33911 PLA courses

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

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

M&O of engineering plant and services is becoming more important to the success of the core business. To select the right M&O technique for specific plant and equipment it is necessary to know what options are available, what they deliver and how they should be implemented. This course will help you consider options and techniques that provide best value based on that thorough understanding of the business need. M&O will increasingly be required to demonstrate it is delivering the optimum of cost and value and the main purpose of the course is to show how this can be achieved. Note: this is a purely indicative list of topics that can be covered. The content, duration, objectives and material used would all be adapted to match your specific requirements. This course will help you: Determine what the business needs from the M&O service Determine the cost and value of the various M&O options Prepare and present the business case for the selected M&O strategy Introduce meaningful KPIs based on performance-based service by the M&O provider Undertake a review of current M&O and make recommendations for improvement Introduce energy and carbon management performance criteria in M&O Better deal with project risk and uncertainties Motivate others to deliver a reliable and cost effective M&O service Note: this is a purely indicative list of topics that can be covered. The content, duration, objectives and material used would all be adapted to match your specific requirements. 1 What is maintenance and what is operation? - their relative importance to the business 2 Comparison of the various maintenance options and techniques, including: Planned preventative Run to failure Condition monitoring Business focused Business critical Total productive Reliability centred maintenance 3 Forms of contracts and service, including: Comprehensive Input driven Output driven Limited replacement Performance based M&O 4 Selecting the right options and making the business case 5 Continuous commissioning as a tool for delivering best value 6 Case studies

Intermediates: Bedroom player to bar room rockstar - where we jam intermediate level songs with the barre chord, scale, improvisation, theory and chord extension learning snuck into the jamming fun An intermediate player can play E type barre chords and perhaps some/all A type positions. You can play a few scales and have been using them either to improvise or play solos, licks and riffs. Your knowledge of the fretboard is good

Intermediates: Bedroom player to bar room rockstar - where we jam intermediate level songs with the barre chord, scale, improvisation, theory and chord extension learning snuck into the jamming fun An intermediate player can play E type barre chords and perhaps some/all A type positions. You can play a few scales and have been using them either to improvise or play solos, licks and riffs. Your knowledge of the fretboard is good

Intermediates: Bedroom player to bar room rockstar - where we jam intermediate level songs with the barre chord, scale, improvisation, theory and chord extension learning snuck into the jamming fun An intermediate player can play E type barre chords and perhaps some/all A type positions. You can play a few scales and have been using them either to improvise or play solos, licks and riffs. Your knowledge of the fretboard is good

Intermediates: Bedroom player to bar room rockstar - where we jam intermediate level songs with the barre chord, scale, improvisation, theory and chord extension learning snuck into the jamming fun An intermediate player can play E type barre chords and perhaps some/all A type positions. You can play a few scales and have been using them either to improvise or play solos, licks and riffs. Your knowledge of the fretboard is good

Learn how create and structure enterprise projects and programmes. Course overview Duration: 2 days (13 hours) Our P6 Project Planning and Controls Fundamentals course is an intensive two day course aimed at experienced planners and project controllers who need to use Primavera to create and manage detailed plans. It includes creating EPS levels, projects, WBS levels and detailed activity and resource planning. Experience of project planning and scheduling techniques is essential. Objectives  By the end of the course you will be able to: Create a programme structure Create projects and set project properties Create programme milestones Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Create detailed plans including activities, links and resources Progress the schedule Manage actuals Customise layouts Use the reporting tools in Primavera Content Programme Management Creating EPS elements Defining the programme structure Navigating the EPS structure Finding programmes Project Management and WBS Creating projects Setting project properties Validating projects Assigning project codes Building a work breakdown structure Creating a WBS structure Creating WBS elements Work package management Top Down budgets Allocating top down budgets Budget change Programming milestones and activity planning Creating programme milestones Setting constraints Linking milestones Scheduling Using the schedule function Detailed activity planning Creating activities Relationship types Creating relationships Adding milestones Assigning activity codes Resourcing, workloads and baselining Resource types Creating resources Resource attributes Assigning resources Switching resources Split load resource assignment Reduced hours resource assignment Checking workload Reviewing workload Dealing with resource conflicts Assignments view Baselining Creating baselines Assigning baselines Working with layouts Creating layouts Customising columns Setting filters Sorting and grouping Changing the timescale Customising the Gantt Creating activity code breakdown structures Progressing the schedules Updating task status and remaining duration Setting the data date Monitoring and reporting Exporting and importing information Primavera standard reports Creating custom reports Creating portfolios Printing Printing your schedule Printing to other packages

Look at some of the more advanced planning features available in Project. Course overview Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Our Project – Advanced Planning and Control course looks at advanced planning and resourcing techniques in Microsoft Project and how to customise your schedule to give better visibility and flexibility. The course is designed for experienced users of Project who have attended our Project Planning and Control introduction course or have equivalent knowledge. You must be confident using Project to build and resource schedules and create task dependencies. Objectives  By the end of the course you will be able to: Work with different types of task Amend resource load on a task Work with multiple resource rates Create custom tables Add custom fields Create calculated fields Add drop down lists in fields Filter and extract information Create new views Export information Content Advanced planning techniques Splitting tasks Task types Spreading work across activities Advanced resourcing techniques Resource types Assignment views Effective dates Work contours Overtime work Using multiple resource rates Creating custom tables Customising tables Adding fields Creating custom fields Adding text, number, date and time fields Using flag fields Defining pick lists Renaming custom fields Creating calculated fields Creating formulas Using graphical indicators Uploading and tracking progress Completing work Completing work per resource Updating tasks Updating the project Working with the status date Rescheduling work Viewing baseline against schedule Project overview statistics Working with filters Building standard filters Building interactive filters Task and resource filters Using highlight filters Creating custom views Creating customised views Customising text styles Using grouping techniques Exporting information Exporting to Excel

Learn how to use Microsoft Project to create and resource robust project plans and how to maintain and track throughout the project lifecycle. Course overview Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Our Project Planning and Control course gives you the essential skills to use Microsoft Project to build, resource and monitor project schedules. It looks at initial setup, building plans, using a work breakdown structure and managing resources through to baselining and progressing your schedule. This course is designed for new or existing users of Microsoft Project, and no previous experience of Project is required. Knowledge of planning techniques would be an advantage. Objectives  By the end of the course you will be able to: Create project schedules Build a Work Breakdown Structure Create relationships Set baselines Manage resources Set deadlines and task properties Print and report on your project Update and track project schedules Content Creating a new project Project defaults Project start date Setting default hours per day/week Setting daily working times Project timeline Building a project Creating a work breakdown structure Adding tasks and durations Estimated durations Setting milestones Recurring tasks Linking, Baselining and Resourcing Setting start dates and dependencies Task Inspector Resourcing Assigning resources Filtering available resources Baseline Setting a baseline Removing a baseline Managing resources Resource properties Dealing with over allocations Tasking information Constraint dates Setting deadline Assigning task specific calendars Task types Updating your project Completing work Completing work per resource Updating tasks Updating the project Rescheduling work Change highlighting Printing and reporting Setup and Printing Visual reports Using the Timeline Creating Dashboard reports