Learn to deal with the realities of managing projects at supersonic speeds despite truncated timelines, inadequate staffing, and skimpy budgets.
With accelerated schedules driving many technology projects today, the smart project manager must rapidly retool their skill set. This course offers a breakthrough model for dealing with the realities of managing projects at supersonic speeds. Learn to meet and win the challenges of truncated timelines, short-staffed project teams, skimpy budgets and crippling risks.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
Retool your project management skill set to keep up with new technology projects. This course provides a breakthrough model for dealing with the realities of managing projects through the challenges of truncated timelines, short-staffed project teams, skimpy budgets and crippling risks.
Manage at High Speed: Why the Rush?
What's the big hurry? Don't be kept in the dark about why you're required to manage your project at such a fast pace. In this lesson, you'll learn the reasons. Then you'll be in the driver's seat and ready to focus on running a successful project.
The Race Is On: Three Critical Factors
Three factors are always critical to the success of any project. In this lesson, you'll take a close look at each factor. You'll also learn what speed indicators are and how to use them to stay on top of a fast-moving project.
Factor One: The Team Is Always First
In this lesson, you'll look at Factor 1: The team. The project team members are the keys to your success. You'll learn techniques to motivate and keep a team focused while working at high speed.
Factor Two: Time Versus Money
This lesson is all about Factor 2: Time vs. Money. You'll look at actual case studies to illustrate new ways of adjusting project speed and increasing overall productivity.
Factor Three: It's Always About Risk
This lesson addresses Factor 3: Risk. Managing risk at the speed of light is not for the fainthearted, but it can work to the advantage of the well-prepared manager. In this lesson, you'll explore the risks that are most prevalent and learn how to plan for them when and if they occur.
Fast-Track Planning: Steps 1 Through 5
In this lesson, you'll learn the first five steps of fast-track planning. Quickly creating a comprehensive project plan is crucial to staying on target. You'll look at ways to abbreviate the process from developing a scope statement to finalizing the project team.
Fast-Track Planning: Steps 6 Through 10
This lesson continues the planning process by addressing when and if you should use network diagrams and critical path analysis. You'll learn how to estimate time and costs that are in sync with an e-speed project and then review the pros and cons of the critical chain management theory.
Fast-Track Planning: Steps 11 Through 13
You'll continue the planning process in this lesson. Here, you'll look at templates and real-world examples that will demonstrate how to speed up the development of plans for project procurement, quality management, and risk management.
Fast-Track Planning: Steps 14 Through 19
In this lesson, you'll take a look at the final steps in the planning process. You'll examine templates and real-life examples for rapid development of change control plans, communication and management plans, and the final project plan. You'll also learn the importance of obtaining plan approval sign-off and when and why to use a kickoff meeting.
Plan Execution: Full Acceleration
In this lesson, you'll see that the project plan is finalized and primed to provide a roadmap and navigational aides for the e-speed project. You'll learn how to allocate time and effort to achieve the greatest advantages for the project. You'll pay special attention to applying the best practices for managing tasks, quality assurance, team development and verification, and progress meetings.
Project Control: The Power of Process
Projects developed at e-speed require strict processes for managing changes in performance, scope, quality, risk, schedule and cost. In this lesson, you'll take a close look at the value of management toolkits that are simplified and easy to use.
Closeout: Cross the Finish Line
The project is not over until you cross the finish line and throw all the shutdown switches. This lesson is designed to walk you through the final seven steps to end the project on a positive and professional note.
What you will learn
- Learn to manage and adjust projects at a high speed
- Gain techniques to motivate and keep a team focused
- Understand project risks and how to reduce them
- Learn how to plan and implement a project at a fast pace
- Understand how to completely close out a project at its completion
How you will benefit
- Learn to rapidly retool your skill set to be a more effective project manager
- Be more confident in your ability to meet and win even the toughest project challenges
- Open the door to more career opportunities and promotions as you learn skills that can transfer to any organization
Tom Myers
Tom Myers is a certified project manager who has been active in managing information technology projects for more than twenty years. A graduate of George Washington University's Project Management program, Tom has taught technical project management and certification courses for two of the largest software companies in the U.S. His published works include "Software Project Management A Methodology" and "Gambling on Projects Winning, Not Losing". Tom is also the head of a firm that specializes in rescuing failed projects.
CBI