All organisations today operate in an environment of constant and rapid change. Managing this change effectively is often achieved through a portfolio of formal projects. Many organisations today have qualified and experienced project management staff to run their projects. Some organisations today have dedicated functions, staff or processes to support their project management teams. The very largest organisations have in-house Enterprise Programme Offices, or project management specialists in corporate audit or risk functions; or organise 'Red Team Reviews' of a project by other staff with project management experience who are not participating in the reviewed project. But for many mid-size businesses and SMEs - and even some larger organisations - these resources are simply not available. For them, having access to external expertise to assure project management disciplines and to coach project managers can be a major contributor to project success. Such reviews can take place at project initiation; at major stage-gates (especially if significant capital is to be committed at the stage-gate); or at any other time if concerns arise concerning project quality, cost or timescales. And it is for those organisations that we offer the necessary expertise, on an ad hoc basis, in reviewing projects and coaching senior project management staff. A document review and workshop led by one of our consultants can help you assess whether: The strategic goals and priorities for the project are clear and being addressed Governance of the project within the business is defined and being effectively executed Project roles and responsibilities are clear and effective The credibility and robustness of the project plan can be enhanced Performance measures and reporting procedures are effective Critical risks are identified and being managed and contingencies are agreed The roles, responsibilities and capabilities of the key players in the project team are fit for purpose Budgets are realistic and costs being managed effectively Communication and change management activities are effectively planned and being executed At your discretion, you can capture the outcomes from the workshop for yourselves, in terms of identifying opportunities for improvement, or you can have our consultant write a report and make recommendations to you.
Project Stakeholder Relationship Skills: In-House Training This course is designed to provide project managers with the ability to: Analyze the complexities of major stakeholder relationship categories Apply the most appropriate interpersonal relationship skills to the different categories of relationships Align the dynamic needs of the stakeholders with a project's objective throughout the project life cycle What you Will Learn Examine traditional and non-traditional ways to identify and assess stakeholders Explain how competence, character, and trust lead to project success and strong relationships with stakeholders Utilize 'Embodied Leadership' skills to build stakeholder relationships Apply stakeholder engagement best practices to case study and real-life scenarios Getting Started Stakeholders and project success Stakeholder management research Managing stakeholder relationships Identifying Stakeholders Stakeholder categories Stakeholder relationships across the project life cycle Tools and techniques for identifying stakeholders Assessing Stakeholders Assessing stakeholder relationships Recognizing stakeholder attitudes toward the project Analyzing stakeholders Using other types of stakeholder assessments Building Stakeholder Relationships The importance of psychological safety Building trust and getting results The anatomy of trust Navigating Challenging Situations Dynamics of conflict Responding to conflict Managing difficult conversations
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) 5th Edition Practitioner: In-House Training Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) is a globally-recognized framework for best practice programme management. MSP certification provides guidance for programme managers, business change managers, and the next step for project managers to develop their knowledge and skills to be able to positively respond to the challenges of managing programmes and larger, more strategic, or multiple projects. MSP 5th Edition emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness by adopting an incremental approach to the programme lifecycle and thus enabling organizational agility. AXELOS offers two levels of MSP Examination: MSP Foundation and MSP Practitioner. The MSP 5th Edition Foundation Examination is intended to assess whether the candidate can demonstrate sufficient recall and understanding of the MSP programme management framework. MSP 5th Edition Practitioner is for project, programme, and business change managers that want to build on their knowledge of MSP in order to practically apply the MSP framework to real-life scenarios, providing the skills to lead and manage a programme. It is a must-have certification for both project and programme management professionals to deliver organizational value to their employers and boost their careers. What you will Learn At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand how to apply the MSP principles in context Understand how to apply and tailor relevant aspects of the MSP themes in context Understand how to apply and tailor relevant aspects of the MSP processes in context Course Introduction Application of MSP Principles Program Strategy and Themes Application of Organization Theme Application of Design Theme Application of Justification Theme Application of Structure Theme Application of Knowledge Theme Application of Assurance Theme Application of Decisions Theme Application of MSP Processes
Scrum Master Workshop: In-House Training A Scrum Master helps project teams properly use the Scrum framework, increasing the likelihood of the project's overall success. Scrum Masters understand Scrum values, practices, and applications and provide a level of knowledge and expertise above and beyond that of typical project managers. Scrum Masters act as 'servant leaders', helping the rest of the Scrum Team work together and learn the Scrum framework. Scrum Masters also protect the team from both internal and external distractions. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Comprehend the Agile Manifesto and mindset Explain the fundamental principles of Scrum Guide the Scrum team in their responsibilities Write requirements in the form of user stories Define Ready and Done Estimate using planning poker and prioritize using MoSCoW Facilitate the team through the 5 Sprint events Fulfill the role of Scrum Master in a Scrum project Create Information Radiators to enable transparency Define the structure of the retrospective Foundation Concepts Agile History, Values, and Mindset Introduction to Scrum Scrum events Scrum artifacts Scrum Roles and Responsibilities Product Owner responsibilities Scrum Master responsibilities The Team responsibilities Cross-functional Teams Building Effective Teams The Product Backlog and User Stories The Product Backlog User Stories Definition of Done Backlog grooming Estimating User Stories Story points, planning poker Prioritizing User Stories The Sprint Team capacity and velocity The Sprint Planning Meeting The Sprint Backlog The Sprint Learning to self-manage, self-organize, self-improve Sprint Review and Retrospective Project Progress and Completion The Daily Scrum The Task Board and The Burndown Chart Information Radiators Closing a Scrum Project Summary and Next Steps Review of course goals, objectives, and content
Project Quality Management: In-House Training In today's environment, quality is the responsibility of everyone. Project success is no longer just the fulfillment of a project on schedule, on budget, and within the scope. Today, projects aren't successful unless the customer's needs are met at the highest level of quality at the lowest cost to the organization. Project Managers must know customer needs, and manage to them throughout the project lifecycle, in order to gain acceptance. Project Quality Management provides an interactive, hands-on environment for participants to practice identification of critical quality requirements (quality planning), fulfillment of those requirements through well-designed processes (Quality Assurance), and statistical awareness of technical specifications of project deliverables (Quality Control). What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Plan for higher quality project deliverables Measure key performance indicators on projects, processes, and products Turn data into useful project information Take action on analyzed data that will drive down non-value-added costs and drive up customer acceptance and satisfaction Reduce defects and waste in current project management processes Foundation Concepts Quality Defined Customer Focus Financial Focus Quality Management Process Management Cost of Quality Planning for Quality Project Manager Role in Planning Voice of the Customer Quality Management Plan Measurement System Accuracy Data Gathering Data Sampling Manage Quality Process Management Process Mapping Process Analysis Value Stream Mapping Standardization Visual Workplace and 5S Error Proofing (Poka-Yoke) Failure Mode and Effect Analysis Control Quality The Concept of Variation Common Cause Special Cause Standard Business Reports Tracking Key Measurements Control Charts Data Analysis Variation Root Cause Analysis Variance Management Designing for Quality
The Agile Project Manager Change isn't coming, it's already here. The project environment is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Project management and project managers must transform and evolve in order to keep up with these changes. Agile has been a disruptor in the field of project management, having over 20 years of successes and benefits to organizations that have adopted their frameworks. The Agile frameworks have proven themselves to be more adept in dealing with this uncertainty. But Agile isn't just about following a different way of working. What do you need to learn, do, and become in order to continue in the current and future environment? It is a powerful combination of knowledge, competencies, and mindset. In an increasingly complicated project environment, this course provides participants with the knowledge needed to not only survive but thrive. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Evaluate the changing project environment and the needed knowledge, skills, and behaviors Demonstrate innovative project manager competencies of leading change, servant leadership, and focus on value Utilize Lean and Agile principles to maximize value and improve project performance Construct a hybrid Agile model that is unique to your project Assess your role in Business Agility as an Agile Project Manager Getting Started Introductions Workshop orientation Expectations Foundations Recap: What is Agile? A changed project environment The future project manager Agile Project Management Competencies Focusing on value Championing change Servant leadership Coaching / mentorship Facilitation Lean and Agile Principles Optimizing flow Making things small Continuous planning Just-In-Time requirements Visualizing work Hybrid Agile Considerations Considering a Hybrid Approach Examining Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Approach Selecting Waterfall / Agile Roles, Practices, and Techniques Reviewing Three Hybrid Scenarios Constructing the Hybrid Project Implementing Agile Pitfalls and Concerns Agile in the Organization Business Agility
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the key principles and techniques for leading and managing project work. It will focus on the core principles and generic methods of project management, showing how these can be applied to typical projects. The scope of the programme includes: The course also emphasises the importance of the leadership and team-working skills needed by project managers and team members in carrying out their roles. The principal training objectives for this programme are to: Explain and demonstrate the key principles of successful project management Demonstrate a range of useful project management tools and techniques Define the role of, and help participants understand the skills required by, the project leader Illustrate the use of project skills through examples and case studies Identify ways to improve project management, both individually and corporately DAY ONE 1 Introduction (Course sponsor) Why this programme has been developed Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 Key concepts and requirements for success Projects and project management Lessons from past projects; the essential requirements for success Differences between projects; characteristic project life cycles The challenges of project management; the role of the project manager Project exerciseA team exercise to demonstrate the challenges of project management 3 Defining project objectives and scope Identifying the stakeholders; key roles and responsibilities Getting organised; managing the definition process Working with the 'customer' to define the project scope 4 Project case study: part 1 Defining the project objectives: syndicate teams define the objectives and scope for a typical project 5 Project planning The nature of planning; recognising planning assumptions Planning the plan; the importance of team involvement Developing the work breakdown structure Estimating task resources, timescales and costs Developing the project schedule Analysing the plan and identifying the critical path 6 Project case study: part 2 Creating the project plan Syndicate teams begin development of their project plans (for completion after session 7) Team presentations and group discussion (after session 7) DAY TWO 7 Managing project risks Understanding and defining project risks Classifying risks and adopting an appropriate risk strategy Identifying, evaluating and managing project risks Agreeing ownership of project risks; the risk register Integrating planning and risk management 8 Project control Pro-active and re-active control; striking the right balance Pre-requisites for effective, pro-active project control Avoiding unnecessary 'scope creep' and controlling change Selecting the data needed to provide early warning of problems Monitoring project performance: 'S' curves, slip charts, earned value Getting good data and assessing project status Defining the roles and responsibilities for control Setting up a routine process for keeping up to date Managing and controlling multiple projects 9 Project case study: part 3 Controlling the project Teams control their project as new developments take place 10 Course review and transfer planning (Course sponsor present) Identify actions to be implemented individually Identify corporate opportunities for improving project management Sponsor-led review and discussion of proposals Conclusion
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) 5th Edition Foundation: In-House Training Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) is a globally-recognized framework for best practice programme management. MSP certification provides guidance for programme managers, business change managers and the next step for project managers to develop their knowledge and skills to be able to positively respond to the challenges for managing programmes and larger, more strategic or multiple projects. MSP 5th edition emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness by adopting an incremental approach to the programme lifecycle and thus enabling organizational agility. AXELOS offers two levels of MSP Examination: MSP Foundation and MSP Practitioner. The MSP Foundation Examination is intended to assess whether the candidate can demonstrate sufficient recall and understanding of the MSP programme management framework. The MSP Foundation qualification is a prerequisite for the MSP Practitioner Examination, which assesses the ability to apply understanding of the MSP programme management framework in context. The MSP® 5th Edition Foundation course is a training based on the exam specification for MSP Foundation certification and is aligned with the Managing Successful Programmes (5th Edition) guide from AXELOS. What you will Learn At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand key concepts relating to programmes and MSP Understand how the MSP principles underpin the MSP framework Understand the MSP themes and how they are applied throughout the programme Understand the MSP processes and how they are carried out throughout the programme Key Concepts of MSP Programmes Three Lenses of MSP Principles Themes and Governance Organization Organization Theme Organization Structure Individual Roles Stakeholder Management Design Design Theme Benefits Risk Identification and Prioritization Target Operating Model Documents and Key Roles Justification Justification Theme Business Case Financial Planning Documents and Key Roles Structure Structure Theme Delivery Planning Dependencies Benefits Realization Plan Resourcing Documents and Key Roles Knowledge Knowledge Theme Knowledge Management Information Management Document and Key Roles Assurance Assurance Theme Assurance at Multiple Levels Assurance Planning Document and Key Roles Decisions Decisions Theme Issue Resolution Risk Response Data Gathering and Reporting Options and Analysis Document and Key Roles MSP Processes Identify the Programmeâ¯â¯â¯ Design the Outcomes Plan Progressive Delivery Deliver the Capabilities Embed the Outcomes Evaluate New Information Close the Programme
What do engineers and project managers need to know of finance? 'Nothing - leave it to the accountants!' No, no, no! Engineers must be conversant with the terminology and statements that accountants use. Technical expertise in projects, service delivery, production or other areas can only really be harnessed if the managers understand the accounting and reporting that drives businesses. This course gives the necessary understanding to project, production and technical managers. It develops their skills in understanding financial and management accounting. Accountants may not always like it but a major part of their work is to be the 'servants of business' and to gather, compile and present your figures. So you must understand the figures - they belong to you, your processes or projects. There are many reasons for maintaining accurate accounts. This course focuses on the strategic issues (those over-used words) - what figures reveal about the drivers of business and what they reveal about the day-to-day issues that accountants bother you with. The course will enhance your understanding of finance and of the accounting issues which affect your projects, production and technical areas of business. This course will help you: Understand the business world in figures - make sense of what the accountants are telling you Appreciate what drives business - and how this affects your role in your part of the business Relate your activities to the success of the business - through figures Gain the skills to advance in management - financial awareness is a 'must have' if you are to progress in your career 1 What do accountants do? The finance function, types of accountant, financial v management accounting and the treasury function Understanding the role of the finance function and how the information you provide may be used 2 The basic financial statements Balance sheets and income statements (P&L accounts) What they are, what they contain and above all what they can reveal - how to read them The accounting process - from transactions to financial statements What underpins the statements - accounting systems and internal controls 3 Why be in business - from a financial perspective The driving forces behind financial information Performance measures - profitability, asset utilisation, sales and throughput, managing capital expenditure 4 Accounting rules - accounting standards Accounting concepts and the accounting rules: accruals, 'going concern' - substance over form and other 'desirable qualities' Accruals - why the timing of a transaction is so important to the finance function Depreciation and amortisation - the concepts and practice Accounting standards - the role of International Financial Reporting Standards 5 Cash The importance of cash flow - working capital management Cash flow statements - monitoring overall cash flows Raising cash - levels of borrowing, gearing Spending cash - an outline of capital expenditure appraisal 6 Budgeting Why budget? - good and bad practice Determining why budgets play a key role and should not be simply an annual ritual Justifying your budgets - the link between the strategic plan and day-to-day budgeting - alignment of company culture Budgets as motivators - the importance of the right culture Techniques to improve budgeting - whether day-to-day or capital budgeting 7 Costing The type and detail of costing very much depends on your business - eg, manufacturing piston rings is quite different from the construction of a power plant Issues with overhead allocation Accounting for R&D 8 Reading financial statements Annual financial statements - why they are produced, what's in them and what you should look for Learning what a set of accounts reveals about a company's current situation, profitability and future prospects 9 Performance measurement - analytical reviews and ratio analysis ROI/ROCE Profitability, margins and cost control Sales - asset turnover Efficiency (asset / stock turnover, debtor / creditor days) 'City' measures Investment (interest / dividend cover, earnings per share, dividend yield)
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