Effective Planning and Scheduling

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Define and create a Work Breakdown Structure
• Identify and understand task relationships
• Estimate task durations and determine project duration
• Construct a network diagram
• Calculate the critical path of a project
• Use the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) to create estimates
• Plan for risks
• Create a communication plan
• Effectively allocate project resources
• Update and monitor the project schedule

 

COURSE OVERVIEW & CONTENT:

The Effective Planning and Scheduling training course is designed to help professionals learn the skills and techniques needed to plan and schedule projects effectively. This course covers the fundamental principles of planning and scheduling, and provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to create detailed and realistic plans and schedules that drive project success.

As project managers and leads, we all know how difficult it can be to accurately determine the duration of a project, yet that is exactly what is expected of us on a regular basis. This workshop will not disclose the secret of creating an accurate schedule, because there isn’t one. However, it will provide the factors and fundamental elements that you should consider and address when creating any type of schedule.

Participants should complete the Intermediate Project Management workshop prior to this course, or have equivalent knowledge. This course presumes that participants:

• Can define projects and project management
• Understand a project’s life cycle
• Are familiar with the basics of project planning and scheduling
• Know how to complete a Statement of Work and/or a project charter

Projects and Schedules

• What a Project Is and Why Schedules are so Important

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• What is a Work Breakdown Structure?
• The Role of a Work Breakdown Structure
• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
• Work Breakdown Structure Formats
• Work Breakdown Structure Numbering
• Work Breakdown Structure Dictionary
• Work Breakdown Structure Exercise

Estimating Activity Durations

• How to Estimate The Length of Each Task and the Project

Camping Case Study

• Estimations for the Camping Trip Project

Identifying Task Dependencies

• About Task Dependencies
• Task Dependency Types
• Case Study: Trip to New York
• Task Relationships Exercise

Aligning Resources with Activities

• Definitions
• Stages of Resource Scheduling
• Resource Breakdown Structures
• Case Study: Planning an Outdoor Concert

Project Planning

• Network Diagrams
• Critical Path Method
• Critical Path Exercise
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT
• About Gantt Charts
• Gantt Chart Exercise

Scheduling Software

• The Benefits and Disadvantages of Using Project Management Software

Uncertainty and Risk Management

• About Risk Management
• Risk Management Planning

Communication Strategies

• About Communication
• The Four Key Elements of any Communication
• Team Members
• A Framework for Communicating With Various Project Team Members
• Communication Exercise

Creating a Viable Schedule

• Creating a Schedule
• Common Scheduling Problems
• Brainstorm Solutions For Common Scheduling Problems

Updating and Monitoring the Schedule

• Schedule Updates
• Case Study

 

COURSE DURATION: TWO DAYS