Project Management Certificate (IT Professionals)

Project Management Certificate (IT Professionals) Whether your field is architecture or information technology, successful planning involves a carefully crafted set of steps to planned and measurable goals. In today s fast-paced business environment, this is no simple task. As deadlines get tighter and budgets get smaller, organizations turn to their managers to do more with less. Therefore, successful managers need to replenish their supply of practical skills, insightful strategies, and cutting edge concepts to remain a valuable asset to their company. Built on the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) standards, our curriculum empowers you with the skills necessary to tackle the challenges facing your projects. Whether or not you are currently a project manager, a manager of project managers, or have a desire to become one, the essential tools are available through this curriculum. To earn a certificate in Project Management, nine of the following courses must be completed. 1. Project Management Fundamentals or Foundations of I.T. Project Management 2. Project Communications Management 3. Project Scope Management 4. Project Risk Management 5. Project Time Management 6. Project Cost Management 7. Project Quality Management 8. Leading High Performance Teams 9. Preparing for the PMP Exam

Project Management Fundamentals Course Length: 2 Days / 14 PDUs Course Description: This seminar provides an introduction to Project Management and the core concepts and best practices used in this discipline. During the course, project management best practices will be introduced, and put into context through various exercises, scenarios and case studies. The course is designed as a practical workshop, and learning by doing is a key component. As such, class participants will be asked to work on sample projects and be assigned deliverables to produce within a specified time frame. After each exercise, a review will be conducted offering comments and suggestions for improvement. Attendee Profile: Project Team Members, Project Leaders, Team Leaders, Project Managers, Line of Business Coordinators, Business Analysts and anyone who is responsible for the delivery of projects in a cross-functional environment is a candidate for this program. Course Goals: Develop a foundation in core project management concepts. Apply project management tools and techniques to managing real-world projects. Discover and apply proven project risk management processes. Develop a plan for managing project communications. Learn how to adapt your leadership style to match the development stage of the project team. Learn practical tips and ideas that can be applied in a team-based environment. Course Outline: Day 1 1. Introduction Session Overview What is a Project? Exercise Project Success vs. Project Disappointments Related Definitions Where do projects come from? Portfolio Management Goals of Project Management Exercise Problems that could be solved using a Project Management approach 2. The Project Management Framework Role of the Project Manager The Triple Constraint How Do You Define Success? What is Quality? Product vs. Process Quality Quality Planning Sample Project - Case Study

3. Project Planning Project Scope Statement Exercise Plan the scope for the team project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Product-oriented WBS Process-oriented WBS Steps for decomposing a project Exercise Create a WBS for the assigned section(s) of the Course Case Study Day 2 Developing the Schedule Activity Lists Exercise Develop the Activity List Project Schedule Network Diagram Gantt Charts Exercise Schedule Development 4. Project Risk Management Project Risk Risk Management A Structured Approach Identify Risks Assessing Risk Exercise Risk Scenario Plan Risk Responses Risk Monitoring Risk Control Issues and Issue Management 5. Project Communication Management Plan Communications Communications Planning Table Exercise Communications Planning Calculating Variance Meeting Guidelines Team Development 6. Project Closure Lessons Learned Course Summary Course Review

Foundations of I.T. Project Management Credits 2.1 CEUs / 21 PDUs 3 Days Course Description: In today s dynamically changing business environment projects are initiated under tighter budgetary, resource and time constraints than ever before. This seminar focuses on the core project management skills required to manage an Information Technology project and will provide the attendees with proven "real life" tools and techniques applied to an I.T. case study. This course is compliant with the PMBOK Guide Fourth Edition. Attendee Profile: Information Systems Project Leaders, Team Leaders, Project Managers, Line of Business I.S. Coordinators, who are responsible for the delivery of projects in a cross-functional environment. Prerequisites: To ensure your success, we recommend participants have some working knowledge or experience in working in a project environment. Course Goals: Develop a foundation in core project management concepts. Apply core project management concepts to managing an information technology project. Discover and apply project management tools and techniques applicable to each phase of a System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Course Outline: Unit 1 Introduction Unit 2 The Project Management Framework Project, Program, Project Management, Portfolio Management Challenges with IT projects The Triple Constraint The role of the Project Manager Project Phases and Life Cycles PMBOK Guide Processes Unit 3 Concept Phase Business Case for the project Stakeholder Analysis Project Initiation Project Charter Assumptions and constraints Project Scope Statement Rolling Wave Planning Unit 4 Analysis Phase Planning Processes Project Management Plan Project Scope Management Plan Requirements Analysis Configuration Management Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Unit 5 Design Phase Developing the schedule Defining Project Activities Activity Sequencing Activity Duration and Resource Estimating Estimating techniques Critical Path Scheduling Schedule Compression Resource Leveling Developing the Project Budget Cost Reserves Quality Planning Communications Planning Project Risk Management Risk Identification, Assessment, Response Planning Procurement Planning Performance Measurement Baselines Unit 6 Build Phase Project Execution Information Distribution Quality Assurance Project Team Development Unit 7 Test Phase Project Monitoring and Control Performance Reporting Quality Control Risk Monitoring and Control Issues Management Change Control Unit 8 Deploy Phase Gaining Customer Acceptance Transitioning the deliverables Project Documentation Transitioning team members Unit 9 Project Closeout Project Closing processes Contract Closure Administrative Closure Lessons Learned

Project Communications Management Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course description Managing project communications is one of the most important duties of a project manager. Project managers must keep project owners, team members, management, subcontractors, and others informed of project status, while constantly evaluating where the project is and where it is going. This course helps project managers assess their project communication needs, plan for meeting those needs, and effectively communicate project status and forecasts throughout the project life-cycle. This course is 100% compliant with the Project Management Institute s (PMI s ) current Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ). Who should attend This course is primarily designed for new and experienced project managers and supervisors who want to upgrade their project communication management skills; the course is particularly helpful for new project managers and for project managers working in multi-stakeholder project environments. Individuals taking this course should have at least two years of experience working on project teams. What you will achieve The ability to analyze your project communication requirements for keeping internal and external project stakeholders informed of project status The ability to create a functional, practical, project communications plan The understanding of what communication tools are most effective in what circumstances The ability to effectively communicate project status, integrating information regarding project schedule and cost What you will learn Communications in the PMBOK Framework - how the processes of Project Communications Management interact with each other and with other knowledge area processes Communications Requirements Analysis - how to plan for project communications by identifying internal and external project stakeholders and their information needs Project Communications Plan - how to develop a project communications plan, with special emphasis on planning for communicating in a multi-stakeholder environment Information Distribution - how to plan and manage your communication channels, and monitor their effectiveness Performance Reporting - effectively keeping stakeholders informed of project progress Managing Stakeholders - how to manage project communications to satisfy the needs of, and resolve issues with, project stakeholders Agenda Day One Day Two Course Introduction Information Distribution Overview of Project Communications Management Performance Reporting Managing Stakeholder Needs Managing Stakeholder Issues Communications Planning

Managing Project Scope Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course Description This course will provide students with the skills and knowledge required to accurately define project scope, create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that details all work components, and learn the elements involved in scope verification and scope control. Scope planning is the most important phase in any project because effective scope planning ensures an understanding of the business case. It involves developing the scope management plan that will be the source of future business decisions, including the criteria to determine if the project is successful. Who Should Attend This course is primarily designed for people who have project management responsibilities. It is also for project leaders or anyone who will be performing in those roles in the future. What You Will Achieve The creation of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), which is the backbone of the project plan. The creation of a scope management plan. The creation of a detailed project scope statement. Techniques to determine and verify key project deliverables. The ability to detect variances from the scope baseline and recommend corrective actions. What You Will Learn Scope Planning Creating a project scope management plan that documents how the project scope will be defined, verified, and controlled, and how the WBS will be created and defined. Scope Definition Developing a detailed project scope statement as the basis for future project decisions. Create WBS Subdividing the major project deliverables and project work into smaller, more manageable components. Scope Verification Formalizing acceptance of the completed project deliverables. Scope Control Controlling changes to the project scope. Agenda Day One Course Introduction Overview of Project Management Framework Overview of Project Scope Management Scope Planning Defining Project Scope Day Two Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Verifying Project Scope Controlling Project Scope

Project Risk Management Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course description Project managers are critically examining their approach to managing risk. To remain competitive, project managers cannot afford to set up contingencies or control measures for every conceivable risk. Rather, they must determine proportionate expenditure to managing risk. This course introduces learners to widely accepted risk assessment, management, and control practices using tools and techniques. This course is 100% compliant with the Project Management Institute s (PMI s ) current Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ). Who should attend This course is primarily designed for project managers or project team members who require a better understanding of risk management in their projects. Individuals taking this course should have at least two years of experience working on project teams. What you will achieve In-depth understanding of the types of risks that threaten projects at each stage of development Knowledge of strategies used by highly successful project managers to recognize risks, assess probabilities and potential impacts, and take steps to respond to project risks Skills in using proven risk identification and analysis tools to identify, analyze, rank, and quantify risk on various types of projects Insight into the statistical theory and analytical tools which are the foundation for probability estimations used to analyze and plan for managing project risk What you will learn Risk Management Planning - Who is responsible for risk management, who should perform the risk analysis, when should it be done in the project life cycle, and when should it be reviewed and updated? Risk Identification - What are the most critical risks facing projects, and how can they be determined? Analyzing Potential Risk Probability and Impact - What tools are available to determine risk factors, which risks should be focused on, and what can be done to remove risk or reduce the potential impact on a project? Analyzing Risks Using Monte Carlo Analysis Methods - What are the techniques, software skills, and procedures used to build probability assessments of schedule and cost risks in sample projects? How can these be used to develop the project baseline and estimate schedule and cost contingencies? Building a Risk Response Plan - How should the project manager address each recognized risk, assign it to project team members, build in contingencies, develop a mitigation or avoidance strategy, and accept the risk? Selecting Project Control Tools Using Proportionate Expenditure - What are the appropriate project management and control tools that can help to mitigate and manage identified risks in various situations?

Project Time Management Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course description Understanding a project's schedule requirements and the time-phasing of project tasks is the backbone of effective project management. This course, compliant with the Project Management Institute s (PMI s ) current Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ), focuses on the importance of developing an accurate, enforceable project schedule. Participants will be guided through project-schedule development theory and implementation by means of lectures, discussions, and a case study. Who should attend This course is primarily designed for project managers, team leaders, and professionals who need in-depth knowledge of how to adequately develop a schedule in today's competitive environment. Individuals taking this course should have at least two years of experience working on project teams. What you will achieve The ability to identify the schedule requirements of any project The ability to develop an accurate project schedule, accounting for all project activities, resources needed to complete project activities, and availability of the resources The confidence to evaluate and communicate project trade-offs clearly to project sponsors, and the ability to forecast whether a project can be delivered on time and within budget What you will learn Scope definition and the development of an effective Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) The relationship between risk and schedule, including how to use schedule contingency Activity Definition and Sequencing - determining all activities to complete project work and how they interrelate The proper use of Precedence Diagramming Methodology (PDM), Critical Path Methodology, (CPM) and Gantt Charts Activity Duration Estimating and Resource Scheduling - the manner in which duration, person effort, and resource availability affect each other, and how to solve resource overallocation and resource conflicts through leveling Agenda Day One Course Introduction Introduction to Project Time Management Activity Definition Activity Sequencing Day Two Estimating Activity Resources and Durations Schedule Development Introduction to Schedule Control

Project Cost Management Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course description The first step in successfully managing a project s costs is to have a project budget that realistically reflects the costs for executing the project. This course gives project managers the tools they need to develop reliable cost estimates by assessing necessary project resources, applying one or more cost estimating methods, adjusting the estimates based on resource availability and project risk, and evaluating the quality of cost estimates prepared by others. This course is 100% compliant with the Project Management Institute s (PMI s ) current Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ). Who should attend This course is primarily designed for project managers or individuals who have project management training, or experience in project management techniques such as scope statement development, work breakdown structures, risk and resource planning. Prior involvement with project budgets or cost estimating at an elementary level is expected. This is NOT a course for professional full-time cost estimators. Individuals taking this course should have at least two years of experience working on project teams. What you will achieve An understanding of the three basic cost estimating methods contained in the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition, and the advantages and disadvantages of each The ability to prepare a basic cost estimate using bottom-up estimating The ability to evaluate the adequacy of a cost estimate prepared by a project team member The ability to prepare a project cost baseline, allocating estimated costs over the life cycle of the project What you will learn Analogous and Parametric Estimating - how to use information from previous projects and industry standards to estimate costs for a new project Bottom-up Estimating - how to develop a project estimate, working upward from the project s work activities Estimate Evaluation - how to record cost estimates, and things to look for to evaluate the quality of a cost estimate Life-Cycle Costing - how to estimate the costs of long-term and multi-year projects Time- Phased Budgeting - how to prepare a project cost baseline that will be used to measure and monitor cost performance during project execution Agenda Day One Day Two Course Introduction Cost Budgeting Overview of Project Cost Management Cost Control Cost Estimating

Project Quality Management Credits 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Course description This course focuses on both the management of product quality and the management of the process quality for creating project deliverables. It provides exposure to the tools, techniques, and metrics used to ensure that sufficient product and process quality is achieved. It includes exercises which allow attendees to learn how to plan quality into a project and determine key metrics to manage project and process quality. Who should attend This course is primarily designed for project managers or individuals who have had project management training or experience, including exposure to basic project management techniques such as scope, activity, and resource planning. Individuals taking this course should have at least two years of experience working on project teams. What you will achieve An understanding of the relationship between quality planning, quality assurance, and quality control An understanding of numerous tools and techniques which can be used to monitor and improve quality The ability to develop and track key quality metrics to satisfy customer needs The ability to determine process metrics to maintain quality standards An understanding of the responsibilities of senior management, the project manager, and project team members to ensure the existence of an adequate quality management process What you will learn Project Quality Management Principles - the language and practice of quality management as it applies to the project management life-cycle Product Quality vs. Process Quality - the understanding of how quality management applies to both the deliverables from the project and the processes used to produce those deliverables Tools for Project Quality Management - the ability to use a variety of tools to assess, monitor, and resolve product and process quality issues Models for Continuous Quality Improvement of the Project Management Process - the understanding of the relationship between project management processes and the critical success factors of the enterprise, and the ability to construct continuous quality initiatives to assure success Agenda Day One Day Two Course Introduction Quality Assurance Project Quality Management Overview Quality Control Quality Planning

Leading High Performance Teams 1.4 CEUs / 14 PDUs 2 Days Recognizing that nearly all projects are accomplished through the concerted, coordinated work of teams of people, this course focuses on the human factors in project management. Whether the teams are part-time volunteers or highly-skilled professionals, their productivity and success is dramatically affected by the relationships within the team and the ability to function as a cohesive unit. This class provides a vision of a high performance team and specific guidelines every team leader can follow to improve their team s performance. Project teams have a special challenge: they come together for a temporary assignment in which they face a unique problem. Successful teams build a positive team environment and learn to work together to solve problems even in the face of conflict. This course explains leadership styles, presents proven communication techniques, and details team building principles in the context of the project environment. Combining lecture, discussion, and practice, participants learn the theory behind the art of managing teams. This course makes extensive use of role playing and experiential learning to help participants internalize the skills more rapidly. Benefits Enhance team performance by improving cohesion and collaboration. Avoid costly delays due to unresolved issues and conflicts. Recognize and avoid problems before they occur. Improve the bottom line by getting people to work together quickly. Develop lasting relationships that team members can carry forward to future projects. Audience Project managers, team leaders, managers and senior team members who need to effectively lead work groups. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Draw out effective performance from a team of people who have a range of skills, attitudes and cognitive/behavior styles. Lead and facilitate a group of people to productively solve abstract problems. Form a group of individuals into a cohesive team that shares a commitment to a common goal. Create a positive, productive atmosphere within a project team.

Course Outline 1. Introduction to Managing Project Teams What are the biggest team management challenges? - Introducing a high-performance team model. Personal Leadership Skills 2. Leadership Styles and Behavior Styles -Why do diverse team members demand a variety of leadership styles? -How can you use behavior styles to improve communication? 3. Stages of Team Development How do you adjust your leadership style to reflect the maturity of the team? Creating a Positive Team Environment 4. Ground Rules How can you establish common expectations about team behavior? 5. Listening Skills How to improve your active and empathetic listening skills. How can listening skills reduce conflict and increase trust? 6. Team Identity How do you increase goal identity? How do you best utilize diverse skills and experiences? What s the value of understanding a project s context? 7. Problem Solving How can a team establish a common problem solving strategy? How can you employ structured techniques for group problem solving? 8. Meeting Management How do you prepare and run a meeting? What s the right way to handle meeting closure, action items and meeting minutes? Team Collaboration 9. Decision Making What are decision modes and how do you use guidelines to achieve consensus? 10. Conflict Resolution What is the value of conflict and what are some common responses to it? How can you move past deadlock? How do you avoid Groupthink? 11. Promoting Continuous Learning How do you promote a culture of innovation? What leadership traits encourage appropriate risk taking? 12. Team Building Activities

Preparing for the PMP Exam Credits/Units 1.4 CEU / 14 PDU Course description This course is intended to prepare project managers for the Project Management Professional (PMP ) Certification Exam offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI ). This course will enable you to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses regarding mastery of the five Process Groups and nine Knowledge Areas, and enable you to develop a personal study program to prepare for the PMP Certification Exam. Who should attend Anyone who has at least three years of experience working in a project-oriented environment, has already completed a rigorous certificate or self-study program and wants a compressed, targeted approach toward preparing for the PMP should attend this class. What you will achieve A clear understanding of the PMP Certification Exam registration requirements and process An orientation to the concepts and format of the PMP Certification Exam, including a review of question breakdown by process group An opportunity to take an online pre-test consisting of 100 practice questions, and a 100- question post-course exam modeled after questions encountered on the PMP Certification Exam Identification of key areas for further development in order to create a personal learning plan to improve performance in these areas Discussion of the key topics found on PMP Certification Exams A review of studying and test-taking techniques from certified PMP s What you will learn Project Integration Management - development and execution of the project plan and overall change control Project Scope Management - planning, definition, change management and verification of the project scope Project Time Management - activity/task definition, dependencies, schedule development and time control Project Cost Management - resource planning, estimating, budgeting and control Project Risk Management - planning to avoid, transfer, reduce and control risk Project Quality Management - quality planning, control and assurance as well as quality control tools Project Procurement Management - knowledge of procurement and solicitation planning, bidding/request for proposals and contractor/ supplier selection Project Communications Management - communications planning, information distribution, progress reporting and administrative closure Project Human Resource Management - effective use of people, including organizational planning, staff acquisition and team development Other topics covered on the exam