How to Manage Projects Successfully

Who would benefit from this programmeThis programme is great for people managing small to medium-sized projects or members of larger project teams.This course will enable the delegates to apply key project management techniques to their project work. This will help them to ensure that objectives are well defined, planned and achieved within cost and timescale constraints. The programme will be a mix of input from the trainer, group and syndicate discussion and practical exercises to consolidate the learning. Each delegate will be provided with a set of handouts.Learning outcomesThis programme will enable delegates to manage project work effectively, with the following benefits:

• Project work will be well defined, ensuring that the objectives accurately match corporate needs
• Project work will be planned in a structured way, ensuring that all aspects are fully addressed
• Project work will be monitored and controlled pro-actively to ensure that objectives are achieved on time and within budget

Topics Include:

Day One

Introductions

Project Characteristics

The key characteristics of projects

Distinguishing between projects and

‘business-as-usual’

Difficulties experienced on projects and

causes of failure.

What is Project Management?

Roles and responsibilities

The three key aspects of the Project

Manager’s role.

Project Management as a process

The four project phases and how they form

an iterative process.

Project Definition

Identifying and communicating with Stakeholders, Setting Objectives, Project Scope and Constraints, Justifying a project, Risk Management

The Planning Process

Work Breakdown Structure, Project network, Estimating, Critical Path Analysis

Ensuring quality, resolving cost and time discrepancies.

Review

Summary of day’s work and review of key

issues.

Day Two

Review of Day One

An opportunity for the delegates to raise and discuss any issues arising from Day One.

Communicating the Plan

Gantt charts

Resolving resource discrepancies.

Project Organisation

Actions required to organise the project prior to launch.

Project Control

Monitoring the project

Managing issues

Ongoing communication/reporting.

Project Closure

Managing project handover and acceptance

Evaluating projects to learn for the future.

Final Review

Summary of the programme and review of key issues.

Action Planning

A time to set personal goals for application

of the new-found understanding and

skills, further personal development and

extending the effective use of project

management in their organisation.