Course Outline

"This course gave me valuable insight into key PMBOK areas that I haven't considered since I received my PMP certification in 2012.  Great course!" – Dan Bischoff

The course is end-to-end and comprehensive.  First an overview is provided of all the fundamental concepts.  Then the role of the Project Manager and the keys to team management are described.  Then the PM processes are mapped across the project time-line, and the specific actions you need to take at each step are explained in an easy to follow thread.  The use of software tools to support the PM process is explained.  The course is simple, practical, and complete, providing everything you need to become an expert, practical project manager.

A more detailed listing is provided below.  The live group courses cover the most important concepts in the time available, with an emphasis on any topics requested by the attendees.  All attendees of both the group and individual self-paced courses receive lifetime access to the full 200 video library including in-depth coverage of all of the topics listed below. 

1.  Project Management Overview

Project Management Basics

• What Is Project Management?
• Who Can Use Project Management?
• Application To Small Projects
• Where Projects Come From
• Why Processes Are Useful

The Project Management Institute Framework

• The Project Management Institute
• PMP & CAPM Certifications
• Project Definition
• Program Definition
• The Five PM Stages
• The PM Knowledge Areas
• Project Players

Techniques & Tools

• Two Basic Project Management Techniques
• Project Management Tools

Strategic Plan

• The Link To The Strategic Plan

Triple Constraint

• The Triple Constraint

Keys To Success

• The Standish Group Chaos Report
• The Top 3 Drivers Of Project Success

The Project Manager

• The Role Of The Project Manager
• Project Manager Requirements
• Communications Essentials
• Team Formation
• Team Foundations
• Team Dynamics
• Negotiation Essentials
• Leadership Essentials

Chapter Summary

2.  Initiation

Introduction

• The Purpose Of Initiation
• The Project Manager Role

Sponsor & Customer

• The Sponsor & Customer

Stakeholders

• The Project Stakeholders
• Stakeholder Analysis

Scope

• The Project Objective
• Objective Process
• Assumptions & Constraints
• The Conceptual Solution

Business Case

• The Business Case
• The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR)
• Example – Business Case BCR & ROI

Project Manager & Mandate

• The Project Manager & Mandate

Charter

• The Project Charter

3.  Planning

Introduction

• The Purpose Of Planning
• Planning Process Flowchart
• The Core Project Team

• From Objective To Requirements
• Requirements – A Long Time Challenge
• Example – Health System
• Importance Of Requirements
• Gathering Requirements
• Requirements Attributes
• Requirements Key Points
• Requirements Document & Approval
• Example – Buying Chairs

Solution

• The Solution Definition

Deliverables

• The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Example – An Aircraft
• Example – Shed
• Example – Supper
• Example – Standards Development
• Example – Process Improvement
• WBS Process
• WBS Key Points
• WBS Hierarchical Decomposition
• WBS Phasing & Combined Methods
• Example – Hierarchical Decomposition
• Example – Project Phasing
• Breaking Down By Responsibility
• Breaking Out Waiting Time
• Breaking Out Interim Deliveries
• Breaking Down By Duration
• Relationship Of WBS & Requirements
• The WBS Dictionary
• Deliverables - Work Packages - Activities
• WBS Drawing Tools

Logic

• The Precedence Diagram
• Kinds of Precedence Links
• Leads & Lags
• Example – Generic
• Example – Shed
• Example – Supper
• Example – Standards Development
• Example – Process Improvement
• Precedence Diagram Process
• Precedence Diagram Patterns
• Precedence Diagram Tools

Estimating

• Estimating Methods
• The Statistical Power Of Multiple Estimates
• Activity Breakdown
• Fine Tuning
• Factoring For Productivity & Availability
• An Estimating Spreadsheet
• PERT & Straight 3-Point Techniques
• Example – PERT & 3-Point
• The Delphi Technique
• Handling Estimating Error

Schedule

• The Gantt Chart
• Example – Gantt Chart
• Gantt Chart With Work Packages
• Gantt Chart With Activities
• The Critical Path
• Critical Path Process
• Example – Critical Path Process
• Example – Forward Pass
• Example – Backward Pass
• Example – Critical Path With Float
• The Schedule Milestones

Resources

• Resource Leveling
• Resource Planning

• Estimating Cost
• Cost Breakdown
• Cost Accounts
• The Project Cost Baseline

Procurement

• Deciding To Build Or Buy
• Procurement Documents
• Contract Types
• Selecting The Winner

Risks

• Risk Management
• Risk Management Process
• Risk Management Planning
• Risk Identification
• Standard Risk Statement Form
• Risk Qualification
• Risk Quantification
• Risk Response Planning
• Other Risk Elements
• The Risk Register
• Critical Chain Management
• Risk Buffer Allocation
• Risk Reserve & Management Reserve
• Opportunity Risks
• Opportunity Planning

Communications

• Communications Planning

Project Management Plan

• The Project Management Plan
• Final Project Plan Review

4.  Execution

Introduction

• The Purpose Of Execution

Project Team

• Building The Project Team
• Project Team Key Points
• Functional Organizations
• Projectized Organizations
• Matrix Organizations
• Management Of Matrix Organizations
• Matrix Personnel Allocation
• Delegation
• Team Motivation
• Managing People Conflict

Communications

• Communication Modes

First Steps

• Kickoff Meetings
• Project Requirements Review (PRR)

Design & Build

• Design Before Build

• Finding Root Causes

Chapter Summary

5.  Monitoring & Control

Introduction

• The Purpose Of Monitoring And Control
• Managing Expectations

Weekly Heartbeat

• The Weekly Status Meeting

Scope

• Managing Scope Change
• Change Impact Analysis
• Change Approval

Time

• Schedule Statusing
• Managing Schedule
• Crashing & Fast-Tracking

Cost

• Cost Statusing
• Managing Cost

Risk

• Managing Risk

Earned Value Management (EVM)

• EVM Overview
• EVM Metrics
• EVM Cost Projections
• EVM Schedule Projections
• EVM Meaning
• Example – EVM

Quality

• Managing Quality
• Peer Reviews
• User Reviews
• User Review Management Tool

Problem Resolution

• Solution Options
• Persuasion Techniques

Monthly Heartbeat

• Monthly Project Statusing
• One Page Monthly Report
• The Monthly Review

6.  Closing

Introduction

• The Purpose Of Closing

• Contract Closure

Acceptance

• Change Management
• Scope Verification
• Scenario Based Scope Verification
• Practical Delivery Criteria
• Transition To Operations

Lessons Learned

• The Lessons Learned Process

Team Closure

• People Transition
• The Project Celebration

Final Report

• The Project Final Report

Chapter Summary