Project Management Certificate Program - Program Content

Initiation

Identifying the project players and their roles and responsibilities along with the project's initial concept is a head start to a successful project. This group discusses roles, responsibilities and team development. Developing effective communication skills, and understanding team motivations is also part of project initiation. Topics include:

• Organizational Structures
• Managing in a project environment
• Roles of the key players
• Project Stakeholders
• Role of the Project Manager
• Qualities and Skills of the Project Manager
• Stakeholders' responsibilities/communication
• Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability
• Authority vs. Power
• Team development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing)
• Conflict management
• Understanding motivational needs of project personnel
• Initial Project concept

Planning

This group involves defining the project scope, quality, resources, time frames, and budget of the project. It clarifies what needs to be accomplished by what resources, when they are needed, and what budget and time frames are necessary to achieve the goal, including identifying quality, and developing appropriate responses to risk. Topics include:

• Definition of project objectives
• Business & technical requirements
• Quality requirements
• Procurements planning
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Estimating (Effort & Duration)
• Network (Precedence Diagram Method)
• Gantt chart
• Development of the Critical Path
• Resource assigning and leveling
• Cost estimating methods
• Risk Management

Execution, Monitoring and Control

Create and manage the project with the intent of meeting and exceeding customer/sponsor expectations. This involves assuring quality, tracking progress, making appropriate decisions and managing changes as required. Topics include:

• Control process
• Control flow chart
• Effective control systems
• Data collection
• Quality assurance
• Mechanism for measuring
• Reporting status/briefings of plan vs. actual
• Change control process
• Contract administration

Closeout

This process group, when properly established, is a foundation for future project success. It involves closing the project, summarizing, reviewing and evaluating what was learned. Topics include:

• Closeout process
• Contract termination
• Final data collection
• Analysis of project and process
• Post-project review
• Lessons learned
• Archiving documentation
• Certificate completion