COURSE OVERVIEW:

Project planning refers to everything you do to set up your project for success. It is the process you go through to establish the steps required to define your project objectives, clarify the scope of what needs to be done and develop the task list to do it.

Project planning as a process is output oriented. It is concerned with deciding in advance what, when, how, and who will take the necessary actions to accomplish established objectives. In this context planning is a pervasive management function which is accomplished by all levels in the project hierarchy, the difference being scope, detail, and the magnitude of the effort. Planning forms the foundation for future actions, using the past as a guide.

Project planning is a form of communication and a source of information for project personnel. Once the project’s overall objectives have been formulated and approved, they must be transmitted to the project staff.

Project planning also furnishes the foundation for all other management action. Knowing what is required, who is to perform certain tasks, how they are to be performed, and when the events should be scheduled allows managers to organise their activities in a more efficient manner.

Planning is also a form of problem solving and as such promotes problem definition and solution. The delineation of objectives and the subsequent breakdown into goals and objectives help to identify problems and aid in the formulation and analysis of alternate strategies to meet objectives.

Therefore, planning is about organising the future – or at least the short term future, then ensuring everyone involved understands their role and what they must do for success. Planning is a convenient way to communicate the organisation of the short term future showing what must be done, who must do it (the work), when and where it must be done and the deadlines or time targets that must be met.

This course examines the essential principles of project planning. Then provides you with simple planning steps to follow. The process steps described in this course provides information and techniques that will enable you to plan the next project effectively and achieve a successful outcome. The process is a relatively simple one but it is never easy and does need a strong commitment, determination and desire for success.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

·       What is project planning all about?

·       The planning process

·       Who needs to be involved in the planning process?

·       The terms used in project planning

·       How to review the project definition?

·       The statement of need or opportunity

·       The statement of the project overall objective

·       The list of the constraints and assumptions

·       The list of deliverables and benefits

·       Why the deliverables and benefits should meet the SMART test?

·       The project budget

·       The analysis of the risks

·       The project strategy and skills required

·       How to derive the project logic?

·       The planning meeting

·       The task-boarding process

·       The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

·       The what-what diagram

·       How to prepare the project schedule?

·       How to hand out responsibilities? 

·       How long do the key project stages take?

·       Why plans go wrong?

·       Project estimates and sources

·       The capacity problem

·       What can you do to fix the capacity problem?

·       The frequent time robbers

·       How long will the project take?

·       How to display time data in chart form?

·       How to analyse the logic diagram?

·       Resource and cost analysis

·       How to create a table of resource needs?

·       How to work out the project costs?

·       What are the inputs to the operating budget?

·       The typical costs included in the budget

·       The financial plan

·       Why contingencies are necessary? 

·       How to optimise to meet customer needs?

·       The project completion date

·       Why balance the length of the project with the business need?

·       How to use the critical path analysis?

·       How to identify and secure resources?

·       How to validate and plan approval?

·       How to review the risks?

·       How to review your assumptions?

·       How to resolve issues?

·       How to review and confirm the budget?

·       How to set the project milestones?

·       How each milestone must identify a significant happening?

·       How to launch the project?

·       How to prepare for project launch?

·       The formal and informal reporting process

·       The launch meeting

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.