Managing Benefits™ Practitioner: In-House Training Managing Benefits™ provides generally applicable guidance encompassing benefits management principles, practices, and techniques. The purpose of the Practitioner-level qualification is to confirm whether you have achieved sufficient understanding of how to apply and tailor the Managing Benefits guidance and, specifically, the principles, practices, techniques, roles, and documentation in a scenario situation. A Practitioner candidate should, with suitable support, be able to plan, implement, sustain, and measure benefits management while adapting to different organizational environments. You should also be able to: Identify activities that should be undertaken during each of the practices of the Benefits Management Cycle, together with the accountabilities and responsibilities of each of the defined roles Evaluate examples of benefits management information (documents) Analyse the solutions adopted in relation to a given scenario This course will prepare you to take and pass the Practitioner exam, which is held on the afternoon of the second day. Using APMG-provided sample exam papers and additional project case studies, you will learn how to apply what you've learned during the Foundation course and how to approach the scenario-based Practitioner exam, which is aimed at testing your ability to apply Managing Benefits in an actual project environment (via simulated case study). What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Plan for the implementation of benefits management Select appropriate strategies to sustain and measure progress Select and adapt principles, practices, and techniques to suit different organizational environments Identify activities that should be undertaken during each of the practices of the Benefits Management Cycle together with the accountabilities and responsibilities of each of the defined roles Evaluate examples of benefits management information (documents) Analyse the solutions adopted in relation to a given scenario Improve your ability to pass the APMG Managing Benefits Practitioner Certification exam Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Overview and Principles Review Managing Benefits Practices Managing Benefits Practitioner Exam Preparation Practitioner Exam Briefing Review of and practice with APMG sample questions and test papers Sample project case study scenarios to apply the concepts in practice and deepen the learning Sample Practitioner Exam Debrief Results from Sample Practitioner Exam APMG Managing Benefits Practitioner Exam
For boards and staff, board meetings always involve too much time, too much effort, too much material to review, and too few tools to make governance effective. Here are the top tools, tips and timesavers boards around the world use to make your impossible boardroom tasks do-able.
This one-day Suicide First Aid training course gives learners the knowledge and tools to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths and some basic skills can help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe from their thoughts and stay alive.
The 'golden rule' of negotiation is simple - don't! But life's rarely that simple and very often we do have to negotiate, particularly if we want to win the business and especially if we want to win it on our terms. Such negotiations are crucial. We need to prepare for them. We need a strategy, and the skills to execute it. Does your team have a structured approach? Is it flawlessly executed, every time? Or is there room for improvement? This programme will help them master the six fundamentals of closing better business: Manage all these elements well and you will win more business, more profitably. This course will help participants: Negotiate from a position of partnership, not competition Deal more effectively and profitably with price objections Identify and practise successful sales negotiating skills Identify strengths and weaknesses as a sales negotiator Understand different types of buyer behaviour Learn to recognise negotiating tactics and stances Apply a new and proven structure to their business negotiations Identify and adapt for different behavioural styles Be alert to unconscious (non-verbal) communication Prepare and present a proposal at a final business negotiation stage Project confidence and exercise assertiveness in all sales negotiations 1 Planning for successful business negotiations This session introduces the concept of business negotiation and looks at its importance in the context of the participants' roles and activities. It briefly examines why we negotiate and the dynamics involved. Session highlights: What kind of a negotiator are you? Negotiation skills self-assessment and best practice How to establish roles and responsibilities for both parties How to identify and set objectives for both buyer and seller How to research and establish the other person's position (business negotiation stance) 2 How to structure your negotiations This module presents an eight-step framework or structure for use in negotiations and considers how best to prepare and plan your negotiations within the context of a supplier/customer relationship or business cycle. It also includes a brief review of legal responsibilities and what constitutes a 'deal'. Session highlights: Learn and apply a formal structure to use when negotiating How to establish short- and longer-term objectives and opportunities How best to plan, prepare and co-ordinate a major business negotiation meeting, or on-going negotiations Understanding of basic legal and organisational requirements 3 Verbal negotiation skills This session examines the human and communication dynamics inherent in any negotiation situation. It emphasises the importance of professional skills in preparing for a negotiation by identifying needs, wants and requirements accurately and by qualifying the competitive and organisational influences present. Session highlights: How to fully 'qualify' the other party's needs, requirements and constraints during the negotiation process by using advanced questioning and listening skills How to pre-empt negotiation objections by promoting and gaining commitment to options, benefits, value and solutions How best to propose and suggest ideas, using drawing-out skills 4 Non-verbal negotiation skills This module highlights how different personal styles, corporate cultures and organisation positions can influence events, and demonstrates practical methods for dealing with and controlling these factors. It also examines key principles of body language and non-verbal communication in a practical way. Session highlights: Gaining rapport and influencing unconsciously Understanding the importance of non-verbal communication; reading other people's meaning and communicating effectively as a result Ensure that non-verbal behaviour is fully utilised and observed to create maximum impact and monitor progress (eg, buying signals) Recognising that business negotiations are precisely structured and agreements gained incrementally 5 Proposing and 'packaging' This session highlights how best to present and package your proposal. It looks at how to pre-empt the need for negotiating by creating minor-options and 'bargaining' points, as well as how to manage the expectations and perceptions of the customer or buyer. Session highlights: How to identify the key variables that can be negotiated The power and use of 'authority' within your negotiations How to structure and present your proposal, ideas or quotation to best effect The importance of when and how to identify and influence buyer's objections 6 Dealing with price This module highlights how to best present and package price within your proposal or negotiation. In most cases, price has more to do with psychology than affordability and preparation and careful handling are essential. Session highlights: The three reasons that people will pay your asking price How to set price in a competitive market The key differences between selling and negotiating Ten ways to present price more effectively and persuasively 7 Getting to 'Yes': tactics and strategies There are many different tactics and strategies common to successful negotiators. This session looks at those that are most appropriate to the participants' own personal styles and situations. The importance of 'follow-through' is also explained and how to deal with protracted or 'stale-mate' business negotiations. Session highlights: How to negotiate price and reduce discounting early in the process How to recognise negotiating tactics and strategies in your customer or supplier Key strategies, techniques and tactics to use in negotiation The importance of follow-through and watching the details How to deal with stalled business negotiations or competitor 'lock-out' 8 Case studies and review This session examines a number of different situations and participants discuss ways to approach each. This will allow learning to be consolidated and applied in a very practical way. There will also be a chance to have individual points raised in a question and answer session. Session highlights: Case studies Question and answer Planning worksheet Negotiation 'toolkit' and check-list 9 Personal action plans Session highlights: Identify the most important personal learning points from the programme Highlight specific actions and goals Flag topics for future personal development and improvement
Global Project Management: In-House Training: In-House Training In this course, you will dig deeper-and differently-into project management processes, tools, and techniques, developing the ability to see them through the lens of global and cultural project impacts. In today's increasingly global environment, managing a project with customers and support organizations spread across multiple countries and continents is a major challenge. From identifying stakeholders and gathering requirements, to planning, controlling, and executing the project, the basic logistics of a global project present their own standard challenges. However, with additional cultural, language-based, and regional elements, global projects involve more complexities than teams often realize. There are unique communication needs, cultural awareness elements, varying customs and work expectations, and critical legal differences to consider. In this course, you will dig deeper-and differently-into project management processes, tools, and techniques, developing the ability to see them through the lens of global and cultural project impacts. This will leverage you to problem solve differently on global projects, prevent problems, and ensure success. The goal is for you to effectively navigate the challenges of leading projects with multi-regional footprints and globally diverse sets of stakeholders. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Determine when a project meets the criteria of being a true global one Articulate global project needs based on the project grid and framework Identify and analyze global project stakeholders Recognize cultural differences and articulate how they impact project work Determine global project estimating, scheduling, and staffing challenges Assess global project risks and develop problem-solving responses Analyze complex cultural situations and align optimal project communication and negotiation tools and techniques Apply best practices for conducting virtual team work and mitigating virtual challenges Evaluate ways to control for global project scope, cost, and procurement Align customer management best practices with global customer needs Implement key global project closing activities Foundation Concepts What is a global project? What makes a global project different? A global project management framework Initiating the Global Project Launching a global project Respecting cultural differences Identifying and analyzing stakeholders Developing the communications plan Defining the ideal global project manager Crafting a global project charter Planning the Global Project Gathering requirements for a global project Defining the scope, region by region Estimating and scheduling for global projects Staffing the global project Developing the global risk management plan Executing the Global Project Managing global stakeholder expectations Embracing cultural diversity Honing global negotiation techniques Procuring goods and services on a global basis Managing global legal and regulatory issues at the micro and macro level Monitoring and Controlling the Global Project Status reporting Virtual communication Cost control Schedule control Scope control Customer satisfaction Closing the Global Project Contract closure at the macro and micro levels Administrative closure with global reach Lessons learned
Emotional Intelligence: In-House Training Emotional Intelligence is a set of emotional and social skills that collectively establish how well we: Perceive and express ourselves Develop and maintain social relationships Cope with challenges Use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way It is a skill set that transfers across all categories of relationships. It is also a predictor of success - both in life and at work. This highly-interactive course delivers a practical approach to developing, improving, and sustaining effective and mutually beneficial relationships. The design of the course involves individual reflection and paired activities, interwoven with small and large group interactions. The EQ-i 2.0® assessment reports will be debriefed over the course of the two days. In addition, participants will delve into their personal strengths and blind spots, and will explore topics including: the neuroscience of emotion, the connection between empathy and performance, and how communication styles impact our perceptions of self and other. Role-play activities give participants the opportunity to try out new behaviors and techniques. The program includes: A personal behavioral profile, the results of which you will bring to your training 2-day highly interactive workshop and experiential learning Optional professional coaching activities initiated in class that can continue over the four months after class ends What you will Learn Recognize your interpersonal strengths and potential blind spots regarding Emotional Intelligence Identify the five domains within the EQ-i 2.0 assessment model Summarize what neuroscience research has discovered about emotions and actions Recognize ways that human beings are physiologically impacted by stress Articulate ways to develop and maintain strong working relationships Describe how emotional intelligence translates into high performance Make use of the EI model and associated competencies Employ strategies for enhancing leadership through Emotional Intelligence Foundation Concepts The biology of emotion Why Emotional Intelligence matters The impact of EI on performance The EQ-I 2.0 Model Overview of the EQ-i 2.0 framework Exploring your report Balancing your EI domains Self: Awareness and Sensitivity Self-awareness and empathy Perception vs. reality Acting by choice, not impulse Other: Communication and Relationship-Building Elements of effective communication Communication styles Communication techniques Neuroscience and Behavioral Change Insights from social neuroscience Making a change
Managing Complex Projects: In-House Training As knowledge and technology expand exponentially, organizations are finding that the tools, processes, and methods used to select, plan, and manage their projects are insufficient for the challenges posed by them. The goal of this course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of project complexities and a framework for managing the ambiguities involved in today's fast-changing, competitive, and technology-based environment As knowledge and technology expand exponentially, organizations are finding that the tools, processes, and methods used to select, plan, and manage their projects are insufficient for the challenges posed by them. Complex projects don't necessarily follow the rules of traditional projects - in many instances the projects' end-products, and the methods by which they will be produced, are not easily defined. Stakeholder diversity and geographical dispersion contribute to the difficulties project managers face in their efforts to gain acceptance of project goals, objectives, and changes. Additionally, hierarchic leadership styles, traditional lifecycle approaches, and traditional project manager competencies may no longer maximize the efficiencies that need to be realized on complex projects. The goal of this course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of project complexities and a framework for managing the ambiguities involved in today's fast-changing, competitive, and technology-based environments. What you Will Learn The learning objectives of this workshop are to enable participants to: Appreciate complexity and its impact on the management of projects Describe the differences among traditional, complicated, and complex projects Explain the effects of complexity on the PMBOK® Guide's process groups Apply a high-level model in the management of real- world projects Complexity and Projects Some characteristics of complex systems Important models/characteristics of complex projects Major players in project complexity Landscapes and project typologies A supplemental framework for complex projects Framing Framing overview Potential pitfalls in framing complex projects Possible solutions Inception Centrality of risk management PM competencies, selection Stakeholder identification, analysis Blueprint Collaborative planning Stakeholder engagements Alternative methodologies/life cycles Collaborative scheduling Procurement management Oversight, Navigation, and Adjustment Leadership and the project team Stakeholder management Networks Close and Continuous Improvement Transition/support Post-project evaluations Rewards/Recognition
Earned Value Management: In-House Training: In-House Training Earned Value Management (EVM) incorporates a set of proven practices appropriate for project or program management methodologies. These include integration of program scope, schedule, and cost objectives, establishment of a baseline plan for accomplishment of program objectives and use of earned value techniques for performance measurement during the execution of a program. Earned Value Management (EVM) incorporates a set of proven practices appropriate for project or program management methodologies. These include integration of program scope, schedule, and cost objectives, establishment of a baseline plan for accomplishment of program objectives and use of earned value techniques for performance measurement during the execution of a program. EVM provides a solid platform for risk identification, corrective actions, and management re-planning as may be required over the life of a project or program. The course emphasis is on the latest EVM principles and concepts in accordance with changes and guidelines for Earned Value Management in The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and The Practice Standard for Earned Value Management published by the Project Management Institute. What you Will Learn You'll learn how to: Develop a project baseline, using an effective WBS Record actual project performance Calculate EVM measures Evaluate project performance based on EVM measures Respond to project variances Integrate EVM and risk management Determine how EVM will add value to your organization Develop an EVM implementation plan for your organization Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Expectations Foundation Concepts Introduction to Earned Value Management (EVM) Benefits of EVM EVM Process Overview Applications of EVM Creating a Work Breakdown Structure Reviewing WBS concepts Reviewing WBS development process (decomposition) Using a WBS to support EVM Building a Project Baseline Defining a project baseline Developing a project baseline Using a project baseline Recording Actuals Recording actuals overview Collecting data for actual project performance Determining earned value - various methods EVM Performance Measures Using current status measures Using forecasting measures Analyzing EVM measures EVM and Risk Management Integrating EVM and Risk Management Using EVM measures in the risk register Exploring how EVM can facilitate reserves management Drawing down contingency reserves Responding to Variances Introduction to variances Process for responding to variances Response options Reporting Project Performance EVM reporting overview Meeting EVM reporting needs Addressing EVM reporting challenges Implementing an EVMS Defining EVMS requirements EVM for Agile projects Tailoring the EVMS Summary and Next Steps Review of content Review of objectives / expectations Personal action plan
Project Management Fundamentals: In-House Training 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. In today's environment, that means possibly adapting to Agile / Iterative methods. So, we have recently added key Agile concepts to provide a basic understanding of shifting towards agility. 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 Module 8 - Executing, Communicating, and Developing the Team What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the value of strong project management Identify characteristics of a successful project and project manager Recognize how current agile / adaptive practices fit within project management 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 Use standard project management terminology Foundation Concepts Project management and definitions Value and focus of PM Competing constraints and project success 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 Using the Work Breakdown Structure Defining the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Developing a usable WBS Using the WBS Managing Project Risk Making the case for risk management Overview to planning for risk Identifying risks Analyzing risks Planning responses to risks Implementing response and monitoring risks Considerations for adaptive environments Estimating Defining an estimate Estimating approaches Estimating practices Estimating cost Validating an estimate 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 From baseline to execution Project communications and stakeholder relationships High-performing teams Monitoring and Controlling Defining monitoring and controlling Viewing control through the competing demands lens Variance Analysis and corrective action (Earned Value) Considerations in adaptive environments Closing the Project Closing projects Focusing on project transition Focusing on post-project evaluations