Project Management

DEVELOP SKILLS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT!

This course develops your ability to manage a wide variety of different types of projects, with relevance to any industry.

Almost everything we do in society can be described as a project, from organising a party or constructing a building, to developing a new business or introducing a new social welfare project. Project management as a skill and field of study is essential for successful organisational management. As a formal management function, project management is found in government, industry, and almost all other organisations. Project Management may be called any of a number of other names such as: Program Management, Product Management, Construction Management, and so on.

Project management as a field of action can often be seen in self help schemes or outreach programs. Whatever the objectives, project management involves a number of phases and skills which are essential to a projects completion. To get a better understanding of this process, the term "project management" can be further broken into "project" and "management".

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Scope and Value of Project Management
   • Understanding what project management is
   • The Need for Project Management
   • The Project Lifecycle
   • Project Identification and Initiating Process
   • Project Planning
   • Project Implementation, Execution and Control
   • Project Completion and Evaluation
2. Project Identification
   • Introduction
   • Formulating Project Objectives
   • Developing a Project Outline
   • Assessing a Projects Feasibility
   • Feasibility Checklist
   • The Identification Test
   • Three Types of Risk
3. Project Planning
   • Planning Hierarchy
   • Planning Parameters
   • Planning Quality
   • Developing a Strategy Framework
   • Project Breakdown Structure
   • Planning Time
   • The Gantt Chart
   • The PERT Chart
   • Planning Expense
   • Delegating Responsibilities
4. Project Implementation
   • Introduction
   • Implementation
   • Controlling Process
   • Applying Standards
   • Events Control Chart
   • Budget Control Chart
   • Monitoring Performance
   • Evaluating Performance
   • Regulating Process
5. Project Completion and Evaluation
   • Introduction
   • Why is a Closing Phase Necessary
   • Declaring Imminent Completion
   • Reassignment of Resources
   • Considering Project Sustainability
   • Project Assessment; Final Report, Performance Reviews
   • Appraising the Project
   • Why Projects Succeed or Fail
6. Technical Project Management Skills
   • Preparing a Project Proposal
   • Proposal Layout
   • Drawing Up a Budget
   • Constructing a Post Project Appraisal
   • Software for Projects; How Project Management Software Works, choosing software
   • What Project Management Software Cannot Do
7. Leadership Skills
   • Scope and Nature of Leadership
   • How to Be A Project Leader
   • Visibility & Communications
   • Leadership Characteristics
   • Leadership Skills
   • Improving Leadership Skills
   • Giving Directives and Introducing Change
   • Orders
8. Improving Key Personnel Skills
   • Inevitability of Problems
   • Common Problems
   • Schedule variations
   • Changing priorities
   • Administration overload
   • Deadline Changes
   • Cash blow out
   • Inappropriate skills
   • Role Confusion
   • Exhausted Team
   • Politics
   • Reduced Motivation
   • Communication Breakdown
9. Major Assignment
   • Developing full documentation for a project.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Explain what project management is, and what its applications might be.
• Identify and define projects which need management.
• Plan a project.
• Implement a project.
• Evaluate a project following completion.
• Describe technical skills required to manage projects.
• Demonstrate project leadership skills.
• Identify and solve common project problems.
• Consolidate all of the skills and information from throughout the past 8 lessons, and manage a project effectively.

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BEWARE SCOPE CREEP IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The scope of a project is the parameters of the project.  It should include information on the budget, time to complete the project, the stakeholders and so on. Scope creep is something that can destroy a project. It is when the project takes longer or takes up more resources than planned.

Scope creep can happen when new features are added to a project without increasing budgets, time and/or resources.

The main reasons for scope creep are –

• Poor analysis requirements – starting off with a vague idea and not starting off with a clear cut plan for the project.
• Not involving users – Thinking that you know what the users of the project want without really finding out can lead to scope creep.
• Underestimating how complex the project is.
• Lack of control over changes
• Poor communication between staff and stakeholders
• Weak project manager

To manage scope creep, it is important to –

• Ensure that you understand the project vision.
• The project should be clear.
• Understand the priorities of the project.
• Break goals down into smaller goals and actions.
• Expect social creep and implement change early as part of the process.

 

Is Project Management for You?

Here are eight reasons why project management is something to seriously consider -

1. Project managers are challenging, rewarding and highly coveted job roles.
2. You get to lead a team. The satisfaction of project management comes from leading a team and running a project through to completion.  This can be rewarding for you and your team.
3. Project management work is often flexible. It does not have to be done 9 – 5, but may involve work in the evening, weekends, traveling to different countries and different places.
4. You may be involved in a different projects. It can be challenging and you can learn a great deal. And it looks great on your CV.
5. Project management gives you marketable and valuable skills. The more experienced you are, the more you can earn and attract better projects.
6. If you want to run your own business eventually, project management can be a great way to gain the skills required.
7. Project management helps you to be quick, flexible and able to deal with changes. It can help you to think on the move.
8. Project managers are usually also very well paid. 

Project management is a profession that is rewarding on a financial level, yes, but also on a personal and professional level. It is something that can be part of another job; or it can become a full time vocation in itself.