COURSE DESCRIPTION
MGT525
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management, Effective Communications and PMP Exam Prep
Jeff Frisk, SANS Certifed Instructor
6 CPE Credits per day
Management 525: IT Project Management, Effective Communication and PMP Exam Prep

The SANS MGT525 Project Management and Effective Communication course is a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP). REPs provide the training necessary to earn and maintain the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and other professional credentials. This course has been recently updated to fully align with the 2011 PMP® exam changes.

During this class you will learn how to improve your project planning methodology and project task scheduling to get the most out of your critical resources. We will utilize project case studies that highlight information technology services as deliverables. MGT525 follows the basic project management structure from the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition and also provides specific techniques for success with information assurance initiatives.

Throughout the week, we will cover all aspects of project management- from initiating and planning projects through managing cost, time, and quality while your project is active, to completing, closing, and documenting as your project finishes.

A copy of the PMBOK® Guide (Fourth Edition) is provided to all participants. You can reference the PMBOK® Guide and use your course material along with the knowledge you gain in class to prepare for the 2011 updated Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam and the GIAC Certified Project Manager Exam.

The project management process is broken down into core process groups that can be applied across multiple areas of any project, in any industry. Although our primary focus is application to the InfoSec industry, our approach is transferable to any projects that create and maintain services as well as general product development. We cover in depth how cost, time, quality, and risk affect the services we provide to others. We will also address practical human resource management as well as effective communication and conflict resolution. You will learn specific tools to bridge the communications gap between managers and technical staff.

Following the SANS promise, participants leave this course with specific tools that can be applied the day you get back to the office!

PMBOK® and PMP® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.

525.1 Project Management Structure and Framework
This course offers insight and specific techniques that both beginner and experienced project managers can utilize. The structure and framework section lays out the basic architecture and organization of project management. We will cover the common project management group processes, the difference between projects and operations, project life cycles and managing project stakeholders. The material covered on day one will lay the foundation for specific topics we go over the rest of the week.

Topics: Definition of Terms and Process Concepts; Project Group Processes; Project Life Cycle; Types of Organizations; PDCA Cycle

525.2 Project Charter and Scope Management
During day two, we cover project charter and scope management. We will go over techniques used to develop the project charter and formally initiate a project. The Scope portion defines the important input parameters of project management and gives you the tools to ensure that from the onset your project is well defined. We cover tools and techniques that will help you define your project’s deliverables and develop milestones to gauge performance and manage change requests.

Topics: Formally Initiating Projects; Project Charters; Project Scope Development; Work Breakdown Structures; Scope Verification and Control

525.3 Time and Cost Management
Our third day details the time and cost aspects of managing a project. We will cover the importance of correctly defining project activities, project activity sequence and resource constraints. We will use milestones to set project timelines and task dependencies along with learning methods of resource allocation and scheduling. We introduce the difference between resource and product related costs and go into detail on estimating, budgeting and controlling costs. You will learn techniques for estimating project cost and rates as well as budgeting and the process for developing a project cost baseline.

Topics: Process Flow; Milestones; Task Lead and Lag Dependencies; Resource Breakdown Structures; Task Duration Estimating; Critical Path Scheduling; Cost Estimating Tools; Cost vs. Quality; Cost Base Lining; Earned Value Analysis and Forecasting

525.4 Communications and Human Resources
During day four, we move into human resource management and building effective communications skills. People are the most valuable asset of any project and we cover methods for identifying, acquiring, developing and managing your project team. Performance appraisal tools are offered as well as conflict management techniques. You will learn management methods to help keep people motivated and provide great leadership. The effective communication portion of the day covers identifying and developing key interpersonal skills. We cover organizational communication, the different levels of communication as well as describing common communication barriers and tools to overcome these barriers. The day closes out with communication technology and distribution systems for project information.

Topics: Identifying; Acquiring and Developing Your Project Team; Organizational Dependencies; Roles and Responsibilities; Project Organization Charts; Staffing Management Plan; Team Building; Conflict Management; Interpersonal Communication Skills; Communication Models and Effective Listening

525.5 Quality and Risk Management
Day five focuses on Quality and Risk. You will become familiar with quality planning, quality assurance and quality control methodologies as well as learning the cost of quality concept and its parameters. We define quality metrics and basic measurement techniques. We cover tools for establishing and benchmarking quality control programs. We go into quality assurance and auditing as well as detailed information on using and understanding quality control charts. The Risk section goes over known vs. unknown risks and how to identify, assess and categorize risk. We use quantitative risk analysis and modeling techniques so that you can fully understand how specific risks can negatively affect your project. You will learn ways to plan for and mitigate risk by reducing your exposure as well as being able to take advantage of risks that could have a positive effect on your project.

Topics: Cost of Quality; Quality Management Plan; Quality Metrics; Continual Process Improvement; Quality Baselines; Quality Control; Change Control; Risk Identification; Risk Assessment; Personnel; Time and Cost Risks; Risk Probability and Impact Matrices; Risk Modeling and Response

525.6 Procurement and Project Integration
We close out the week with the procurement aspects of project management and then integrate all of the concepts presented thus far into a solid, broad reaching approach. We cover contract basics and different types of contracts, then the make vs. buy decision process. We go over ways to initiate strong request for quotations (RFQ) and develop contractor and vendor evaluation criteria. You will become familiar with the process to qualify and select the best partners for your specific project needs. The final session integrates everything we have learned by bringing all the topics together with the common process groups. Using detailed project management methodology we learn how to finalize the project management plan and then execute and monitor the progress of your project to ensure success.

Topics: Contract Types; Make vs. Buy Analysis; Vendor Weighting Systems; Contract Negotiations; Project Execution; Monitoring Your Projects Progress; Finalizing Deliverables; Forecasting and Integrated Change Control

MGT525 project management course attendees receive a user name and password allowing access to additional resources and templates to assist them in their current and future project management endeavors.  Click Here to view a list of currently available resources and templates.
 


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