MS Project

Target audience and approach

This two-day workshop is designed for project managers as well those who anticipate working in a project management role.  The workshop covers knowledge of the PRINCE2 approach and the tools and techniques required to manage projects successfully using this methodology.  Training concentrates on the practical use of PRINCE2 in real life and uses a variety of inputs, activities and exercises to involve delegates and sustain their interest.

Training Objectives

After the training managers will:
                 

• understand the generic approach and key principles that underpin successful project management and why they are important.

• know how they can practically apply PRINCE2 to manage projects effectively, from start to finish.

• have been introduced to the key practical tools and techniques that can help them set up and plan for project implementation.

• Have been given a process, proforma, tools and techniques they can use to manage and track the project implementation effectively.

• become familiar with commonly used project management jargon and PRINCE2 terminology.

• become familiar with the key essentials of PRINCE2 process and components and the minimum mandatory requirements for their projects to comply with the PRINCE2 methodology.

• A chance to discuss and plan what needs to be done to ensure effective implementation of PRINCE2 on their projects.

Workshop programme

Day One

• Introduction to the Workshop

• What are the difficulties and pitfalls in managing projects?
  Participants work in groups
  Plenary discussion
  Parameters for success

• 3 fundamentals for Project Management Success
  A clear project management methodology
  Core principles
  Clear roles
  Overview of main roles in the project
  Clear processes
  Communication, decision-making and change

• Overview of PRINCE2
  High-level view of the approach, process, stages, organisation and other components

• Starting up a Project Stage
  Practical look at what is involved in starting up the project

• Initiating a Project Stage - defining
  Being clear about the overall purpose of the project and how it fits with other projects.
  Exercises looking at key elements within Project Initiation Document
  Objectives, Scope, Approach, Business Case, Constraints, Risks, Stakeholders
  Project Initiation Workshops
  Participants are given overview and some practical steps, tools and techniques that can be used to define the project effectively.

• Initiating a Project Stage - planning the project
  Purpose of planning
  Various types of plans – Project and Stage Plans
  Overview of the key steps in the planning process
  Key principles
  Project Planning Workshop

• Planning tools and techniques
  Participants are introduced to practical steps, tools and techniques that they can use to help them plan projects.  Simple scheduling techniques, affinity diagrams, work breakdown structure ways to involve the team in the planning process.

Day Two

• Introduction to Day Two

• Review Day One

• Planning the project (continued)
  Participant activity
  Estimating in planning
  Breaking down tasks
  Resourcing
  assigning responsibilities

• Planning for Implementation, execution
  Participant group work activity
  Monitoring, communicating and quality controls
  Thinking ahead of how we will track progress in the implementation stage. 
  Milestones, quality product descriptions, work packages, responsibility charts, communicating and managing the plan, tracking project progress and costs, changes

What do we need to do to keep the project co-ordinated and ”joined up”?
                  

• Managing and tracking project implementation
  
  Key principles
  Typical problems and difficulties in managing and tracking the project.
  Formal and informal project tracking
  Tools, techniques, communication and document protocols that participants can use to help them track project implementation, execution.

• Controlling a Stage
  Key activities, controls and considerations

• Managing Product Delivery
  Project manager, Team leader & team
  Key activities, work packages, quality, controls and other considerations

• Managing Stage Boundaries
  The importance of stages, options, key activities and considerations

• Tracking costs and keeping on budget

• Closing a Project - project closure and evaluation
  Closure and handover procedures
  Participants work in groups evaluating project
  Plenary

• Overview of Directing a Project
  Main purpose & considerations

• Action Planning
  Participants work on action planning what they want to take away from the workshop and implement.

• Course Evaluation

• Close of workshop