Project Management: Fundamentals

Performance-Based Objectives

• Discuss the phases of the Project Management Life Cycle and a project manager's role in each phase.
• List and discuss basic project success criteria and common reasons for project failure.
• Discuss techniques for setting up a strong project team.
• List and discuss elements of a Risk Management Plan.
• Discuss techniques for planning and sequencing project activities, including the Work Breakdown Structure and the Network Logic Diagram.
• Identify the Critical Path for completing a project on schedule.
• List and discuss the cost elements that should be included in a project budget.
• Discuss techniques for controlling for deviation from budgets and schedules.
• Discuss key elements of project management communications and reporting tools.
• Discuss key activities of project close-out.

Course Content

Lesson 1: The Project Management Life Cycle What is a Project? The Project Management Life Cycle The Role of the Project Manager Lesson 2: Setting Up for Success The Meaning of Success What Happens in the Initiation Phase? Project Definition and Scope Putting Together a Statement of Work The Project Charter Lesson 3: The Project Team The Teamwork Challenge Selecting Team Members The Team Charter Lesson 4: Risk Management Project Risk  Lesson 5: Project Plans The Work Breakdown Structure Work Package Sequencing

Lesson 6: The Project Schedule The Scheduling Process Time Estimates Lesson 7: The Project Budget What is a Budget? Creating a Preliminary Budget Budget and Schedule Balancing Lesson 8: Project Tracking and Control  Moving the Project Forward  Monitoring for Project Progress  Earned Value Analysis  Getting Back on Track Lesson 9: Project Reports  Communications Overview  Project Performance Reports  Project Change Requests Lesson 10: Project Close-out  Elements of Close-out  Evaluation of People and Projects