Project Management Masterclass

Take your Project Management skills to the next level.

top Overview

Project Management Masterclass builds on the Project Management Short Course. It delves more deeply into particular areas of concern or more detailed project management theory. It details the role of the sponsor; covers scheduling and earned value analysis in depth; discusses issues around people management; explores multi-party negotiation and strategies for dealing with problem projects.

It is strongly recommended that you have previously attended the basic Project Management Short Course.

top Topics Covered

Course work comprises two distinct elements:

  • Coverage of project management concepts and frameworks through structured presentations
  • Coverage of practical examples and topical issues through case study, practical exercises and group discussion
Session Topic

One

Overview of Project Management Principles

  • Organising
  • Planning
  • Controlling
  • Directing

Two

Role of the Project Sponsor

  • Activities over the project life cycle
  • Key drivers of success

Three

Scheduling and Financials

  • Review of basic scheduling
  • Scheduling with multiple constraints
  • Valuing using net present value

Four

Tracking – Earned Value Analysis

  • Basic principles
  • More complex applications

Five

Attributes of a Successful Project Manager

  • Nature vs nurture
  • Project manager characteristics and behaviours

Six

Dealing with Problem Projects

  • Identifying problem projects
  • Analysing the problems
  • Options for dealing with problem projects

Seven

Contract Management

  • How to operate with multiple parties involved in a negotiation
  • Back-to-back contracts

Eight

People Management

  • Dealing with difficult people
  • Communicating assertively

Class participation is essential, including asking questions in addition to answering questions. You should be prepared to discuss the presentations and cases during the Short Course. The quality of the responses and discussion is more important than the quantity.

top Who should attend

  • Developing Project Managers: The Short Course assumes you have developed a working knowledge the basic skills, tools and processes of project management. It looks to deepen that understanding, both in terms of more complex situations that a project manager may face and also in terms of building a stronger base of knowledge of formal project management theory.
  • Professional Project Managers: Professional project managers should also find the Short Course useful as a refresher and an opportunity to discuss and reflect on their approach to project management.

top Outcomes

At the end of this Short Course you should understand how to:

  • Deal with a project sponsor and/or undertake the role of project sponsor
  • Use formal project management scheduling techniques
  • Use formal project management tracking techniques, in particular earned value analysis
  • Develop strategies for dealing with difficult projects or projects in trouble
  • Operate more effectively in a leadership role, dealing with a range of different project participants