Mentor Source, Inc.: Project Management Jumpstart Course Outline

Project Management JumpStart

Course Specifications

Course number: 6101
Course length: 2 day
Software: none

Course Description

Project Management JumpStart overviews the basics of project management. It provides the fundamental theories and core methodology you will need to manage projects or participate on project teams.

This course does not make use of any project management software application, but instead focuses on the conceptual underpinnings that participants must know in order to use any project management software application effectively.

Target Student: Students enrolling in this course should be planning to lead a small to midsized project (primary audience) or serve on a project team (secondary audience).

Prerequisites: None

Delivery Method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured minds-on and hands-on activities. Each participant will receive one text book authored by Kim Heldman, P.M.P., and current Chief Information Officer for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The text book includes basic project templates to aid in understanding project processes. A participant guide will also be provided to each participant with copies of all slides shown in class along with some ancillary information.

Benefits: Students will learn how to use project management techniques to plan, organize, monitor/control, document, and close out their projects successfully and with minimum risk.

What's Next: For those participants wishing to becoem certified in Project Management, Mentor Source, Inc also offers a five-day course titled “PMP Exam Prep: Third Edition.”

Performance-Based Objectives

Discuss the phases of the Project Management Life Cycle and a project manager's role in each phase.
List and discuss basic project success criteria and common reasons for project failure.
List and discuss techniques for identifying requirements, planning and applying organizational skills
Discuss techniques for successfully managing and building a strong project team including communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
List and discuss elements of a Risk Management Plan.
Discuss techniques for planning and sequencing project activities, including the Work Breakdown Structure and the Network Logic Diagram.
Identify the Critical Path for completing a project on schedule.
List and discuss the cost elements that should be included in a project budget.
Discuss techniques for controlling for deviation from budgets and schedules.
Discuss key elements of project management communications and reporting tools.
Discuss key activities of project close-out.

Course Content

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

Getting Started / iv

The Program In Perspective / v

MODULES

Module 1 Building the Foundation / 1

The Definition of Project Management / 4
Different Organizational Structures / 7
The Project Management Process Groups / 16
Constraints and their Impacts / 27
Project Management Certification / 28
Developing Project Management Skills / 29

Module 2 Initiating the Project / 32

Selecting Projects and Assigning Priorities / 33
Sponsoring a Project / 41
Determining Stakeholder Roles & Responsibilities / 43
Creating the Project Charter / 45
Holding the Project Kickoff Meeting / 47

Module 3 Defining the Project Goals / 48

Defining Project Goals & Objectives / 49
Agreeing on the Deliverables / 54
Discovering Requirements / 56
Determining Assumptions & Constraints / 62
Compiling the Project Scope Statement / 63
Developing a Communications Plan / 67

Module 4 Breaking Down the Project Activities / 69

Constructing the Work Breakdown Structure / 70
Defining Tasks & Activities / 76
Setting Milestones / 79
Constructing the Responsibility Assignment Matrix / 81
Making Activity Estimates / 82
Constructing Network Diagrams / 86

Module 5 Planning and Acquiring Resources / 88

Planning the Project Team / 89
Acquiring Materials & Supplies / 95
Contracting for Resources / 98

Module 6 Assessing Risk / 101

Identifying Risks / 102
Using Risk Analysis Techniques / 109
Planning for Risks / 112
Responding to Risks / 113
Contingency Planning / 115
Creating the Risk Management Plan / 116

Module 7 Developing the Project Plan / 118

Creating the Project Schedule / 119
Using the Program Evaluation & Review Technique / 122
Employing the Critical Path Method / 125
Resource Leveling / 132
Displaying & Reporting the Project Schedule / 133
Forming a Quality Plan / 135

Module 8 Budgeting 101 / 138

What Makes Up a Budget / 139
Estimating Techniques / 144
Estimating Costs / 146
Establishing a Cost Baseline / 148
Completing the Project Plan / 149

Module 9 Executing the Project / 151

Assembling the Team / 152
Effective Team Characteristics / 154
Negotiating & Problem Solving / 156
Using Rewards & Motivation / 158
Reporting Progress / 162
Taking Corrective Action / 164

Module 10 Controlling the Project Outcome / 166

Why Change Happens /167
Establishing Change Control Procedures / 170
Assessing the Impacts of Change / 173
Monitoring Project Performance / 177
Signs of Project Trouble / 183

Module 11 Closing the Books / 185

Ending the Project / 186
Reassigning the Project Team / 188
Documenting Lessons Learned / 190
Obtaining Project Sign-off / 191
Assessing Customer Satisfaction / 192
Archiving Project Documents / 194
Celebrating Your Accomplishments / 195