Project Management for Line Managers

The Project Management for Line Managers course will cover:

• MODULE 1 - Project Management Overview
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • Definition: WHAT IS A PROJECT?
  • How to differentiate between project, programme management and work streams
  • What is a work stream?
  • How do I know whether a piece of work is a project or a programme?
  • Differences between programmes and projects
  • What are the main benefits of using project management?
  • Project health check 1: ‘In sickness or in health?’
  • Characteristics of effective projects
  • Project health check 2: ‘How is the project being managed?’
  • Why do we need projects?
  • Initiating the project process
  • S.W.O.T. analysis
  • What can you do next?
  • The business case
  • Gaining initial approval
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 1
• MODULE 2 - Initial Stages of a Successful Project
  • Initial Stages of a Successful Project
    • Module objectives
    • Introduction
    • Stage 1: Starting
    • Stage 2: Planning
    • Stage 3: Executing
    • Stage 4: Closing
    • Project definition: What are you setting out to achieve?
    • Properties of an effective project objective
    • What is a project brief?
    • The business case
    • Outcome
    • Output
    • Project brief checklist
    • Analyse and manage your stakeholders
    • Stakeholder engagement
    • Why bother?
    • Stage 1: Identify your stakeholders
    • Stage 2: Prioritise your stakeholders
    • Stage 3: Engage your stakeholders
    • Engagement methodologies
    • Stakeholder communication plans
    • Stage 4: Monitoring and evaluation
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 2
  • Appendix 1 Project assessment document (an example)
    • Project pre-selection checklist
    • Introduction
    • Fit with current priorities
  • Appendix 2 Project brief (an example)
    • Project
    • Part A: Business justification
    • Part B: Proposed project
    • Part C: Achievability
    • Part D: Recommendation for approval
  • Project brief guidance notes
    • Part A: Business alignment
    • Part B: Proposed project
    • Part C: Achievability
    • Part D: Recommendation for approval
  • Appendix 3 Communications plan (an example)
    • Communications Plan
• MODULE 3 - The Power of Planning
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • What is a project plan?
  • Project planning overview
  • Develop a work breakdown structure
  • Gantt charts (bar charts)
  • How do we do it?
  • How to draw a Gantt chart
  • Creating a project plan – project example: Establishing a new regional office
  • Introduction to network analysis of projects using CPA
  • How do I construct a network analysis diagram?
  • The forward pass
  • The backward pass
  • Creating a network analysis and identifying the critical path: an example
  • Taking remedial action: what if?
  • Here are some ways you can shorten the critical path
  • Identifying and communicating responsibility
  • Summary
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 3
• MODULE 4 - How to Set Up Your Core Project Team
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • Who’s who on the project management team?
  • Project organisation structure summary: The project board and its members
  • Skills and attributes
  • Project sponsorship
  • Key tips about project organisation
  • Key principles checklist
  • Qualities and attributes of a project manager
  • Project team leadership
  • Compliance or commitment
  • Styles of leadership
  • Fixed or flexible?
  • Choosing a project leadership style
  • What’s involved in effective project leadership?
  • Appointing a project management consultant
  • Make your selection
  • Agree the contract
  • Monitoring progress
  • Managing the relationship
  • Confronting problems
  • When the project management consultant has finished
  • Conclusion
  • Self-Assessmnet Questions for Module 4
• MODULE 5 - Managing Risks
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • What is risk management?
  • The risk management model
  • Risk identification
  • Main categories of risk
  • Unacceptable risks
  • The probability/impact matrix
  • Measuring the size of the risk
  • Risk planning
  • The risk register
  • Risk control
  • What is a project initiation document (PID)?
  • PID checklist
  • What does a project initiation document contain?
  • Summary checklist
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 5
  • Appendix 1: The risk register – sample pro-formas
  • Appendix 2: The risk log
  • Appendix 3: Project initiation document – example and guidance
    • Front Page
    • Middle pages
    • Final page
• MODULE 6 - Effective Monitoring and Control Systems
  • Module objectives
  • Indtroduction
  • Project controls
  • Project reports
  • Writing project reports
  • Managing project tolerances
  • Managing risk
  • Communication
  • Authorisation
  • Project meetings
  • Project meeting agendas
  • Making a presentation to the project board
  • Structure your presentation
  • Opening the presentation – the introduction
  • The main body
  • The conclusion – summarise and gain commitment
  • Managing changes, issues and risks
  • Other things to track
  • Managing project budgets
  • What are the benefits of budgeting?
  • Draw up a costing matrix
  • What are my projects main resources?
  • How do we determine project costs?
  • Project cost matrix for an exhibition project
  • Profiling the project cash flow
  • Producing a project cash flow curve
  • Getting your project budget back on track
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 6
  • Appendix 1: Project status report – A sample pro-forma
  • Appendix 2: Project change request form
  • Appendix 3: Seven steps for setting up effective project meetings
  • Appendix 4: Seven steps for managing effective project meetings
  • Appendix 5: Tips for effective presentations
• MODULE 7 - Effective Project Team Working
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • Three strands of project team activity
  • What type of team structure – Matrix or single focus project teams?
  • Three types of project matrix
  • What is a programme?
  • Managing project team member’s performance
  • How do we improve performance?
  • What if they aren’t performing?
  • Adopt a positive attitude
  • Motivating individual behaviour
  • Motivation
  • Taking needs to work
  • The hygiene – motivation theory – Herzberg
  • Job enrichment principles
  • Project team problem solving
  • Stages of brainstorming
  • Stages of project team development
  • Moving the project team forward
  • What about the new member of the project team?
  • Top ten ingredients for successful project teamwork
  • Action planning format
  • Conclusion
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 7
• MODULE 8 - Closing the Project
  • Module objectives
  • Introduction
  • How is a project closed?
  • So what can you do to improve this situation?
  • Project closure report
  • Lessons learned report
  • Celebrate your success
  • Post implementation review
  • Post implementation review checklist
  • Recommendations for future action
  • Project management – personal self-evaluation
  • What do you need to know to be an effective project manager?
  • Action planning checklist
  • Self-Assessment Questions for Module 8
  • Appendix 1: Example project closure report
  • Appendix 2: Example lessons learnt report
• Final assessment
• Course evaluation

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