Effective Project Management

Objectives
Attending this course will help you to:

• Review a wide body of expert knowledge and the key requirements for success
• Focus on your role and understand how to develop the skills required
• Understand the ways that other organisations manage projects
• Get a structured approach to managing projects and improve your own performance
• Discuss challenges in your current role with colleagues and specialist consultants
• Learn specific tools and techniques for doing the job quickly and effectively
• Avoid the pain of making costly, unnecessary mistakes
• Improve your ability to deliver consistently, on time and within your budget
• Improve client satisfaction and your credibility as a project manager

1. Key concepts and critical success factors

• The challenge of project management
• Understanding the business context; the project manager’s role
• Management needs of different types of project; project life cycles
• Roles of project and line managers; matrix management
• Defining project performance; learning from project audits
• The key factors determining success
• Walking the tightrope between ‘can do’ and ‘gung-ho’; effective prevention management
• Criticality of the early phase; implications for the project manager

2. Project definition and approval

• Current trends in ‘front-end’ management – pros and cons
• Managing the definition phase as a sub-project: using the time effectively
• Managing the stakeholders and defining business goals
• Identifying and managing trade-offs; setting priorities and success criteria
• Preparing an outline plan; screening options
• Understanding the financial dimension – payback, discounted cash flow, net present value
• Presenting the case; getting approval and commitment
• Project launch

3. Project planning

• Cost-effective planning; deciding the right level and format
• Classic reasons for planning failure and how to avoid them
• Managing the process; work breakdown, building the network, critical path analysis
• Developing ‘realistic’ time and cost estimates; identifying critical assumptions
• Building a team approach; gaining commitment from associated functions
• Setting milestones and targets for individuals and sub-teams
• Keeping the plan ‘alive’; reviewing and updating
• ‘Fast-track’ concepts – options and risks

4. Defining and managing project risks

• Defining and understanding risks in projects
• Comprehensive identification of risks
• Objective evaluation of identified risks
• Use of qualitative and quantitative methods
• Planning effective responses
• Developing a risk aware culture
• Benefits of proactive risk management

5. Project implementation and control

• Project organisation: team structure, steering groups
• Defining roles and responsibilities for control
• Developing a pro-active approach
• Monitoring and reporting progress: ‘s’ curves, slip charts, earned value
• Running project meetings
• Establishing effective communications
• Special control needs of multi-site projects
• Managing changes in scope without losing control

6. Case study: lessons from a ‘real life’ business project

• The business opportunity and project management challenge
• The key stages and how they were managed
• Problems and challenges confronted; the project manager’s role
• Organisational aspects; project monitoring and control
• Project risk management – policy and practice
• Successes and failures; lessons learned and points for discussion
• Implications for future projects

7. The role of the project manager

• Managing the multi-functional team; defining roles in matrix organisations
• The project manager as ‘3-dimensional’ leader; the impact of leadership style
• The project manager as team leader and team builder
• Understanding team development stages; creating an effective team quickly
• Identifying individual team skills and defining the roles of team members
• Delegation of tasks; developing and maintaining motivation
• Managing conflict and harnessing diversity

8. Working with other organisations

• Roles and responsibilities for setting up and managing a contract
• Defining the scope of work; invitation to tender; performance of detailed specifications
• Selecting the financial framework – fixed price, target price, reimbursable, stage payments
• Negotiating contract terms and conditions; using model forms of contract
• Supplier pre-qualification; tender evaluation
• Minimising and managing variations; change control
• Monitoring progress; acceptance and closure

Are you interested in running this course for your team or organisation?

This programme can be delivered on a date of your choice and at a location of your choice, in other words exactly where and when you need it!

From the outset we will provide you with expert advice and you will be assigned your own personal training adviser who will stay with you throughout the process. Every team is different so we will provide you with a tailored training programme, designed around your team’s needs and focused on your desired outcomes.

All courses are followed up by a full training evaluation report and certificates of learning for each delegate. For groups of up to 12 delegates per course, our in-company training is a very cost-effective way to develop your people and improve team performance.

Get in touch today for a full quotation to suit your budget. To discuss your requirements in more detail with one of our friendly advisers please call on 0845 130 5714 or email one of the team at info@contractlawtraining.co.uk. Alternatively you can complete the short contact form below.