Skills for Project Managers Short Course
Unit Standard
120372 (5 credits) and 120373 (9 credits) in the Project Management Level 4 Qualification
Duration
2 days
Location
Classroom or Online
ABOUT THE COURSE
Project management skills are fast becoming one of the most important business knowledge sets and are essential for achieving project success for a wide range of people. Projects are also being used to increase sales, improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, improve the work environment and in all areas where a change is needed.
This 2-day Skills for Project Managers course has been designed to “fast-track” project management skills to those who have been given responsibility for projects, allowing them to achieve objectives faster, more effectively, on time and with fewer resources.
This course features many “hands-on” sessions to enable delegates to immediately initiate and run their projects.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- The key elements of a successful project management process and how to structure a project with realistic goals and milestones
- A step-by-step approach to planning the project, using project scheduling techniques to get to an achievable, effective project timeline
- Working effectively with the resources and team you have available, including identifying their roles and responsibilities and the allocation of tasks and deadlines
- Implementing a system of checks and controls to help you keep “on-top” of your project, and provide early warnings of problems or delays
- Managing, monitoring and motivating a project team, and how management skills in a project environment need to differ from traditional line management
- Managing your risk during the project, including identification of high risk tasks, and the preparation of contingency plans
- The key principles to managing the project through its life cycle, including monitoring budgets and deadlines, so that you can successfully complete your project on target and on time
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Project Managers, Project Coordinators, Project Administrators, Production Managers, Marketing Managers, Financial Managers, Administrators, Operations Managers, HR Managers, Technical Managers, Engineers, IT Managers, System Administrators, Personal Assistants.
COURSE PROGRAMME AGENDA
Getting the Basics Right: Understanding the Project Management Process
- What defines a project
- Introduction to the key elements of a project
- What phases does a typical project go through
- What the characteristics are of a successful project
- Working with a Project Team
- The importance of time and deadlines
Getting it Started: Initiating a Successful Project
- Identification of the project goals and objectives
- Defining the required deliverables
- Conducting a “Project Scoping Exercise”
- Identifying and analysing the risks
- Working out the constraints and dependencies
- Deciding on a strategy for running the project
- Agreement on levels of authority
Preparation: Surviving the Project Planning Stage
- The contents of a Project Plan
- Steps in the development of a plan
- Developing a time schedule
- Identifying milestones
- Setting up a successful administrative system
- Identifying your projects’ Critical Path
- Setting and agreeing Project Budgets
Structuring the Team: Organising Roles and Responsibilities
- Deciding on the structure you will use to organise the project
- Setting out roles and responsibilities
- Clarifying reporting and authority lines
- Allocation of tasks and activities
- Getting commitment from team members
- Identifying and managing other stakeholders in the project
Leading from the Front: Skills for Managing a Diverse Project Team
- Management styles for Project Leaders
- Taking advantage of strengths and weaknesses
- Delegating of responsibilities without losing control
- Communicating with the team without long wasteful meetings
Keeping a Finger on the Pulse: Steering, Monitoring and Controlling the Project
- Understanding why controls are required
- Using a time schedule and modifying it for the unexpected
- Identification of key areas to monitor Monitoring the “Critical Paths”
- Tracking time, resources and costs against the plan
- The use and benefits of Project Scheduling Software
Covering the Bases: Identifying Key Project Issues and Risk Planning
- Introduction to Project Risk Management
- Identifying, assessing and managing key risks in your project
- Setting up contingency plans
- Other issues that often arise in managing a project
When Things go Wrong: Successfully Managing Change and the Unexpected
- Dealing with changes in scope during the project
- Handling unexpected problems
- Calling on additional resources to help
- Speeding up the decision making process
Wrapping it up – Concluding and Finalising the Project
- Wrapping up the details
- Conducting the hand–over/ outstanding issues
- Preparation of the Project Report
- Comparing achievements to objectives