Project Management Fundamentals

Seminar Duration = 2 days

This seminar deals with the fundamentals of project management, in both traditional and agile environments. It covers methods of planning projects; organisational structures and information management for project teams, project leadership and conflict management; risk management; scheduling and cost control.

The seminar is highly interactive, including small group work, role plays, breakout sessions and open forum discussion of issues. The primary objective of the seminar is to provide practical hands-on techniques and approaches that can be applied immediately in the field. It is also consistent with formal project management theory and may be used for study credits towards the PMI (Project Management Institute) qualifications PMP® and CAPM®. A set of basic project management tools and templates in electronic form is made available to participants to customise for use in their own work environment.

• Project initiation – ensuring there is a solid business justification for the project and an effective governance structure.
• Planning – agreeing the scope of deliverables and the work plan to achieve that, including stakeholder communication, schedule, resources and cost.
• Controlling – tracking progress, ensuring quality, managing changes and dealing with issues and risks.
• Executing – the people management aspects, including conflict, negotiation and leadership.

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Applied Project Management

Seminar Duration = 2 days

This seminar provides an introduction to using basic project management tools. It provides a series of hands-on exercises applying the tools of project management to an actual project situation.

The material covered in the seminar will be the latest project management practice and theory, based on the Project Management Institute Body of Knowledge. The seminar will be built around a series of practical exercises, using actual project management tools, such as the project charter, to identify the objectives, high level scope, organisational structure, milestones, budget, stakeholders, communications plan and risk profile of a project.

The seminar can use either the tools currently in use at the client site or can provide a set of basic project management tools and a simple project methodology for use and adaptation by the client. The ideal will be to apply the exercises in the seminar to actual or typical projects undertaken by the client organisation. Typically, the seminar leader would expect to meet (physically or by phone) the client prior to the seminar to ensure that the seminar was correctly targeted.

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Portfolio and Programme Management

Seminar Duration = 2 days

Project management is increasingly being recognised as a mechanism for the implementation of strategy, with organisations undertaking many projects concurrently, to provide linkage between strategy and real organisational change.

Portfolio management focuses on the selection and prioritisation of projects to ensure that an organisation’s best resources are working on its most important undertakings.

Programme management provides organisational oversight, coordination and support of multiple projects to ensure that the portfolio is well-managed and to maximise the success rate of individual projects.

This is an interactive seminar that covers the theory and current practice of project portfolio and programme management, making extensive use of case studies of real life situations and practical exercises targeting the assessment and evolution of portfolio and programme management in participants own environment.

Tools and templates, including a succinct generic project management methodology, are provided for participants to customise and implement back in their own workplace.

• Organisational structure and capacity planning.
• Project portfolio management – project selection, valuation, categorisation and prioritisation.
• Project programme management processes, tools and templates.
• Organisation quality management of the project management process.
• Knowledge management – repeatable success.

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Building a Compelling Business Case

Seminar Duration = 2 days

The ability to write a compelling business case is a core competency for effective managers.  A business case is a critical requirement before committing to projects, new products or other investments.   It is also an argument that needs to convince the recipient to invest in this undertaking rather than others.

Rigorous business case preparation:

• Reduces the risk or poorly targeted or poorly executed projects.
• Improves strategic alignment of investments.
• Increases the probability of achieving expected returns.

This seminar is structured around group-based workshop sessions. Attendees may have real projects or investments that they wish to work through on the seminar. Teams will be formed around these projects. Several case studies, across a range of different project and investment types, will also be available for those who don’t have their own examples to use.

• Putting together the team and planning the process of developing the business case
• Defining the problem or opportunity
• Exploring options and selecting a solution
• Developing the benefits argument
• Building the justification – financial and qualitative
• Selling the proposition – effective presentation and writing skills

The seminar will include coverage of relevant concepts and frameworks through structured presentations, supported by practical examples and consideration of topical issues, using case studies and group discussion. A template of a generic business case document will be provided for attendees to customise and implement back at their place of work.

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Event Management

Seminar Duration = 2 days

"Designing and producing an event… is like a high-wire act without the safety nets. Once your event starts there are no second chances." – Judy Allen. A successful event can provide tremendous marketing, organisational and personal benefits, an unsuccessful event is a nightmare. Event management involves meticulous organisation, careful planning and focused execution to ensure success.

This is a hands-on interactive workshop where participants will work through the process of planning actual real events.  Participants will cover all aspects of event management, including choosing a theme, establishing a budget, selecting a venue, organising catering and security, reaching their target audience.

• Event definition and planning
• Managing the event preparation process
• Marketing and promotion
• Funding and sponsorship
• Managing people, including volunteers
• Safety and risk planning

The seminar also includes the provision of many helpful checklists and templates for participants to customise for use in their own environment.

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