Who is this course for?

Nowadays, people are often expected to take on extra assignments and get that additional job done well, under budget, and on time. This workshop will help individuals be more prepared to balance these extra tasks. It won't take participants from a supervisory or administrative position to that of a project manager, but rather familiarize them with the most common terms and the most current thinking about projects. 

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What will this course do?​

In this workshop, we will walk participants through the nuts and bolts of project management, from setting priorities to controlling expenses and reporting on the results. They may still have to cope with the unexpected, but they will be better prepared.

 

What are the outcomes of this course?​

This three-day workshop will teach participants how to:

• Understand what is meant by a project.

• Recognize what steps must be taken to complete projects on time and on budget.

• Sell ideas and make presentations.

• Use simple techniques and tools for planning and tracking a project.

• Use methods for keeping the team focused and motivated.

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Course overview structure and key elements of the day

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1.  Arrivals

You will spend the first part of the day getting to know fellow participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Participants will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

 

2.  The Fundamentals of Project Management

To start, participants will learn ways in which projects differ from other kinds of work and what a project is and is not. Next, participants will learn what is meant by project management and what project management involves. 

 

3.  Pre-Assignment Review

In this session, participants will prepare to answer the questions they will cover in their presentations at the end of the workshop. In addition, students will learn about eight categories to consider when preparing a project.

 

4.  How Can Projects Help Me?

Next, students will learn how projects can benefit not only their company, but also their own careers and professional development. 

 

5.  A Project's Life Cycle

Then, participants will learn about the four phases of a project’s life cycle. They will also explore what needs to happen during each phase to keep a project going, learn about project milestones, and look at why some projects fail. 

 

6.  Selling and Pitching a Project

In this session, participants will learn how to present their projects to obtain the support necessary for its success. They will also learn how to evaluate and prioritize their ideas using priority matrices. Then, participants will learn how to promote their project to the management team. They will also learn the best ways to approach management and obtain support for their project. 

 

7.  What does a Project Manager do?

In this session, participants will consider what it means to be a project manager. They will also have the opportunity to fill out a sample proposal form.

 

8.  Project Goals

Next, participants will learn how to write clear project goals using the SPIRIT model. They will also learn what criteria need to be considered for project-specific goals. 

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9.  Laying Out The Project

In this session, students will learn how to plan their project, including how to write the Statement of Work, complete a project planning form, and write concise and clear reports.

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10.  Project Risks & Contingency Planning

Participants will learn about the different kinds of risks their projects face and how they can be reduced. They will also learn about what constraints are and how they differ from risks. Then, participants will look at contingency planning, learn the components of a contingency plan, and consider what contingency plans their personal projects will require. 

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11.  What Really Needs To Be Done?

In this session, students will learn some of the most effective ways to plan and schedule their projects. They will look at laying out tasks, preparing basic schedules, and how to schedule activities effectively. 

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12.  The Work Breakdown Structure

Next, participants will look at how to create a Work Breakdown Structure and how to break their tasks into manageable activities to keep their project’s momentum going. 

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13.  Planning Tools

In this session, students will learn about several basic planning tools, including milestone charts, PERT tools, Gantt charts, network diagrams, and flow charts. 

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14.  Budget

Next, students will look at the importance of budgeting and some budgeting methods for their projects. They will learn about what they have to budget for and how to build their own budget. 

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15.  Teamwork and Developing Teams

The next topic is teamwork, one of the essential components of a project. They will examine how to put together an effective team and how to keep everyone working together and motivated. Then, participants will look at four issues that are central to a team’s success, learn how teams can work together during a project, and what the project manager can do in order to help them succeed together. 

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16.  Case Study: Aspirinia

Next, students will participate in a case study about Aspirinia, an exercise designed to apply what they are learning about projects and team building in a simulated, futuristic scenario. 

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17.  Communication Tips

In this session, participants will look at how to keep communication flowing between their team, their manager, and their customers or agents. They will also learn about the importance of reports in keeping communication open. 

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18.  Closing Out a Project

Then, students will look at how to plan for the end of a project. They will learn how to close a project smoothly and make sure all loose ends are wrapped up. 

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19.  Team Meetings

Next, participants will learn how to coordinate group meetings. They will look at what team meetings need to cover and the ingredients for effective meeting management. 

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20.  Presentation: Primer and Preparation

In this session, participants are given time to consider their presentation strategies and consider how to apply what they’ve learned in the workshop to their project presentations. Participants will now have the opportunity to prepare and present their projects, and are encouraged to provide feedback to one another, giving others some solid feedback. 

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21.  Workshop Wrap-Up

At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.