The Essentials of Project Management Including Microsoft Pro

Is it right for me?
Suitable for people who are new to project management or have had little formal training and who want to consolidate and develop their core project management skills. No previous project management knowledge is assumed. This programme is not suitable for delegates already proficient in the use of standard project planning techniques.

What will I learn?
By the end of this course you will be able to:

Understand what is meant by a project and what sets projects apart from day-to-day work.
Appreciate the range of competencies and skills needed to be an effective project manager.
Focus the objectives of the project in line with business and client needs.
Understand the roles and responsibilities necessary for effective project delivery.
Understand the reasons why projects fail and build in the mechanisms to protect your own projects.
Ensure that projects are planned, reviewed, controlled and implemented successfully.
Plan for effective communication.
Automate key processes of the planning and performance monitoring of a project.
What will it cover?
Project Definition and Lifecycle

What is a project?
The stages of the project lifecycle
The role of the project manager
Project management team roles and responsibilities
The project management system
Defining and clarifying project objectives, scope and constraints - gaining agreement with key project roles
Project Planning - the Principles

Planning tools and methods - work breakdown structures, network diagrams, critical path analysis and estimating
Use Microsoft® Project to support the creation of project network diagrams and Gantt charts to communicate the plan
Risk identification, assessment and management
Using Microsoft® Project to schedule and review resource workloads
Building quality into the project
Project Monitoring and Controlling

Accurate capture of progress to date
Using Microsoft® Project to track and report progress
Use Microsoft® Project to support corrective action planning
Change control - responding to problems and changes
Configuration management – keeping control of the project versions
Project Communication

Communication planning – maintain communication throughout the project lifecycle
Achieving buy in from project participants and stakeholders
Understand how Microsoft® Project can support project communication
Closing the Project

Project completion and handing over the project
Project performance review - lessons to be learned
Post project activities
Personal Development

Review of your own project issues and concerns
Creating a personal action plan throughout the programme