Technical Project Management skills. Hard skills for project success.

This resource management for projects course provides a comprehensive exploration of the strategies and techniques required to allocate, manage, and optimise resources throughout a project's lifecycle. It focuses on identifying the right resources, balancing workloads, and ensuring the effective utilisation of people, equipment, materials, and external vendors to meet project objectives.

Participants will gain practical insights into resource planning, budgeting, contract, and vendor management, helping them navigate challenges such as resource constraints, vendor negotiations, and procurement processes. By mastering resource management, participants will enhance their ability to deliver projects efficiently, within scope, and on budget.

Aims

This course aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective project resource planning and management. It focuses on building the ability to identify, allocate, and optimise resources, manage contracts and vendors, and address resource constraints to ensure projects are delivered successfully within the available capacity.

Outcomes

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

• identify and assess resource needs, including personnel, equipment, materials, and vendors
• develop a comprehensive resource plan that aligns with project objectives and constraints
• allocate resources efficiently to optimise productivity and minimise conflicts
• use resource management tools to monitor resource utilisation and adjust allocations
• implement strategies to resolve resource conflicts and address shortages
• manage contract negotiations and vendor relationships to support project needs
• balance workloads across the project team to prevent burnout and maintain efficiency.

Content

• Introduction to project resourcing
• Identifying needs (human, equipment, vendors)
• Building a resource plan aligned with objectives
• Make, Buy, or Hire analysis
• Optimising internal and external resources
• Balancing workloads
• Contract and vendor management (selection, negotiation, performance)
• Using resource allocation software and contract tracking tools
• Managing conflicts (shortages, vendor issues)
• Monitoring resource utilisation and adjusting allocations
• Case studies on resource and vendor management

Intended audience

This course is designed for:

• professionals involved in contract negotiations, vendor selection, and procurement in projects
• anyone seeking to enhance their skills in resource and vendor management for improved project efficiency
• managers, coordinators, and team leaders responsible for planning and managing project resources.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of project management principles is recommended. No prior experience in resource or vendor management is required.

Delivery modes

• Face-to-face, presenter-taught training
• Online workshop via the platform Zoom

Recommended reading

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) by Project Management Institute, 2021 (particularly the sections on resource and procurement management).