Project Management Breakthroughs

Unit 1:

From Pyramids to Present Day: Projects have existed since before the Pyramids, and yet as a professional discipline it is relatively new. In this Unit we look at the development of project management in both traditional and non-traditional project organisations. Here we discover the challenge of the Two Worlds of Work and how Project work differs from Operational work. We then examine the various organisational models and compare them with your current reality. As well, a short but fascinating discussion takes place about how project management fits in with Strategic Planning.

Unit 2:

Genesis: In the beginning…This unit looks at how we clarify exactly what the project is all about and what it is to achieve. Through the use of an Objective Statement, we define the Project Charter along with the Scope Statement in a unique but powerful format. Along with this we examine the roles and responsibilities within the project team, especially the crucial relationship between the Project Manager and the Project Sponsor.

Unit 3:

Design: In any successful project it is imperative that we determine “what” is going to be created before figuring out “how” to create it. This unit focuses on the requirements for both the conceptual and the detailed design. It is here that the fundamental elements of Performance Criteria are brought to bear. “When we are all finished, what will we measure in the final outcome to determine our level of success.”

Unit 4:

Execution Plan: Whether you are a novice just starting out on your first project or you are a seasoned veteran who’s been involved with projects for decades, this is the unit that will pay the largest dividends. The PMB programme will present a unique, world-class combination of methods, tools and skills that will produce the most effective execution plan in the most efficient manner. Through the use of beautifully crafted case-studies, we will discover how easy it is to determine the tasks, their duration, dependencies and schedule. Also, we will allocate resources and, through an ingenious technique, resolve even the toughest resource conflicts. To top it off, we will tackle the thorny issue of project budget, cash requirements as well as the costs of ‘crashing’ (shrinking) the project schedule.

Unit 5:

Execution: Once the Execution Plan is complete there remains the key question of whether to resort to Project Management Software, or not. In this unit we’ll examine the pros and cons of software and how it fits in with this complex discipline. The other key challenge at this point is how does the individual or small team deal with their respective tasks. And at the same time, how do they cope with the challenge of Two Worlds of Work…their operational commitments and their project commitments. We also look at the challenge of handling incremental as well as transformation change. The latter is tackled through a step-by-step approach that is designed to dissipate the ever-present possibility of panic.

Unit 6:

Review: Nothing is worse than going through all the effort and heartache of a project, good or bad, only to rush off at the end without the satisfaction of bringing about final closure. In this unit we will counter the age-old excuse; ‘I don’t have time.’ The time spent here is often repaid many times over as important lessons are remembered and passed on to other project teams. Our unique ‘3-review’ process ensures a positive morale boost as participants and nonparticipants alike enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a job come to full completion.