R&D work is often carried out in entrepreneurial companies with the aim of developing solutions to scientific or technological problems for a wide range of customers. Projects can include longer term 'frontiers of science' research, medium term product development/manufacturing or more immediate troubleshooting or contract research assignments. In all these contexts, the ability to create innovative solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner is the essence of successful R&D. Whilst R&D groups typically excel in technical expertise, those involved often recognise that there is scope for improving the way that projects are managed. The aim of this training programme is to address this need whilst ensuring that the creative, entrepreneurial spirit that is fundamental to good R&D continues to flourish. MODULE 1: Creating the foundations for success Off-line video tutorials and exercises Total time ~ 1 - 1.5 hours Video 1: Making the most of project management in R&D Characterising R&D projects Applying project management to R&D work Exploiting the potential of project management in R&D Video 2: Promoting success in R&D project management Modelling successful project management Evaluating performance and promoting success The role and skills of the project manager/leader MODULE 2: Initiating and defining R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Selecting and initiating projects Recognising worthwhile opportunities; initiating projects Identifying stakeholders and their goals Characterising and engaging stakeholders Session 2: Defining goals and agreeing deliverables Establishing the full scope of the project Clarifying and prioritising project deliverables Defining and agreeing deliverable specifications MODULE 3: Planning R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Identifying and organising activities Creating effective plans; avoiding planning pitfalls Identifying tasks and assigning responsibilities Sequencing tasks and estimating durations Session 2: Developing the timeline and resource plan Identifying the 'critical path'; creating a resource plan Dealing with estimating uncertainty Accelerating the programme MODULE 4: Leadership and teamwork in R&D projects Off-line video tutorials and exercises Total time ~ 1 - 1.5 hours Video 1: Working effectively in project teams Building teamwork in contemporary organisations Recognising each other's skills; building synergy Building good working relationships; handling conflict Video 2: The role of the R&D project team leader Building teamwork: the role of leadership Creating an effective team culture Delegating work and motivating team members MODULE 5: Managing uncertainty in R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Characterising uncertainty; identifying risks Exploring uncertainty; applying risk management Focusing the risk management process Identifying and defining risk events Session 2: Managing and controlling risks to the project Evaluating risk events Selecting between risk strategies; setting contingencies Updating and controlling exposure to risk MODULE 6: Implementing and controlling R&D projects Live interactive sessions (via Zoom): Session 1: 10:00 - 12:00 Session 2: 14:00 - 15:30 Session 1: Initiating assignments and managing changes Creating a pro-active implementation and control culture Establishing effective implementation and control procedures Assigning work and managing changes Session 2: Monitoring, managing and developing performance Adopting meaningful monitoring techniques Responding to problems; building performance Managing and controlling multiple project assignments
Many organisations find that project teams struggle to create and maintain effective plans. Estimates are often overly optimistic and risks go unmanaged until the inevitable happens. Resource managers also find it hard to forecast the likely loading on their departments and requests for support are not provided in a consistent format. This programme has been developed to address these needs in a very practical, hands-on format. Case study work can be based on simulations or on the organisation's current projects for maximum benefit to participants. The aim of this training is to develop and enhance participants' planning and risk management skills in order to maximise the success of project work undertaken by the organisation. The principal training objectives for this programme are to: Provide a structured, integrated approach to planning and risk management Demonstrate practical tools and techniques for each stage of planning Show how to organise and involve relevant people in the planning process Explain how to use the plan for forecasting and pro-active project control Identify ways to improve planning, both individually and corporately The course will emphasise the importance of participative planning techniques that improve the quality of plans whilst reducing overall time and cost of planning. The course will encourage discussion of internal procedures and practices and may be customised to include them if required. DAY ONE 1 Introduction (Course sponsor) Why this programme has been developed Review of participants' needs and objectives 2 Projects and planning Why plan? The benefits of good planning / penalties of poor planning Planning in the project lifecycle; the need for a 'living' plan The interaction between target setting and the planning process Team exercise: planning the project 3 Planning the plan Defining the application and structure of the plan Impact of planning decisions during the project lifecycle Using available time to create an effective plan 4 Defining deliverables Assessing the context; reviewing the goals and stakeholders Developing the scope and defining deliverables; scope mapping Understanding customer priorities; delivering value for money Case study: defining the project deliverables 5 Creating the work breakdown Building the work breakdown structure Detailing the tasks and sub-tasks; structured brainstorming Defining task ownership; the task responsibility matrix 6 Creating and using a logical network Developing the logical network; task boarding Determining the critical path and calculating float Accelerating the plan; concurrent programming and risk Individual and group exercises DAY TWO 7 Developing resource schedules Deriving the Gantt chart from the network Developing the detailed resource schedules Calculating the expenditure profile ('S' curve) 8 Estimating task durations and costs Understanding estimates: effort, availability and duration Estimating tools and techniques Application of estimating techniques during the project lifecycle 9 Case study Developing the project plan Refining the project plan Team presentations and discussion 10 Managing risks and refining the plan Awareness of contractual issues associated with risk Identifying and evaluating risks; deciding ownership Managing risks: determining levels of provision and contingency Controlling risks: maintaining an up-to date risk register 11 Planning for pro-active control The earned value analysis (EVA) concept and its predictive value Deriving the measures needed for cost and delivery performance Practical issues associated with implementing EVA 12 Using and maintaining the plan Tracking progress and updating the plan Publishing and controlling the plan 13 Course review and transfer planning (Course sponsor present) Identify ways of implementing the techniques learnt Sponsor-led review and discussion of proposals Conclusion
Our ‘Professional Behaviour – A workplace Priority’ training programme provides delegates with a set of tools and increased knowledge to deal with the issues of bullying and harassment appropriately as they arise. These issues are far from easy and for many managers, the reality of dealing with complaints of this nature is both time consuming and stressful Currently it is estimated that bullying and harassment costs the UK economy £18 billion a year in lost productivity, staff retention and legal costs. Our bespoke and specialized services, developed to meet your organizational requirements in these challenging areas, can reduce stress levels, develop increased awareness, and better understanding. In addition to this face to face training, NGT will assess your organisation’s current position and where you would like it to be as its future unfolds; we will help your organization to identify improvements and assess the benefits to you of making them; we will work with you to implement the agreed solutions, at a time and in a way that fits with your operational needs; we will help you track the benefits both long term and short term via regular monitoring, evaluation, and continued discussion. Our facilitator is highly experienced in delivering this training to all levels of staff and NGT welcomes your enquiry to take this matter forward. How is this course delivered and how long is it? This is a face to face course only and lasts a full day Is the course accredited? Yes, it is a CPD accredited course Who is it for? Although it will benefit managers of all grades it is equally important that all staff are made aware of these issues How much does it cost? Course fees are fixed at a fair daily rate, details of which are available upon enquiry. Travel costs are extra. How large are the groups? We can only effectively deliver this course to groups of 15 people or less. Will you be able to deliver the course at my workplace? Based in the Midlands, we are well suited to travelling to all corners of the UK, enabling us to deliver this programme to you at your location.
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This course is designed to suit a broad range of Care Sector staff. This training ensures that learners are equipped with a sufficient knowledge of mental health disorders so that they are able to manage and provide a high standard of support to affected service users. Learners will also know how to identify the symptoms of different mental disorders, adding real value to any organisation to which they provide services to.
This one-day workshop is designed to enhance your PowerPoint skills to achieve dynamic presentations that work with you, making it easier to deliver a polished, professional presentation. You will learn advanced PowerPoint skills that will save you time and elevate your presentations. This course will help participants: Create custom shows to personalise presentations for individual clients Make the Slide Master work collectively with slide layouts and themes Seamlessly interact with external content using links Work with advanced animations and transitions, and video/audio tools 1 Themes and Masters Add a Design theme to a presentation Make changes to the Slide Master Delete layouts from the slide master Saving a slide master with themes as a template 2 Advanced graphics and diagrams Drawing, duplicating and resizing shapes Grouping, aligning and stacking shapes and graphics Using SmartArt for diagrams and organisation charts 3 Graphs and charts Inserting and formatting a chart Linking an Excel chart to a slide Linking Excel tables to a slide Animating charts 4 Video, Custom animation and Hyperlinks Adding and editing video Animating pictures and drawings Hyperlink to another Slide or Website Compressing and optimising media 5 Presenting Reuse slides Hide slides Rehearsing timings Enabling a presentation to run continuously