Project Management Diploma Course

Module 1 - Introduction to Project Management

This unit will provide the student with the foundations of Project Management. It will examine how Project Management is structured into the three important elements of Planning, Organization and Control. We will consider the structured approach to Project Management and the concepts of the APM Body of Knowledge, the latter of which has been produced to establish quality standards within the profession. An early introduction to the benefits of using PRINCE2 ; perhaps the most widely accepted structured Project Management method in the UK and Europe.

This course will have an IT bias and as such look at the applied use of Project Management in Information Technology Projects. This means full lifecycle systems implementations covering the following application types:

• Infrastructure Projects
• Software Engineering
• Business Process Re-Engineering
• Enterprise Management Systems
• Bespoke Systems build ( Programming)
• E-Commerce Systems
• Desktop Systems
• Package Implementations

Module 2 - Project Management Methods

This section will explore the different structured approaches to implementing project management. This will be contrasted to using unstructured methods. The emphasis on proving the importance of using a structured approach i.e. PRINCE2. Not everybody advocates the use of adopting a structured approach. We explore how the better methods have conquered that problem by providing scaled down versions for small business applications. Equally, adopting an interface to Programme Management techniques where there is a requirement to manage an integrated portfolio of projects.

Module 3 - Project Planning

This unit will explore the techniques for completing the Project Planning requirements within Project Management. We will explore the use of software planning tools, in particular Microsoft Project 2003. The following areas will be covered:

• Project Scheduling
• The Gantt Chart
• The Pert Chart
• The RAP Chart
• Product Flow Diagrams
• Product Breakdown Structures
• Quality Products
• Technical Products
• Aspects of Resource Contouring
• Baseline Plans
• Managing Risk
• Managing Change
• Use of Milestones
• Planning Reports

Module 4 - Project Organization

Project Organisation considers how resources are utilized on the project. This will be explored in association with the structured approach. The unit will focus on the following areas:

• Establishing a Project Board
• The Role of the Project Board
• The Role of the Project Manager
• The Role of the Stage Manager
• The Project Organization Chart
• The Project Assurance Team
• The Project Support Office
• The Change Management Function
• The Risk Management Function
• Configuration Management
• The use of the intranet e-enablement

Module 5 - Project Control

Examination of Project Controls with emphasis on the PRINCE2 structured method approach.

• Project Briefs
• Project Initiation Documents
• End Stage Assessments
• Mid Stage Assessments
• Project Closure
• Checkpoint Meeting
• Project Board Meetings
• Monthly Highlight Reports
• Configuration Control
• Change Control
• Quality Control
• Control of Issues and Risks
• Control of Costs and Budgets
• Essential Management Reports

Module 6 - Tools and Techniques

A look inside the engine room of project management and the tools and techniques for successful exploitation of the method.

• Estimating Techniques
• Reporting Project Progress
• Project Control Log
• Controlling Steering Committees
• Managing 3rd Parties and key interfaces
• Project Dependencies
• Critical Path Analysis
• PM Methods

Module 7 - Project Management Reports

The Management reporting aspect. The type of reports that need to be produced in the management of a successful project :

• Project Board Reports - Monthly Highlight Reports
• Weekly Project Control Reports
• Financial Control Reports
• Change Management Reports
• Risk Management Reports
• Planning Deviation Reports
• Quality Reports
• End of Stage Reports
• Project Closure Reports
• Lessons Learned Report
• Configuration Control Reports

Module 8 - Project Estimating Techniques

An examination of project estimating techniques and how this relates to both planning and control

• Methods of Estimating
• Techniques of Estimating
• Using software applications

Module 9 - Managing Project Change

How Change Management works with emphasis on the PRINCE2 approach

• Change Management techniques
• Off Specification situations
• Exception Conditions
• Interface to planning
• Interface to risk management
• Recognizing change situations
• Managing change conditions - people and change
• Dealing with Organizational change

Module 10 - Global Project Management

A review of how the profession is responding to change and the demands placed upon it by the global business transformation taking place.

• Demands of the global economy in Project Management
• Conducting Project Management in the Global Economy
• Project Management skills in the digital age
• Body of Knowledge for a new century
• Standards and business ethics
• Business English - the universal language A look at the international Project Management profession