3-Day PROJECT PLANNING, MEASURING & SOFTSKILLS

Duration

3 days

OVERVIEW

Suitable for participants who have some or no project management knowledge

This course is intended for managers and executives in technical and non-technical work areas, who need to acquire managerial and working knowledge and soft skills in starting up (initializing) and planning a project, finding out how to measure the implementation of client’s projects (for both generic and IT specific projects). Their participation through an action-learning methodology will facilitate an immediate transfer of such competency to workplace.

This project management course is carefully designed to provide the best mix of experience, theory and practice in an adult learning environment. Formal presentations will be brief and used mainly to introduce key concepts and significant elements of project management. Emphasis is on practical applications through “hands on” action learning. Project planning using Microsoft Project will be demonstrated.

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. Scenarios of project stakeholder conflicts and ways to resolve them are taught; including project problem-solving and decision-making techniques.

Participants are encouraged to bring their projects to the consultative and learning session. The demonstration of project management software and techniques will be used to help participants better understand project management concepts; reflecting on their current project practices, and knowing how to improve them.

OBJECTIVES

• To provide project management fundamentals (i.e., the project management framework) for participants to understand the project management methodology.
• To understand the use of project management tools for planning and measuring project progress.
• To provide soft skills training to better manage project stakeholders to ensure successful projects.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have comprehensive understanding of the various processes of project management.
• Understanding the Project Management methodology, and making it the backbone of a project organisation.
• Evaluate and determining project time, cost, quality and performance metrics and measurement.
• Determine project stakeholder roles and responsibilities.
• Using Excel spreadsheet to monitor cost management performance.
• Equip with working skills to manage stakeholders like conflict-resolution and negotiation skills.

DETAILED COURSE CONTENT

DAY ONE

Project Management Background

• The time-cost-quality & project scope triangle.
• Project management stakeholders and their implications on projects.
• Stakeholder conflicts of interest, and how to resolve them.
• Activity: identifying stakeholders and roles in a project.
• Project management context and roles.
• The project life cycle – initiating-planning-executing-controlling-closing phases.
• Building effective team communications and project standards.

Stakeholder Needs Assessment & Planning Project Measurement Metrics

• Question checklist for soliciting stakeholders’ needs and expectations.
• Classify levels of importance & ways to influence stakeholders.
• Isolating stakeholders’ needs and wants.
• Decomposing stakeholders’ needs into specific and measurable project metrics using S.M.A.R.T. technique.
• Stakeholder anxiety and commitment.
• Support from senior management.

Soft Skills For Managing Project Stakeholders

• Conflict resolution techniques.
• Body language and negotiation techniques.

DAY TWO

Project Initializing Process

• Project manager and team member roles, accountability, and responsibilities.
• Milestone charting.
• Estimating high-level project costs.
• Developing the Project Charter.
• Activity: constructing the Milestone Chart and Project Charter.
• Project feasibility studies (financial), e.g. NPV, Payback, and ROI.

Project Planning Process

• Scope definition & planning.
• Activity: creating a project statement.
• Work breakdown structure (WBS).
• Activity: constructing a WBS.
• Norms of activity duration padding.
• Task listing.
• Activity: constructing a task list.
• Sequencing the tasks using Network Diagram.
• Resource listing.
• Activity: creating a Resource List.

DAY THREE

Project Planning Process (continued)

• Estimating task durations.
• Graphical activity sequencing (Gantt & milestone diagram).
• Activity: constructing the Network Diagram, Milestone Chart and Gantt Chart of a project.
• Project issues logging.
• Risk management planning.

Project Monitoring & Controlling Process

• Responding to project risks (executing risk responses monitor and control the execution of the responses).
• Supplier agreement management - evaluating and measuring the performance of suppliers.
• Activity: Risk response activation and rules.
• Activity: Using project management software to track project schedule progress.
• Activity: constructing an Excel spreadsheet charting planned project cost performance.

Project Failure and Success Case Studies

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, Microsoft Project project management software appreciation, case studies, and hands-on activities.

WHO CAN BENEFIT

Managers and executives who are directly involved in starting up or initializing a project and planning the planned schedule and cost performance of projects.

Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.