Planning, Organising & Controlling Projects

Course Introduction

This Training Course Will Highlight

• Professional Approach: Learning systematic methods to manage projects and project activities
• Scope Definition: Understanding how to define project scope, establish realistic objectives, and identify relevant deliverables
• Effective Planning: Creating realistic project plans, determine critical paths, and proactively manage risks
• Stakeholder Engagement: Mastering techniques for identifying, engaging, and managing project stakeholders
• Performance Tracking: Exploring tools and techniques for tracking and managing project performance

Objectives

• By the end of this Planning, Organising & Controlling Projects training course you will be able to:
• Apply a professional, systematic approach to manage projects and project activities
• Define the project scope, establish realistic objectives, and identify the relevant deliverables
• Produce realistic project plans, determine the critical path, and manage project risks
• Mobilise resources, accurately monitor project performance, and maintain control of the project
• Recognise team dynamics within the project, play to strengths and manage weaknesses

Training Methodology

The Organisation Will Gain The Following Benefits

• Develop project resource skills to fulfil their responsibilities and meet project objectives
• Improve project team performance, delivering results faster and more cost effectively
• Development of realistic project plans, with more accurate cost, time, and resource estimates
• Improved project leadership
• Achieve project milestones with improved cash flow and budget control
• Improve communication between project teams and stakeholders
• Increase staff motivation levels and professionalism

Delegates Will Be Able To

• Demonstrate greater competence in project management methods and techniques
• Contribute more effectively within their project management teams
• Create realistic project plans and control their work more efficiently
• Improve their leadership skills and management of project teams
• Understand and apply appropriate project evaluation measures
• Build and manage productive working relationships with all project stakeholders
• Operate more confidently and effectively in a global business environment
• Who Should Attend?
• This Oxford Management Centre Planning, Organising & Controlling Projects Training Course Is Suitable To a Wide Range Of Professionals But Will Greatly Benefit
• Project Managers and Directors
• Project Professionals, including anyone responsible carrying out project assignments
• Project Administrators, Supervisors, and Support Staff
• Project Owners and Clients
• Project Contractors and Suppliers

Day 1

• Reviewing the Fundamentals
• Understanding projects: Differences between large/small and simple/complex projects
• Current trends in project management: Project management associations and qualifications
• Understanding projects: Project complexity factors and categories
• Project life cycles & stage gates: Project planning and decision points
• Earned value management: Measuring project performance
• Project roles, responsibilities, and boundaries: Work breakdown structures and RACI charts
• Key financial concepts: Net present value, internal rate of return, and payback periods

Initiating and Defining Projects

• Initiating projects: Project context and environment
• Setting realistic objectives: Defining project scope and deliverables
• Goal prioritisation & stakeholder management: Achieving objectives
• Developing a project control structure: Defining roles and specifying work packages
• Cost breakdown structures: Techniques for making preliminary estimates of time and cost
• Using appropriate project planning methods: Applying a structured approach
• Initiating risk management: Using qualitative risk analysis techniques

Planning Projects for Results

• Building a realistic project plan: Using Gantt charts and activity networks
• Using the plan to develop detailed task and resource schedules
• Identifying the critical path and setting milestones: Getting buy-in from the key players
• Techniques for developing detailed estimates for time and cost: Managing estimating uncertainty
• Minimising project timescales: Exploring time-cost options and understanding trade-offs
• Managing project risks: Qualitative and quantitative risk management methods and techniques
• The importance of continuous evaluation: Maintaining and updating plans and risk registers

Organising, Implementing, and Controlling Projects

• The 20-step project management sequence
• Managing project resources & communication: Running effective meetings
• Running effective change control processes
• Managing & controlling project documentation
• Project performance tracking, management, and control systems
• Using predictive control techniques: Gantt charts, S-curves, and burn-down charts
• Project completion: Managing project close-out and hand-over to operations

Project Leadership and Team-Working

• Understanding leadership and management: Qualities and skills that enhance results
• Working in project teams: Building collaborative working relationships
• The role of the leader in building team cohesion and performance: The team development cycle
• The keys to effective influence and persuasion: Characteristics of successful leaders
• Improving communication, delegation, and motivation skills
• Working with senior stakeholders: Creating rapport and understanding, managing expectations
• Lean concepts and the learning cycle: Implementing continuous improvement