Project management can seem scary and rather intimidating. The whole aim of this programme is to give people a simple and straightforward way of dealing with projects without having to use complex and confusing systems.
This two-day course is designed to introduce the apparently complex world of project management in a simple and practical manner. The programme is for anybody who has to run a project of any nature. It has been attended by people from as diverse fields as events management, fashion, charities, oil companies and so on. The programme is run without using any IT project management systems although an introduction can be given if required.
At the end of the programme participants will leave understanding:
What a project is and why projects are so important today
The roles of a project manager
Some key language and concepts
A simple 5-step model for organising projects
How to make sure you understand what your 'client' really wants
A set of three simple tools to plan the project
How to make decisions
What to monitor when the project is running
How to close the project
1 Introduction
What is the aim of this programme?
2 Background thinking
What is a project?
The project manager's eternal triangle (cost-quality-time)
What are the characteristics of successful projects?
Who are the key characters in a project?
What are the roles of a project manager?
3 The project process
Why have one?
4 Project initiation
What is the aim?
Identifying key information
Key skill: mission analysis
Initial risk analysis
Document and sign-off
5 Decision-making - 'Stop, Think, Act!'
The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique
Recognise the opportunity to make a decision
The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make
Identifying options
Making your decision
Taking it to action
6 Creativity
7 The planning stage
Identify all discrete tasks
Sequence and dependencies
Time line - critical path
Resources
Project base-line
8 Execution stage - delivering the result
Monitor
Evaluate
Adapt
Control
Review
9 The project close
Review
Documentation
Have we delivered?
What have we learned?