Duration
2 days
Suitable for participants who have some project management knowledge
Course Overview
This course is intended for executives and engineers in technical and non-technical work areas, who need to acquire advance working knowledge and skill in monitoring or tracking, and control project execution. Their participation through an action-learning methodology will facilitate an immediate transfer of such competency to workplace.
This course is carefully designed to provide the best mix of experience, theory and practice in an adult learning environment. Formal presentations are used mainly to introduce key concepts and significant elements of project management. Emphasis is on practical applications through “hands on” action learning.
A high level of participation and team involvement is required. Maximum opportunities will be given to participants to inject their own examples and issues into the course and continually relate the material to their own contexts.
Participants are encouraged to bring their projects to the session. The appreciation of project management software and techniques will be used to help participants better understand project management monitoring and control concepts; reflecting on their current project practices, and knowing how to improve better monitoring and control deliverables. Ample case studies, examples and interactive individual/group exercises are provided.
Objectives
- To provide practical project management tools and techniques for monitoring and controlling project execution.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Have comprehensive and advance understanding of the various processes of project management monitoring and control.
- Evaluate risk monitoring of projects and deciding the appropriate risk management strategies to exercise control.
- Appreciate the use of MS Project with MS Excel for monitoring (tracking) project schedule and cost performance.
- Use of provided templates to generate reports
- Use of Earned Value Management technique to analyse schedule and cost management performance of a project.
Course Content
The sessions will normally start at 9.00 am and end at 5.00 pm, or at client’s timing preference; with two 15-minute tea breaks and an hour lunch.
Day 1
Project Monitoring Process
Performing schedule and cost maintenance during monitoring process
- Resource levelling (relevant for construction-related projects or projects having a large number of project workers working on different days)
- Conduct What-If scenario analysis
- Determine the suitable schedule compression techniques to bring a project back on schedule
- Determine the suitable cost reduction techniques to maintain a healthy disbursement of funds or cash flow
Conducting schedule and cost analysis during the monitoring process
- Mapping schedule progress using a Gantt Chart
- Activity: Using project management software to track project progress
- Activity: Gantt Chart and project progress
- Activity: S-Curve (cost) reporting
- Mapping schedule and cost progress using the Earned Value Management (EVM) technique
- Activity: EVM game
- EVM schedule and cost forecasting
- Monitoring schedule-related and cost-related risks
- Monitoring high profile risks – risk watch list
Day 2 (some Day 1 learning components may spill over to Day 2)
Project Control Process
- The change control system – change request, change control board, change impact assessment approve/disapprove, change implementation schedule, and updating configuration documents after a change is closed
- Control schedule and cost variances against baselines by using EVM technique
- Activity: Using MS Excel to visualize the EVM statistics
- Quality control tools and techniques
- Responding to project risks by executing risk responses
- Understanding the different risk response strategies for schedule and cost control
- Activity: Determining the risk response strategies for a project
- Work-around risk responses (for unidentified risks)
Verifying project scope deliverables and stage sign-offs
Project Case Studies
- Real Cases (Stories) on Challenges: System deployment and change management, change of user groups and effect on project, a new project manager facing difficulties to get team support and loyalty, project managers being treated like project administrators by the CEO, and many others.
- Situational project case discussions
Training Approach
The training uses practical exercises that take individuals outside their comfort zones. By giving the participants help and guidance during the process, confidence and skills are strengthened. We make the sessions challenging and practical through the use of role-play, experiential learning and group exercises. Participants will quickly discover their strengths and weaknesses in communicating with others. Moreover, this interaction makes classes enjoyable and motivational.
The tempo of the training is light-hearted and fast-paced. Our experience suggests that this makes people actually look forward to attending our training sessions and reinforces the motivational effects. Peer group pressure, structure and relaxed atmosphere are the key elements to the success of our courses.
Methodology
Presentation, MS Excel and Microsoft Project project management software appreciation (this is not a software training course and delegates do not need to have their computers), case studies, and hands-on activities.
Who Can Benefit
Managers, executives, and engineers who are involved in any part one of these: planning, estimating, scheduling, monitoring (tracking), and measuring the implementation progress of projects
Items, Logistics & Others
Training Items:
Post-It notes
Flipchart paper
Flipchart easels
Whiteboard
Computer projector (up to XGA resolution)
Writing paper
Whiteboard markers
Paper tape
Pencils
Course material (in a binder and tabbed)
Arrangement:
Round table seating 5 participants
Breakout table arrangement (conducive to group exercises)
Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.