
Assuring Quality Through Acceptance Testing - Making Sure that the Business Problem is Solved: On-Demand It is the business analyst's job to define the business problem to be solved by IT. It is also the business analyst's responsibility to confirm that the resulting solution developed by IT does, in fact, solve the defined problem. This is done first through testing, especially acceptance testing, and then through monitoring of the installed solution in the user community. The business analyst is not only concerned with the testing itself, but also with the management and monitoring of the users doing the acceptance testing, and recording, analyzing, and evaluating the results. What You Will Learn Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Create a set of acceptance test cases Manage and monitor an acceptance test stage where users perform the testing Work with the development team in the systems testing stage Assess the solution once it is in the business environment Foundation Concepts The role of the business analyst An introduction to the BABOK® Guide BA roles and relationships through the project life cycle Introduction to assuring software quality through acceptance testing The Scope of IT Testing Overview of testing stages The testing process Testing documentation Pre-Acceptance Testing The BA's role in testing Early development testing stages (unit and integration) Late development testing stage (system) The Acceptance Test Stage - Part I (Planning, Design, and Development) Overview of user acceptance testing Acceptance test planning Designing user acceptance tests Developing individual user acceptance test cases Building effective user acceptance test scenarios The Acceptance Test Stage - Part II (Execution and Reporting) Operating guidelines Execution Reporting Post-Acceptance Testing Overview Project implementation Project transition (project closure) Production through retirement Testing Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Software Overview Selecting the software Implementing the software Summary What did we learn and how can we implement this in our work environments?
ITIL® 4 Specialist: High-Velocity IT: On-Demand This course is based on the ITIL® 4 Specialist: High-Velocity IT exam specifications from AXELOS. With the help of ITIL® 4 concepts and terminology, exercises, and examples included in the course, candidates acquire the relevant knowledge required to pass the certification exam. What You Will Learn At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand concepts regarding the high-velocity nature of the digital enterprise, including the demand it places on IT. Understand the digital product lifecycle in terms of the ITIL operating model. Understand the importance of the ITIL guiding principles and other fundamental concepts for delivering high-velocity IT. Know how to contribute to achieving value with digital products. Course Introduction Introduction to High-Velocity IT High-Velocity IT Approaches High-Velocity IT Operating Models Introduction ITIL Building Blocks for High-Velocity IT Supporting Models and Concepts for Purpose Supporting Models and Concepts for People Supporting Models and Concepts for Progress High-Velocity IT Objectives and Techniques Techniques for Valuable Investments Techniques for Fast Developments Techniques for Resilient Operations Techniques for Co-created Value Techniques for Assured Conformance
Project Leadership Skills - Français: On-Demand To be effective within an organization, project managers must have a wide variety of skills and abilities.These include: creating and executing a vision;motivate others;influence without authority;networking;communicate up, down and laterally;the negociation;stakeholder management;and manage conflicts. This workshop aims to develop the soft skills essential to leading a team and creating lasting business change.Participants will gain insight into social science and brain science to motivate and empower others.They will learn and experiment with various influencing strategies and tactics. Participants will also discover their personal communication preferences, strengths and blind spots and learn how to best communicate with others they find 'difficult'.They will learn better how to manage the human side of change and learn strategies for managing each step.In the process.Practical negotiation and conflict management activities reinforce theoretical learning, rooting it in real life and making it actionable. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the importance of a vision in driving motivation and engagement Apply a scientific approach to better motivate those around you Strategically maximize your personal and positional power for better project results Determine influence and network development strategies necessary for personal development Know how to respond to communication challenges related to different personality styles Make the link between the expectations of stakeholders and the success criteria of a project Assess key stakeholders across different dimensions of complexity Apply the four rules of principled negotiation to real-life conflict situations Recognize key aspects of a physiological response to conflict Make the right choice of tools and techniques to "demine" an emotional situation Maximize different strategies and tactics to manage ambiguity at work Manage vision and purpose / Motivate others Communication and alignment with the vision Link the present to the future The Importance of Purpose The art and science of motivation Network development and influence Positive policy and project success Types of power in an organization power and influence Network Development Best Practices Communication The medium and the message Personality and communication styles Communication challenges Stakeholder management / Negotiation Identification of stakeholders Stakeholder analysis The basics of negotiation reasoned negotiation Manage the conflict Conflict dynamics The Anatomy of Conflict Conflict management approaches and tools Dealing with Ambiguity Summary and Next Steps Review of key concepts Create your personal action plan