Project Management Using Project Management Software
Introduction
The Course “Project Management Using Project Management Software” consists of two self-contained Units, lasting four and three months respectively. The Course covers the study and practice of Project Management, examining a project as a whole, from the decision to undertake it through to its completion. First, the knowledge areas, methodologies and approaches for evaluating and selecting among candidate projects are presented, and the need to align Project Management objectives with the strategy of a business or organisation is substantiated. Next, the knowledge areas of Project Management are presented step by step, starting with Integration Management and moving through Stakeholder Management, Scope Management, Time and Cost Management, Communications Management and Risk Management, combined with elements of Change Management and Earned Value Management.
The course provides a thorough presentation and analysis of the most widely accepted and adopted tools, methodologies, techniques and standards worldwide, which support the sound development of project schedules and provide reliable quantitative indicators for monitoring the physical and financial progress of projects. At the same time, a business case is examined in which all the tools are applied. Trainees analyse the business case, develop the corresponding documentation and reports (such as the project charter, detailed scope documentation, the project schedule, budget development, the staffing plan and risk response planning) and present their work. Overall, the course strengthens the link between theory and practice and prepares trainees to work on national and/or international projects.
Units
The Unit “Introduction to Project Management” deals with the study and practice of Project Management, examining a project as a whole from the decision to implement it through to its completion. First, it presents the knowledge areas, methodologies and approaches for evaluating and selecting among candidate projects, and establishes the need to align Project Management objectives with the strategy of a business or organisation. It then presents, step by step, the knowledge areas of Project Management, starting with Integration Management and moving on to Stakeholder Management, Scope Management, Time and Cost Management, Communications Management and Risk Management, combined with elements of Change Management and Earned Value Management. It provides a thorough presentation and analysis of the most widely accepted and adopted tools, methodologies, techniques and standards worldwide, which support the sound development of project schedules and provide reliable quantitative indicators for monitoring the physical and financial progress of projects. At the same time, a business case is examined in which all the tools are applied. Students analyse the business case, develop the corresponding documentation and reports (such as the project charter, the detailed scope documentation, the schedule, the budget, the staffing plan and the risk response plan) and present their work. The unit as a whole strengthens the link between theory and practice and prepares students to work on national and/or international projects.
The Unit “Project Management Information Systems” is intended for those who wish to work on projects not only from the technical side but also to become involved in developing project schedules, exchanging information, preparing communication documents, etc. More specifically, it is intended for those who are about to work, or already work, in project management and wish to organise their work properly, using effective techniques for time and cost scheduling, resource allocation, implementation of communication plans, etc., while also aiming to optimise project schedules. In this course, trainees learn how to achieve all of the above in an optimal, scientifically sound and time-efficient manner, using what is (arguably) the most popular project scheduling software, Microsoft Project (versions 2013 and later).
Teaching runs in parallel with the methodology and theoretical background and guides trainees from the initiation and set-up of a project through to its completion, covering planning, execution, monitoring and control. Almost all the knowledge areas of Project Management are addressed (as covered in the related course “Introduction to Project Management”), and the course shows how the theoretical approach is translated into practice. Naturally, the course incorporates best practices and globally accepted techniques, while also presenting many specialised techniques of the software, based both on its capabilities and on the instructor’s many years of experience on large projects. In addition, it teaches participants how to organise the communication structure of a project effectively, monitor and control the physical and financial progress of their projects, anticipate and plan responses to project risks and, ultimately, save time and money. Finally, the course provides the knowledge and techniques needed by those interested in obtaining certification in the use of MS Project.
Educational Material