Overview

Master the initiation and planning phases of the project management lifecycle in this interactive 1-day workshop designed for practical, hands-on learning.

In this course, you will develop the required skills for successfully initiating and planning projects from the ground up. The course is structured as an engaging, interactive workshop where participation is encouraged throughout. You will receive a comprehensive workbook containing practical knowledge and numerous exercises to complete during class sessions.

By the end of this course, you will understand how to evaluate and select appropriate projects, and how to develop thorough planning strategies for project success. You may take this course as a standalone offering, or in conjunction with Project Management: Execution, Controlling, and Closing to gain exposure to the full project management experience.

Course Overview and Structure:

Following a brief introduction to project management as a discipline, you will explore the first two phases of the project management process in detail. During the initiation phase, you will practice identifying and selecting suitable projects. You will create project charters and develop accurate project scope documentation.

Next comes a comprehensive exploration of the planning phase, where a substantial portion of project success is determined. In the initial section of planning, you will create diagrams and charts while developing proficiency in interpreting them. In the second section, you will gain practical technical experience by applying strategic methods to understand concepts such as scheduling slack and resource allocation.

The course concludes with a facilitated discussion examining project managers and the essential elements of becoming successful in this role. You will explore the most valuable skills and personal characteristics, understand the critical importance of delegation, and examine effective strategies for managing organizational change.

This one-day workshop finishes with an overview of project management software options, professional associations, and relevant certifications available to practitioners.

This Class is Designed For:

Professionals wanting an overview of project management theories and methodologies
Those pursuing a career transition into project management
Individuals requiring a comprehensive review of project management concepts and approaches

Key Learning Outcomes

Understanding the complete project lifecycle
Initiating projects with charters and scope documents
Defining project activities and delegating work effectively
Managing project resources and scheduling slack
Developing essential project manager competencies

Detailed Course Syllabus

Project Fundamentals
- Defining a Project
- Identifying Key Project Characteristics
- Understanding the Project Triangle
- Exploring the Project Lifecycle
- Learning About Gantt Charts
Project Management Methodologies
- Overview of Major Methodologies: Waterfall, Agile, and Others
The Initiating Phase
- Project Identification Techniques
- Project Selection Criteria
- Creating Project Charters
- Developing Project Scope Documentation
The Planning Phase
- Creating Work Breakdown Structures
- Assigning Task Responsibility
- Defining Project Activities
- Sequencing Activities Logically
- Building Network Diagrams
- Estimating Activity Resources
Resource Management in the Planning Phase
- Identifying Activity Resources
- Planning with Resource Constraints
- Creating Resource Requirement Plans
- Developing Resource Utilization Plans
Start, Finish Times, Critical Path, and Slack
- Establishing Project Start and Completion Times
- Determining the Critical Path
- Calculating Total Slack
- Determining Free Slack
The Project Manager Role
- Key Project Manager Responsibilities
- Essential Project Manager Skills
- Mastering Effective Delegation
- Managing Organizational Change