Project Management an Introduction

Project managers, team leaders and business people who are involved in projects - no prior knowledge of Project Management is assumed.
• Be able to clearly define what a project is know how it differs from normal management tasks
• Understand why projects fail and identify the key principles for success
• Know the skills and qualities that an effective project manager needs
• Be able to set clear and realistic objectives for a project and understand the stages of the project life cycle.
• Know how to plan, organise and track a project
• Be aware of how to identify and log your project risks
• Have an understanding of the tools and documents that can be used in project management.

Introduction

• What will we cover today?
• What are my prioroties for today?

Project Management principles

• What is a project?
• Benefits of project management
• Key principles for success
• Understanding why projects fail
• Terminology
• The Lifecycle of a Project
• Skills and qualities of the Project Manager

Planning and organising a project

• Writing a Project Initiation Document and a project goal
• Identifying key stakeholders
• The need for a communication plan
• Defining tasks and durations
• Using network diagrams and Gantt charts to understand the task relationships and perform Critical Path Analysis
• Identifying and mitigating risks
• Understanding the need for good record keeping

Tracking and completing a project

• Monitoring, controlling and adjusting a project
• Completing the project - handover, closure and review

The way forward

Key learning - review of practical tips to take back to the workplace