Project Management for non-Project Managers Curriculum Outline

Project Management Fundamentals

Overview/Description
The evolution of business strategies has increased the importance of management having a thorough understanding of the products they produce. More and more employees are getting promoted from within to become project managers as they fully understand what they are trying to produce and how best to meet the quality and quantity requirements set forth by upper management. Project management, as a process, is the supervision and control of the work required to complete the project deliverable. Using established project management processes, coupled with the experience and skills of experienced workers, has allowed employers to adjust their mind-set when developing management and leadership skills from within. This course will enable someone who is not a professional project manager to learn the fundamentals of project management so he will be able to manage projects related to his area of responsibility within the organization.

This course is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small to medium sized projects.

Transitioning into a Project Management Role

Overview/Description
Many people find themselves thrust into a project management role with no formal training or experience. When this occurs, it is important to be prepared to deal with the significant changes in your role. Your responsibilities broaden from managing yourself to managing others, from short-term to long-term goals, and from tangible to intangible issues. Time and experience will develop and refine your project management skills, but this course will prime you for the process of transitioning into a project management role. It will discuss the changes a new project manager may face, including the development of a successful project team.

This path is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small to medium sized projects.

Initiating and Planning a Project

Overview/Description
Initiating and Planning are crucial phases in developing and executing any successful project. Companies that are embarking on a new project initiative must assign people to gather facts and decide what exactly they want to produce and how they are going to produce it. This course examines which factors should weigh in during the project selection process and how to effectively plan a project from beginning to end.

This course is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small to medium sized projects.

Managing a Project

Overview/Description
The factors of a successful project almost always end up depending on how much money and time is needed to create a product worthy of the customer. This course will help you manage the constraints of time, money, and schedules, and how they relate to the overall quality of your project and product.

This course is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small- to medium-sized projects.

Troubleshooting and Closing the Project

Overview/Description
The factors that can affect a project are numerous and often hard to pinpoint. Conducting meetings and using advanced tools, such as formulas and graphs, allow the project manager to properly define the health or status of the project. This course outlines how to conduct effective meetings and presents some troubleshooting tools that can be used during the project life cycle. It also presents the information required to close the project, which is the last stage in project management.

This path is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small- to medium-sized projects.

Project Management for Non-project Managers Simulation

Overview/Description
The likelihood an employee will be elevated to a position of authority within a project team increases as the employee gains experience and tenure. Yet experience alone is seldom sufficient to guarantee a smooth transition. Success is dependent upon a number of management and leadership skills that potential project managers must quickly come to master if they hope to fulfill upper managements expectations. The simulation Project Management for Non-project Managers is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to practice project management skills in a secure, virtual environment before facing the challenge of an actual, real-world project. Over the course of the simulation, participants will be tested on the objectives of transitioning to project manager, managing an imposed project team, demonstrating effective leadership, monitoring project activities and quality, maintaining control of a project, and problem solving and recovering. The simulation Project Management for Non-project Managers comprises three scenarios and is based on the SkillSoft Series Project Management for Non-project Managers. Throughout the simulation, links are provided to the following SkillSoft courses: PROJ_01_a01, PROJ_01_a02, PROJ_01_a04, and PROJ_01_a05.

Target Audience
Managers and staff members who wish to acquire the necessary skills to successfully manage small to medium sized projects

Expected Duration
0.50 Hour

Lesson Objectives:

Project Management for Non-project Managers Simulation

• Transitioning to project manager.
• Managing an imposed project team.
• Demonstrating effective leadership.
• Monitoring project activities and quality.
• Maintaining control of a project.
• Problem solving and recovering.