Essential Skills for Managing Projects Course

Is it right for me?

This course is suitable for anyone who is involved in, or about to run projects - either as a full-time project leader/manager or as a part of their role - particularly where projects involve influencing stakeholders and dealing with cross-functional project teams and handling contractor relationships.

The course takes a pragmatic approach to using a structured project methodology in areas of complexity and uncertainty. Project management and running projects professionally is a valuable life skill that can enhance your career and opportunities. Good project manager's are worth their weight in gold.

What will I get out of it?

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

• Identify the key issues raised in managing projects
• State the life cycle of a project from commissioning to completion and identify the requirements at each stage
• Use a range of decision making processes to identify the requirements at each stage
• Identify issues affecting the project and clarify terms of reference
• Identify and effectively influence key stakeholders and others involved in or affected by the project
• Develop robust project briefs incorporating measurable objectives
• Use a range of approaches for estimating
• Set and manage project budgets
• Develop and manage project plans and identify preventative and contingent action
• Plan projects effectively using GANTT
• Develop effective reporting and tracking processes
• Monitor project implementation and manage changes
• Manage contractor relationships effectively
• Evaluate project performance and apply learning to future projects

What does it cover?

Introduction

• Key characteristics of projects
• Project phases - a structured approach

The Pre-definition phase

• Decision making processes in projects

The project definition phase

• Project issue identification: research and critical incident interviewing
• Project issue identification: creative techniques
• Defining project roles and responsibilities
• Developing a project brief
• Setting measurable objectives for business outcomes, project success and key deliverables

Managing stakeholder relationships

• Identifying and analysing stakeholder needs
• Building positive stakeholder relationships - developing rapport and managing stakeholder expectations
• Planning to manage stakeholder anxiety

The planning phase

• The planning process - an overview
• Using work breakdown structures to identify tasks
• Approaches to estimating
• Detailed planning using GANTT charts
• Using PERT and critical path analysis
• Using project management software - an overview
• Setting and managing project budgets

Risk management

• Identifying key risks and measuring probability and impact
• Preventative and contingency planning

The implementing phase

• Project tracking and reporting
• Managing contractors
• Project negotiation skills
• Facilitating stakeholders through the process of change
• Controlling changes to the project

The review and evaluation phase

• Post project review and evaluation
• Review and action planning