This program is designed to provide an overview of the basic concepts and tools of project management. It can be adapted to either an audience of managers responsible for supervising project leaders or to an audience of project leaders and project participants.

Introduction

• Definition of projects.
• Why projects are undertaken.
• The characteristics of projects.
• The "Triple Constraint" of time, resources, and output.
• Characteristics of effective project leaders.
• Key players in the world of projects: project team, customers, sponsors, stakeholders.

• Researching the need for the project: Why this project? Why now?
• Defining Needs and Wants.
• Developing the project goal.
• Determining commitment and support needed for the project.
• Determining the skills needed for the project.
• Assembling the project team.

• Framing the project.
• Planning major tasks.
• Detailing tasks.
• Connecting people to tasks.
• Scheduling the project.
• Identifying the Critical Path.
• Transfer planning.
• Contingency planning.

• Project kickoff.
• The cycle of project management; Monitor, measure, problem-solve, report.
• Status reporting and management reviews.
• Project team meetings, tools and techniques.
• Change control.
• Problem-solving process and tools.

• Documentation and training.
• Timing the transfer and implementation of project output.
• On-going support.
• Completing the transfer.
• Project close-out.
• Post-project evaluation.
• Closing ceremonies.

This program provides hands-on practice with tools and techniques for project planning. Participants are grouped into teams and use projects from their work for the in-class exercises.

Introduction

-    Definition of projects.
-    Why projects are undertaken.
-    The characteristics of projects.
-    The "Triple Constraint" of time, resources, and output.
-    Characteristics of effective project leaders.
-    Key players in the world of projects: project team, customers, sponsors, stakeholders.

Project Pre-Work

-    Researching the need for the project: Why this project? Why now?
-    Defining Needs and Wants.

Exercise: A seven-step needs-analysis process applied to each project. Steps include:
-    Define the problem.
-    Determine Needs (required) and Wants (desirable) and prioritize Wants.
-    Determine the desired outcome of the project based on Needs and Wants. 
-    Develop options and alternative approaches.
-    Compare options to Needs and Wants.
-    Assess overall risks.
-    Select an option.

Exercise: Developing a goal statement for each project.

Exercise: Developing a list of stakeholders and evaluating their commitment to the successful completion of the project. 

Exercise: Completing a Skills and Influence Matrix for each project, linking needed skills with individuals who are current or potential team members.

Exercise: Developing strategies for obtaining the services of needed team members.

-    Introduction to project planning and the Post-It® Planning Process.
-    Framing the project.

Exercise: Defining project phases.

Exercise: Developing high-level project tasks and key decision points.

Exercise: Review the plan and adjust at the highest levels.

Exercise: Adding detail and sub-tasks to high-level tasks; adding additional high-level tasks; reviewing the plan and adjusting the task sequence.

Exercise: Identifying four levels of connection between team members and tasks: Responsible, Help, Tell, Ask.

Exercise: Developing estimates of Task Time and Duration for each task and sub-task.

Exercise: Determining the Critical Path through the project (both critical tasks and schedule).

Exercise: Develop first draft of the plan to deliver the final output of each project; scheduling mid-point and final reviews of the transfer plan.

Exercise: Identifying potential risk points in each project and developing contingency plans for each.

-    Project kickoff.
-    The cycle of project management; Monitor, measure, problem-solve, report.
-    Status reporting and management reviews.
-    Project team meetings, tools and techniques.
-    Change control.
-    Problem-solving process and tools.

Project Closure Overview

• Documentation and training.
• Timing the transfer and implementation of project output.
• On-going support.
• Completing the transfer.
• Project close-out.
• Post-project evaluation.Closing ceremonies

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