COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the course on the Project Management Lifecycle. This course is designed to provide you with a solid understanding of the various phases of the project management lifecycle, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage projects from initiation to closure. By mastering the lifecycle approach, you can ensure that your projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders.

We begin with an introduction to the project management lifecycle, defining its scope and importance. Understanding key concepts and terminology is essential for grasping the objectives of the lifecycle approach, which include ensuring systematic project execution and control to achieve project goals.

In the project initiation phase, we will cover the development of the project charter. You will learn about the purpose and importance of the project charter, its key components, and the approval process necessary to formally authorise the project.

Next, we will focus on identifying stakeholders, including stakeholder analysis techniques, creating a stakeholder register, and understanding stakeholder needs and expectations. Effective stakeholder identification and management are critical for project success.

Conducting feasibility studies is another vital aspect of project initiation. We will explore the purpose of feasibility studies, techniques for feasibility analysis, and how to document the results. This ensures that the project is viable and aligns with organisational goals.

The project planning phase is where the project management plan is developed. This section will cover the components of the plan, the steps to develop it, and the processes for establishing a baseline and obtaining approval.

Defining project scope is crucial for project planning. We will discuss how to collect requirements, create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and develop a comprehensive scope statement to guide project execution.

Planning schedule and costs involves defining activities and milestones, estimating activity durations, and using budget estimation methods. Accurate scheduling and budgeting are essential for successful project management.

Risk management planning is vital for anticipating and mitigating potential issues. This section will cover identifying risks, performing risk analysis, and developing risk response plans to ensure project resilience.

Effective communication and stakeholder management are key to project success. We will explore how to develop communication plans, plan stakeholder engagement, and manage stakeholder expectations to foster positive relationships.

In the project execution phase, we will discuss directing and managing project work. This includes executing the project plan, managing deliverables, and coordinating activities to ensure smooth project progression.

Managing the project team is essential for maintaining productivity and morale. We will cover team-building techniques, resource allocation, and performance management to ensure that the team is motivated and effective.

Implementing quality assurance ensures that the project meets the required standards. This section will cover quality audits, process improvement, and compliance checks to maintain high quality throughout the project.

Managing stakeholder engagement involves communication strategies, feedback mechanisms, and conflict resolution. Effective stakeholder engagement ensures that stakeholder needs and expectations are met.

Conducting procurements is crucial for acquiring necessary resources. We will discuss procurement planning, vendor selection, and contract management to ensure that procurements are handled efficiently and effectively.

Tracking project performance is key to ensuring that the project stays on track. This section will cover performance metrics, Earned Value Management (EVM), and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress.

Integrated change control involves managing changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs. We will cover the change request process, impact analysis, and change approval to ensure that changes are effectively managed.

Managing risks and issues is an ongoing process. This section will cover risk monitoring techniques, issue resolution, and risk mitigation plans to address potential problems proactively.

Quality control activities ensure that project deliverables meet the required standards. We will discuss inspection and testing, quality control charts, and defect management to maintain high quality.

Effective communication management involves status reporting, communication channels, and information distribution. This ensures that all stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout the project.

In the project closing phase, we will cover finalising project deliverables. This includes deliverable verification, client acceptance, and the handover process to ensure that the project meets its objectives.

Closing project phases involves meeting phase completion criteria, administrative closure, and documentation requirements to formally close the project.

Closing procurements is crucial for completing contracts. This section will cover contract closure, procurement audit, and final payments to ensure that all contractual obligations are met.

Documenting lessons learned is essential for organisational learning. We will discuss how to create a lessons learned repository, conduct post-project reviews, and transfer knowledge to future projects.

Releasing project resources involves deallocating resources, releasing the project team, and preparing final resource reports to ensure a smooth transition.

This course aims to equip you with the comprehensive skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage projects through all phases of the project management lifecycle. By the end of this course, you will be prepared to implement robust project management strategies that enhance project success and stakeholder satisfaction.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

1. Introduction to the Project Management Lifecycle

• Definition and Importance
• Key Concepts and Terminology
• Objectives of the Lifecycle Approach

2. Project Initiation Phase

• Developing the Project Charter
• Purpose and Importance
• Key Components
• Approval Process
• Identifying Stakeholders
• Stakeholder Analysis Techniques
• Creating a Stakeholder Register
• Understanding Stakeholder Needs and Expectations
• Conducting Feasibility Studies
• Purpose of Feasibility Studies
• Techniques for Feasibility Analysis
• Documenting Feasibility Study Results

3. Project Planning Phase

• Developing the Project Management Plan
• Components of the Plan
• Steps to Develop the Plan
• Baseline and Approval
• Defining Project Scope
• Collecting Requirements
• Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Scope Statement
• Planning Schedule and Costs
• Defining Activities and Milestones
• Estimating Activity Durations
• Budget Estimation Methods
• Risk Management Planning
• Identifying Risks
• Performing Risk Analysis
• Risk Response Planning
• Communication and Stakeholder Management
• Developing Communication Plans
• Planning Stakeholder Engagement
• Managing Stakeholder Expectations

4. Project Execution Phase

• Directing and Managing Project Work
• Executing the Project Plan
• Managing Deliverables
• Coordinating Activities
• Managing Project Team
• Team Building Techniques
• Resource Allocation
• Performance Management
• Implementing Quality Assurance
• Quality Audits
• Process Improvement
• Compliance Checks
• Managing Stakeholder Engagement
• Communication Strategies
• Feedback Mechanisms
• Conflict Resolution
• Conducting Procurements
• Procurement Planning
• Vendor Selection
• Contract Management

5. Monitoring and Controlling Phase

• Tracking Project Performance
• Performance Metrics
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Integrated Change Control
• Change Request Process
• Impact Analysis
• Change Approval
• Managing Risks and Issues
• Risk Monitoring Techniques
• Issue Resolution
• Risk Mitigation Plans
• Quality Control Activities
• Inspection and Testing
• Quality Control Charts
• Defect Management
• Communication Management
• Status Reporting
• Communication Channels
• Information Distribution

6. Project Closing Phase

• Finalising Project Deliverables
• Deliverable Verification
• Client Acceptance
• Handover Process
• Closing Project Phases
• Phase Completion Criteria
• Administrative Closure
• Documentation Requirements
• Closing Procurements
• Contract Closure
• Procurement Audit
• Final Payments
• Documenting Lessons Learned
• Lessons Learned Repository
• Post-Project Review
• Knowledge Transfer
• Releasing Project Resources
• Resource Deallocation
• Team Release
• Final Resource Reports

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”.