Project Management Course: Beyond the Fundamentals

Stakeholder and people management. Master soft skills for project management.

Our project management class provides training in the technical aspects of project management, people management and the fundamentals of project management.

You will learn critical interpersonal skills for working in project teams and on projects. In addition, you will learn essential project management tools and techniques, and master the basics of project management methodology.

This non-award course is delivered in conjunction with the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering’s Project Management Program.

Participants of this workshop are eligible to apply for up to 21 PDU points directly with relevant external parties.

Aims

This course aims to develop tools and methods for technical project management, while also equipping you with essential people management skills and fundamental project management skills.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• initiate, plan, execute and close a simple project using a structured approach and simple project templates
• apply key project planning activities including developing a work-breakdown structure, preparing a schedule and project budget, and identifying and analysing project risks
• monitor and control a project at a high-level, including reporting on project progress, and managing change and variations in a controlled manner
• close a project including conducting a post-implementation review
• develop an awareness of leading practice tools and techniques for consideration in future professional development
• build a project team
• empower individuals and teams to get the best results including creating an environment for psychological safety
• apply different leadership styles to suit different project phases and contexts
• develop communication, facilitation and negotiation skills to more effectively engage with people
• develop an awareness of psychological models and EQ Frameworks for consideration in future professional development
• allocate work to resources
• apply scheduling tools, including defining your critical path
• apply estimation techniques to define a project budget and schedule
• prepare a project cost estimate and budget
• describe earned value management techniques to develop an integrated baseline and track progress, performance and forecast completion date and cost
• apply risk management techniques and integrate risk treatments into the project plan.

Content

Part 1: An introduction to project management

Initiating a project

• Preparing the project charter
• Identifying stakeholders

Planning a project

• Preparing a work breakdown structure
• Developing a project schedule
• Defining a project budget
• Identifying, recording and evaluating risks

Monitoring and controlling a project

• Executing a project from start to finish
• Reporting on project progress
• Completing a change request for approval

Closing a project

• Conducting customer handover
• Conducting a post-implementation review

Even more

• Simple tools and templates that can be used on your project straight away
• Exploring advanced tools beyond the course

Part 2: Forming and leading teams

Forming and leading teams

• Team roles that may exist on your projects
• Building a team with targeted interventions
• Adaptive leadership approaches
• Embracing diversity on projects

Leading others

• Personality traits, learning styles and leadership styles
• Adaptive approaches for effective stakeholder engagement
• International standards for leadership and emotional intelligence

Managing relationships

• Stakeholder analysis techniques, including network thinking, stakeholder dynamics and relationships
• Tailoring communications for audience and purpose
• Facilitation techniques for running effective meetings and workshops
• Negotiation techniques and conflict resolution

Part 3: Technical skills

Planning a project

• Preparing a project WBS, RACI, budget and schedule
• Estimation techniques
• Identifying, recording and evaluating risks
• Building risk treatments and contingencies into your project plan

Monitoring and controlling a project

• Measuring project performance
• Integrated performance baseline
• Effective status reports

Even more

• Tips for project success, including what not to do
• Exploring advanced tools, beyond the course

Intended audience

• Project Managers
• The ‘accidental’ Project Manager
• Team members and subject matter experts involved in projects
• Anyone interested in project management
• Anyone wanting to be more organised in their work
• Current and aspiring business leaders

Before the course

You are required to complete the following questionnaire:

What’s My Communication Style – Online Assessment Student Version (additional fee payable to HRDQ).

Please note: The results from this questionnaire are critical to parts of the course and must be completed prior to attendance. If you have already completed the questionnaire in the past two years, have access to your results and can bring a copy to the course, there is no need to purchase and complete the questionnaire again. If you have not completed the questionnaire previously, or if you have completed the questionnaire more than two years ago, please purchase and complete the questionnaire. The fees for each questionnaire are in addition to the course fee and are payable to HRDQ directly.

Prerequisites

None

Delivery style

This three-day course focuses on experiential learning, including group activities where the theory is put into action.

A range of interactive methods will be used including:

• storytelling and the use of professional examples to exhibit concepts
• self-reflection and group discussions
• case studies where the concepts are actively applied
• individual and team activities and presentations
• suggested readings for after training.

Materials

You will receive:

• course materials with case study activities
• project management tools and templates
• a Statement of Completion indicating eligibility for PDUs (points/contact hours).

Additional information

In order to access online course materials, we recommend that you bring your own device (Windows or Mac) to class. You should ensure your device is fully charged as access to power is limited. Please note that the University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.