378 Courses in Cardiff

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.

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

This two day programme is designed to support participants to work through the technical steps and stages as well as the more practical realities of project management.

PMI-PBA® Exam Prep: In-House Training The course provides targeted exam preparation support for PMI®'s Professional in Business Analysis exam candidates, including a content review of The PMI Guide to Business Analysis, a review of the PMI-PBA® reference books, and an exam preparation tutorial. You will be given a Study Guide that you can re-use to assess your knowledge gaps as part of your Personal Action Plan. Your score on this for each Knowledge Area can be compared to your results on the quiz at the end of each course module to guide your study efforts. What you will Learn Upon completion, participants will be able to: Demonstrate familiarity with the structure, content and framework of The PMI Guide to Business Analysis Explain the six Knowledge Areas of The PMI Guide to Business Analysis, as well as, their inter-relationships with each other and the six Process Groups Differentiate among the five business analysis domains in the project life cycle Create a personal action plan to study and prepare for the PMI-PBA® Exam Getting Started PMI-PBA Examination Certification Process The Credential Examination Foundation Concepts for PMI-PBA® Prep Business analysis terminology and definitions Business analysis project, program, and portfolio management Product and project life cycles Skills and qualities of a business analyst Introduction to Business Analysis in Projects Business analysis overview How organizations implement business analysis Business analyst and project manager relationships Requirements definitions and types Practice quiz On-Demand Segment A: Define the Business Problem (Pre-work for Needs Assessment) Needs Assessment Review Needs Assessment knowledge area Identify problem or opportunity Assess current and future state Determine options and provide recommendations Facilitate product roadmap development Assemble business case Practice quiz Stakeholder Engagement Review Stakeholder Engagement knowledge area Identify Stakeholders and conduct analysis Determine Stakeholder engagement and communication approach Conduct business analysis planning Practice quiz On-Demand Segment B: The Elicitation Plan (Pre-work for Elicitation) Elicitation Review Elicitation knowledge area Determine Elicitation approach Preparing for Elicitation Conducting Elicitation Confirming Elicitation results Practice quiz On-Demand Segment C: Overview of Requirements Analysis (Pre-work for Analysis) Analysis Review Analysis knowledge area Determine Analysis approach Create and analyze models Define requirements and acceptance criteria Verify, validate, and prioritize requirements Identify and analyze product risks Assess product design options Practice quiz Traceability and Monitoring Review Traceability and Monitoring knowledge area Determine Traceability and Monitoring approach Establish relationships and dependencies Select and approve requirements Make changes to requirements and other product information Practice quiz Solution Evaluation Review Solution Evaluation knowledge area Evaluate solution performance Determine solution evaluation approach Evaluate acceptance results and address defects Obtain solution acceptance for release Practice quiz Exam Application and Preparation Process Applying for the Exam Studying for the Exam Sitting for the Exam Reviewing your Knowledge Gap Practice Exam Study Guide - a reliable learning aid Summary and Next Steps Crystallizing the Business Analysis Domains Developing a Personal Action Plan for Exam Study

The aim of this programme is to provide current / prospective senior project managers with an in-depth review of the role and importance of project management in the organisation. It focuses on the strategic role of the project manager and aims to draw out the full scope of the role and how it impacts on project performance. The five key objectives of this programme are to enable the participants to: Identify the characteristics and attributes needed by project managers in ensuring the organisation is recognised as an industry leader in delivering successful projects Understand the full scope and impact of the project manager / leader's role in managing projects or programmes to maximise benefit to the business Define the hallmarks and skills required to manage significant business projects or project portfolios Develop an understanding of the skills required and their impact on the project through case study work and syndicate exercises Benefit from an effective forum for exchanging experience and fostering a sense of team spirit and mutual support between senior project managers DAY ONE 1 Introduction (Course sponsor) A vision of future opportunities and challenges The impact of project managers / leaders on future success 2 The determinants of success The contractor's perspective The client's perspective Success and failure: factors that determine the project outcome The impact of the project manager 3 Case study: Project Giotto How successful was this project? What were the primary factors that influenced the outcome? How relevant are these factors to current projects? Feedback and review 4 Project team exercise A practical exercise demonstrating the role of the project manager in managing the interfaces between the client, the project team and suppliers Review - what skills are required to be a 'world class' project manager? 5 The role of the Project Manager The role and skills of the 'world class' project manager The three key dimensions of effective project leadershipManaging influential stakeholdersManaging project performanceManaging the project team Project leadership skills appraisal (individual review) DAY TWO 6 Managing influential stakeholders Project management and the art of leadership Who are the influential stakeholders and how do they affect the project? What we need to do / not do, to build successful working relationships 7 Case study: Understanding the customer What are the likely problems the project manager will encounter? What should the project manager do to ensure an effective partnership? 8 Managing project performance Issues affecting commercial performance Joining up the project life-cycle: getting performance from inception to closure The roles of project manager, line manager and project sponsor 9 Project team exercise: Making the promise / delivering the promise An exercise demonstrating the commercial and team leadership skills needed by the project manager Review - what must the project manager do to optimise project performance? 10 Managing multi-functional project teams The challenges of building effective, multi-functional project teams Co-ordinating work across functional and organisational boundaries Maintaining strategic focus and balancing priorities 11 Making it happen Individual action planning Syndicate discussion 12 Course review and transfer planning (Course sponsor present) What will we do differently? How will we make it happen? Conclusion

This programme concentrates on the core planning skills needed to develop sound practical project plans in a team environment. This enables the plan to be modified should requirements change or difficulties arise. The programme also gives participants the confidence to practise those skills and apply them in the work environment and deliver their projects more successfully in the future. Participants learn fundamental project management concepts and terminology, demystifying the project management process, and, in particular, how to: Break a project down into manageable sections and ensure nothing is left out Understand and apply estimating techniques to develop realistic estimates Sequence work effectively and carry out critical path analysis to determine project duration and which tasks to pay closest attention to Manage project risk effectively to protect project value Monitor, control and re-plan the project to best keep it on track Close out the project and ensure the project comes to an orderly end 1 Introduction Self-introductions and personal objectives Course objectives Sharing of project issues 2 Project management concepts Characteristics of a project and what should be kept as operational responsibilities Understanding the triple and quadruple constraints - and their limitations Prioritising requirements through the MOSCOW technique Product v project life cycle Key project roles and responsibilities - the importance of sponsorship and clarity of roles 3 Starting a project, and the importance of the terms of reference / project brief Avoiding the pressure to 'just do it'! The importance and benefits of planning The best time to learn! Initial project documentation - the BOSCARDI approach 4 Breaking the work down Understanding alternative breakdown structures such as the product breakdown structure and work breakdown structure Guidelines for creating a work breakdown structure to ensure the full work scope is identified 5 Estimating Alternative estimating techniques and associated confidence levels Further considerations - loss and resource factors 6 Organising the work Use of network diagrams to develop a clear sequence of work Critical path analysis and calculating the project duration and task float - and usage 7 The management of project risk Understanding the nature of project risk The risk analysis and risk management processes How to best manage threats and opportunities Running a risk workshop Using the risk register 8 Scheduling the work The importance of the Gantt chart and understanding its limitations The Gantt chart layout and using alternative views such as the tracking Gantt Using alternative dependencies 9 Resource issues Assigning resources and resolving resource overloads Crashing and fast-tracking your project and potential issues to look out for 10 Controlling the project The control cycle and alternative feedback mechanisms Alternative progress reporting Assessing the impact The importance of re-planning The benefits of control Change control - the importance of impact analysis The steps of change control and the use of the issue register 11 Closing the project The project closure checklist Reviewing the project - things to avoid Developing meaningful lessons and ensuring they are applied effectively The post-project review - its importance to the organisation

This programme provides an intensive, one-day overview of the key concepts and techniques of project management. The project management methods presented can be applied to a wide range of projects and the course emphasises both the task and the team-related aspects of project management. The aims of the programme are to: Present the key concepts of project management Provide a structured approach for managing projects Demonstrate tools and techniques for planning and controlling project work Enable participants to apply the techniques to their own projects At the end of the programme, participants will: Recognise the benefits of a structured approach to project work Be able to apply a range of practical tools and techniques to improve their personal effectiveness in project work Have a means of determining the status of current projects and know what actions are needed to ensure success 1 Introduction Why this programme has been developed Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 Key concepts The characteristics of projects and project work The four key phases of a project Essential lessons from past projects Key success factors Achieving success through the 'Team-Action Model' Challenges of the multi-project situation 3 Setting project goals Understanding 'customer' requirements Managing project stakeholders and gaining commitment Using questioning skills to define goals and success criteria Defining and documenting the scope of the project 4 Project planning Defining what has to be done Creating a work breakdown Agreeing roles and responsibilities for the work Developing a programme using networks and bar charts Estimating timescales, costs and resource requirements Planning exercise: participants develop a project plan Identifying and managing project risks Using project planning software Managing and updating the plan 5 Project implementation and control Creating a pro-active monitoring and control process Techniques for monitoring progress Using latest estimates Managing project meetings Resolving problems effectively Managing multiple projects Personal time management 6 Course review and action planning Identify actions Sponsor-led review and discussion of proposals Conclusion

Project Communication Skills: In-House Training Communication is the single most critical project success factor. When effective, projects get executed on time, within budget, and with objectives being met. But that isn't all. Strong communication also nurtures healthy team relationships. And in today's highly diverse world, where projects are often fast-paced, complex, and virtual, that is more important than ever. Strong communication skills foster cultural awareness, trust, and empathy. Together, they contribute greatly to project success-and ultimately, to future project success. In this course, participants will actively explore best communication practices from a variety of perspectives: in-person, virtual, electronic, and via formal project documentation. In order to be transformative, however, those perspectives will be filtered further through the lens of their formal, personalized assessment. It is a powerful tool which identifies individuals' internal needs and priorities. It translates those into descriptive profiles and reports, gifting users with valuable information about themselves and others. Paired with the course's real-world activities, it will provide uniquely strategic opportunities for communicating effectively and meaningfully-and with less conflict, both personally and professionally. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Identify basic elements of communication and explain how they affect teams Explore how your assessment style impacts you and how you communicate with people of other styles Infer how your style impacts the way(s) you send and interpret emails and instant messages Analyze real world email and instant messaging practices to determine how they affect communication and relationships Explore best practices for formal project communications and presentations Analyze how your assessment style and global diversity can contribute to both strong team communication and conflict Identify solutions for virtual team work communication challenges Getting Started Foundation Concepts Communication as a foundation skill Elements of communication Communicating across media Targeting your audience How communication impacts team performance The Assessment Framework Overview of the assessment's approach Exploring assessment report Increasing your effectiveness with other assessment styles Email and Instant Messages Preferred communications and assessment styles The email brands we create Assessment styles and email Emotion and email Email guidelines and best practices Anatomy of an email The seven deadly email sins Instant messages and other interfaces Project Communications and Presentations Communicating across the project lifecycle Project templates Structuring a presentation Delivering a presentation Interpersonal and Team Communication Skills Communication styles and techniques Managing conflict in a project environment Styles and conflict Communication and global team leadership Virtual Communication Leading global virtual teams Virtual processes and technology Virtual team leadership

PRINCE2® Foundation: In-House Training Projects fail for a variety of reasons including poor planning, lack of defined quality criteria, poor understanding of the business drivers, inadequate control, and lack of senior management involvement in other words, lack of a structured best practice approach to project delivery. PRINCE2® (6th Edition is the current version) is a structured, process-based approach to project management providing a methodology which can be easily tailored and scaled to suit all types of projects. It is the de facto standard for project management in the UK Government and is used extensively in more than 150 countries worldwide with in excess of 20,000 organizations already benefiting from its powerful approach. It can be used easily in combination with PMI®'s PMBOK® Guideto provide a robust project management methodology, or to augment an existing PMBOK®-based methodology with additional rigor around areas such as Quality, Organization, and Benefits Realization. The goals of this course are to provide participants with a thorough grounding in PRINCE2® and its benefits and to prepare them to sit the Foundation exam. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Identify the benefits and principles underlying a structured approach to project management Define the PRINCE2® method in depth, including the principles, themes, and processes Prepare and practice for the Foundation exam Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Overview of the PRINCE2® Foundation exam PRINCE2® Introduction Introducing PRINCE2® The structure of PRINCE2® What PRINCE2® does not provide What makes a project a 'PRINCE2® project'? Project Management with PRINCE2® Defining a project Managing a project Controlling the variables The Project Manager's work PRINCE2 Principles PRINCE2® Principles The Seven Principles Tailoring and Adopting PRINCE2® Defining tailoring Defining embedding What can be tailored? Who is responsible for tailoring? Introduction to the PRINCE2® Themes What is a PRINCE2® Theme? What are the PRINCE2® Themes? Tailoring the themes Format of the theme chapters Business Case Need for a business case Elements of a business case How a business case is developed Managing Benefits Organization Need for a special type of organization PRINCE2® organization structure Roles in a PRINCE2® project Combining roles Quality Relevance of quality to project work Quality, quality control, and quality assurance Quality management approach and the quality register Who is responsible for quality? Plans Need for plans and their hierarchy Approach to planning Content of a PRINCE2® plan Product-based planning Risk The need to manage risks What is a risk? Risk and continued business justification A risk management option Change Change is inevitable Different types of change Baselines and configuration management Issue and change control in PRINCE2® Progress Controlling a PRINCE2® project The application of tolerance Types of control Raising exceptions Introduction to Processes Processes and the project lifecycle The PRINCE2® journey Structure of the process chapters Tailoring the processes Starting up a Project Appointing people to the PRINCE2® roles Establishing some baselines Should we go further with this work? Planning for initiation Directing a Project Should we start / continue the project? Responding to internal / external influences Should we close this project? Initiating a Project Establishing the project's approaches Creating the project plan Refining the business case Assembling the PID Controlling a Stage Authorizing and reviewing work Monitoring and reporting Handling non-planned situations Triggering the next process Managing Product Delivery Accepting work from the Project Manager Getting the work done by the team Routine and non-routine reporting Handing back the completed work Managing a Stage Boundary Taking stock of what we have done Updating the PID Consider the options for continuing / stopping Producing exception plans Closing a Project PRINCE2® at the end of a project Transition of product to operational use How well did we do? Tying up all the loose ends

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