Project Management Fundatmentals

Performance-Based Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• 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.

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: The Project Team

• 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