Project Management Essentials

Course Overview

The foundation of what every project manager needs to know in order to successfully manage projects is presented in this three-day course. PM Essentials covers the basic concepts of the five fundamental project management processes: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Participants gain an understanding of how the project management processes are used during each phase of a project to build a better, more effective project plan.

Through the use of short case studies, practical exercises, class discussions, and lectures, participants have the opportunity to apply best practices in a non-threatening classroom environment.

Key Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define and develop elements of an effective team charter
• Describe the stages of team development
• Identify the elements of triple constraint
• Develop a project scope statement
• Create a work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Describe and use different types of estimates
• Determine strategies for handling change requests
• Identify, quantify, and manage risk
• Develop, monitor, and control schedules
• Explain the importance of a project closeout process

Course Outline

The Project Management Environment

• Define basic project terms (project, program, operation, project management)
• Explain project management methodology and process groups
• Perform a stakeholder analysis

Kicking Off the Project

• Identify elements of a project charter
• Describe the stages of team development
• Identify outputs of a kickoff meeting
• Identify the elements of an effective project workbook
• Develop a team charter

Defining the Project Scope

• Differentiate between project and product scope
• Explain the concept of triple constraint
• Create a scope statement

Developing the Work Breakdown Structure

• Describe WBS objectives and elements
• Identify characteristics of a work package
• Involving the team in the process
• Create a WBS 

Defining Estimates for Project Activities

• Identify the difference between cost estimating and cost budgeting
• Define the different types of estimates
• Describe different methods of estimating
• Differentiate among the effort, duration, and calendar times of projects

Developing the Project Schedule

• Explain the value of the project schedule
• Demonstrate an understanding of schedule terminology
• Identify the types and uses of schedule views
• Identify critical path(s)
• Determine relationships between activities
• Construct a precedence diagram method (PDM) network diagram           

Understanding Project Risk

• Identify the three components of risk
• Describe the six steps of the risk management process
• Describe approaches to the monitoring and controlling of risk

Managing Change

• Identify components of a project baseline
• Identify elements of change control
• Determine strategies for handling change requests

Managing and Controlling Outcomes

• Describe the technical and human resource aspects of monitoring and controlling outcomes
• Identify tools to assist with monitoring and controlling the project
• Explain the reasons for conflict on projects
• Describe appropriate methods of conflict resolution

Closing the Project

• Explain the benefits of a closeout process
• Identify and describe closeout activities