Project Management | Duration-Driven® Planning and Control

Overview

This project management training course teaches practical management techniques that will prepare participants to develop and update plans for their projects. Group exercises enhance the learning experience and allow students to discuss with the instructor how the general techniques they’ve learned can be adapted to the unique characteristics of their own projects.

 

Audience

This course targets students who require a basic understanding of structured project planning and control techniques. The course content applies to individuals who will function as project managers as well as team members who will be working alongside them as they develop and update their project plans.

Course Duration

The course consists of 16 hours of instruction including lecture and hands-on exercises taught over a two-day period. The course includes exercises on the following topics:

  • Recognizing Typical Project Challenges
  • Developing Network Diagrams (2 Exercises)
  • Performing Schedule Calculations (3 Exercises)
  • Compressing Project Plans to Meet Deadline Dates (2 Exercises)
  • Updating the Project Plan to Reflect Actual Progress To-Date

Course Content

Students will learn how to clearly define a project, develop
an initial project plan, compress the schedule to achieve
deadline dates, and effectively control the project through
to completion. Each student is given a six-chapter notebook
to be used to follow the lecture material; record notes,
tips, and other project-specific information; and perform
individual and group exercises. The notebook serves as an
excellent reference tool for planning and controlling
future projects.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.


Course Outline


Introduction

  • Project Management Definitions
  • Project Challenges
  • Elements of Project Management (Time, Cost and Quality)
  • The Project Life Cycle
  • The Project Management Process

Defining the Project

  • Roles/Responsibilities of Project Managers
  • Roles and Characteristics of Project Sponsors
  • The Sponsor Document
  • Project Team Composition/Characteristics
  • Project Charters

Developing an Initial Project Plan

  • Work Breakdown Structures
  • Network Diagrams/Analysis
  • Estimating Durations and Resource Requirements
  • Critical Path Method (CPM) Network Calculations

Compressing the Schedule and Establishing a Baseline Plan

  • Using the Schedule Compression Process to Meet Project Deadline Dates
  • Using the Time-Cost Tradeoff Concept to Optimize Project Plans
  • Establishing a Baseline Plan

Controlling the Project

  • The Control Process
  • Use of Intermediate Milestones
  • Collecting Activity Status
  • Updating The Project Plan
  • Rules For Effective Project Control

Conclusion

  • Why Projects Succeed
  • Project Challenges Revisited
  • Some Final Thoughts

 

Discuss Your Project, Portfolio & Training Needs