PROJECT MANAGEMENT BBS201

Move into a Career as a Project Manager!

Project Management is a skill which can be learned and developed. It provides unlimited potential for career and job opportunities, as almost every industry, situation and business require project managers. This course is just as relevant to a construction project as it is to managing a new product launch! It is a best suited to someone who has some prior experience, education or training in management.

With tighter budgets, less time to get things done, more flexible employment practices and fewer resources, the competitive business environment today is continually looking for high level skills in building and managing businesses. Project Management is a discipline which offers businesses the skills to do just this.

Project management is a specialised skill which requires the kind of specialised knowledge this course is designed to provide.

LOOKING TO START,

......OR ENHANCE A CAREER IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT?

Developed as a Professional Development course for people working in property development, engineering, environmental and farm industries, events management, foreign aid, etc
Learn leadership skills, conflict management, all about strategy, potential project problems and solving them
Learn how to plan, implement and run a project.
Enhance your skills set, strengthen your career or business opportunities

A great project manager is a true asset to any business, and having such skills can enhance your career opportunities across the board immeasurably. Once you become an accomplished project manager you can apply your new skills in any industry and substantially widen the scope of your career.

Develop your ability to manage a wide variety of different types of projects, with relevance to any industry.

Almost everything we do in society can be described as a project, from organising a party or constructing a building, to developing a new business or introducing a new social welfare project. Project management as a skill and field of study is essential for successful organisational management. As a formal management function, project management is found in government, industry, and almost all other organisations. Project Management may be called any of a number of other names such as: Program Management, Product Management, Construction Management, Event Manager, and so on.

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are nine lessons as follows:

Introduction
- Scope and Value of Project Management
- Understanding what project management is
- The Need for Project Management
- The Project Lifecycle
- Project Identification and Initiating Process
- Prpject Planning
- Project Implementation,Execution and Control
- Project Completion and Evaluation
Project Identification
- Introduction
- Formulating Project Objectives
- Developing a Project Outline
- Assessing a Projects Feasibility
- Feasibility Checklist
- The Identification Test
- Three Types of Risk
Project Planning
- Planning Heirachy
- Planning Parameters
- Planning Quality
- Developing a Strategy Framework
- Project Breakdown Structure
- Planning Time
- The Gantt Chart
- Ther PERT Chart
- Planning Expense
- Delegating Responsibilities
Project Implementation
- Introduction
- Implementation
- Controlling Process
- Applying Standards
- Events Control Chart
- Budget Control Chart
- Monitoring Performance
- Evaluating Performance
- Regulating Process
Project Completion and Evaluation
- Introduction
- Why is a Closing Phase Necessary
- Declaring Imminent Completion
- Reassignment of Resources
- Considering Project Sustainability
- Project Assessment; Final Report, Performance Reviews
- Appraising the Project
- Why Projects Succeed or Fail
Technical Project Management Skills
- Preparing a Project Proposal
- Proposal Layout
- Drawing Up a Budget
- Constructing a Post Project Appraisal
- Software for Projects; How Project Management Software Works, choosing software
- What Project Management Software Cannot Do
Leadership Skills
- Scope and Nature of Leadership
- How to Be A Project Leader
- Visibility & Communications
- Leadership Characteristics
- Leadership Skills
- Improving Leadership Skills
- Giving Directives and Introducing Change
- Orders
Improving Key Personnel Skills
- Inevitability of Problems
- Common Problems
- Schedule variations
- Changing priorities
- Administration overload
- Deadline Changes
- Cash blow out
- Inappropriate skills
- Role Confusion
- Exhausted Team
- Politics
- Reduced Motivation
- Communication Breakdown
Major Assignment
- Developing full documentation for a project.

Duration: 100 hours (Nominal Duration)

Aims

Explain what project management is, and what its applications might be.
Identify and define projects which need management.
Plan a project.
Implement a project.
Evaluate a project following completion.
Describe technical skills required to manage projects.
Demonstrate project leadership skills.
Identify and solve common project problems.
Consolidate all of the skills and information from throughout the past 8 lessons, and manage a project effectively.

Understanding the Project Cycle

All projects go through a series of phases or stages. Project management is all about learning how to manage each stage of a typical cycle. The following is a common sequence:

Stage 1 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION AND INITIATING PROCESS

This phase involves identifying project ideas and needs. The individual or group responsible for a potential project will refine an idea or concept into a project. Such a person draws up a project proposal which identifies tasks to suit their objectives. If a project is considered to be feasible, in other words realistic or with attainable objectives; then the next phase (project planning) follows.

Stage 2 PROJECT PLANNING

This phase involves preparing a plan or design of what the project entails, in particular "Planning the length or "lifespan" for the expected project, the project costs, and preparation of possible task alternatives in the event of unexpected changes. Consideration is given to *the needs, alternatives and techniques that may have to be applied, and once completed, the implementation phase follows.

Stage 3 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, EXECUTING AND CONTROLLING

This phase involves operationalising the plans, or the actual development of the project. The project is implemented in a planned and controlled manner. This includes supervision and monitoring the actual progress of a project within the scope of the plan. If successful, the project then requires closing, and the results are compared with estimations determined earlier in the project cycle. Once this step is finalised, the final phase follows.

Stage 4 PROJECT COMPLETION AND EVALUATION

This phase involves determining whether the objectives set out, or the needs identified in the earlier part of the cycle, have been successfully concluded.

Evaluating a projects success is measured by contrasting the original goal or set of objectives, with the final outcome. This is the last and final phase of the projects cycle.

Course Materials: Upon enrollment, you will receive all of the materials that are essential to complete the course. Course materials vary depending upon the subject and the study mode, but they may include subject guides, printed notes, textbooks, videos and practical equipment. In certain circumstances you may be required to do extra research - in which case your tutor is able to advise you where necessary

Project management skills can be applied to land based industries, service industries, events or just about anything -even in self help schemes or outreach programs. Whatever the application and objectives, project management involves a number of phases and skills which are essential to a projects completion. To get a better understanding of this process, the term "project management" can be further broken into "project" and "management".

This 100 hour course is based on, and incorporates contents of a Diploma in Project Management, conducted by the Home Study College in South Africa. The current course though adapted from that original material, has been revised and updated many times and continues to be reviewed annually to ensure it is always current.

Get started today and make a difference.

ENROL NOW - at top of this page