Project Management Foundations – 2-day Workshop

Module 1: Project Context

• Understanding Projects, Products, and Processes
• Project Management and the Stages of the Project Life Cycle
• Key Factors Affecting the Project Environment
• Defining What Project Success Looks Like

Module 2: Project Approach

• Comparing Waterfall and Agile Methodologies
• Agile Manifesto and Core Principles
• Introduction to Scrum and Kanban Frameworks
• Embracing and Managing Change

Module 3: Partnering with Stakeholders

• Key Project Roles and Responsibilities
• Using the Stakeholder Register Effectively
• Creating a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and RACI Diagram Exercise

Module 4: Initiating the Project

• Predictive Project Life Cycles
• Developing and Using Project Charters
• Charter Creation Exercise

Module 5: Planning the Project

• Best Practices for Building a Project Management Plan
• Components of a Comprehensive PM Plan
• Balancing Project Constraints

Module 6: Defining Project Scope

• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• WBS Development Example

Module 7: Defining and Estimating Activities

• Breaking Down Activities into Manageable Tasks
• Defining Activities Exercise
• Understanding Effort vs. Duration
• Estimation Techniques and Resource Planning
• Rolling Wave Planning
• Activity Estimation Exercise

Module 8: Developing the Project Schedule

• Sequencing Activities for Logical Flow
• Understanding Dependencies, Leads, and Lags
• Determining the Critical Path and Float
• Schedule Compression Techniques
• Schedule Presentation Formats
• Budget Development
• Schedule and Budget Creation Exercise

Module 9: Planning Project Communications

• Common Communication Challenges and Best Practices
• Assessing Stakeholder Communication Needs
• Tailoring Communication for Stakeholders
• Creating a Communications Matrix
• Project Communications Plan Exercise

Module 10: Planning Project Risk Management

• Roles and Responsibilities in Risk Management
• Overcoming Risk Identification Challenges
• Identifying Known and Unknown Risks
• Using Contingency Reserves
• Conducting Risk Analysis
• Calculating Expected Monetary Value (EMV)
• Recognizing Risk Triggers
• Maintaining a Risk Register
• Planning Risk Responses
• Risk Register Creation Exercise

Module 11: Artificial Intelligence in Project Management

• Generative AI (GenAI) vs. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
• Practical Applications of AI in Project Management
• Understanding the Risks of Using GenAI

Module 12: Executing a Project

• Leading and Managing Projects Effectively
• Building Team Trust and Cohesion
• Engaging Stakeholders Throughout Execution
• Leveraging Power Skills and Emotional Intelligence

Module 13: Overseeing and Controlling the Project

• Distinguishing Between Monitoring and Controlling Activities
• Change Management Processes
• Tracking Progress and Reporting Results
• Controlling the Project Schedule
• Monitoring Communications, Risks, and Stakeholder Engagement
• Top 10 Project Monitoring and Controlling Practices
• Project Tracking Requirements Exercise

Module 14: Closing a Project

• Closing Projects, Phases, or Milestones
• Capturing and Applying Lessons Learned
• Celebrating Project Achievements

Module 15: Wrap-Up

• Reviewing Open Items (“Parking Lot” Review)
• Key Takeaways, Confirmations, and New Ideas