Project Management Resources

 

Workshop Overview

In an increasingly competitive business world, organizations are finding it necessary to take on more projects in a means to remain competitive. Selected to direct major initiatives in the organization, skilled project managers impact the bottom line and require the ability to deliver on commitments made to customers. This program gives you the skills necessary to assess the requirements, develop the work in a logical flow, enlist organizational support, and thrive in a high-demand workplace. In these workshops, participants will learn and practice the essential skills required to successfully deliver projects. The curriculum, which aligns with the Project Management Institute’s framework, is specifically designed to focus on the practical application of concepts. Upon successful completion of the three workshops, participants will be able to demonstrate, by practical application, the concepts and skills inherent in successful project management environments.

We are livestreaming these workshops via ZOOM. A link for the session will be provided prior to the start of class. If you have questions, please contact Mary Patterson at professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.

Available Dates:

Pricing:

  • Pricing information is provided on the course’s website
  • Early Bird discounts available if registering 30 days before course begins

Cancellation Policy:

A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session.  Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine class sections, to limit registration or to change instructors. To cancel your registration, contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu.  View the OTIDE Cancellation Policy.

Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for leaders who want to perform at a high level, consistently producing superior results. It will benefit new project managers as well as longtime project managers and is ideal for capturing Professional Development Units to maintain Project Management Professional certification requirements.

To maximize this program’s benefits, we strongly recommend  participants attend the Developing Project Management Skills workshop or an equivalent course prior to attending the Advanced Project Management Skills with Simulation and Building and Sustaining Project Management Best Practices workshops.

You Will Learn To:

  • Enhance potential for a successful outcome before the project begins by identifying the statement of work, developing requirements, creating the work breakdown structures, defining the skills necessary for the team composition, scheduling a realistic timeline, budgeting and forecasting long before execution of the project begins.
  • Develop and monitor a risk management plan through risk identification, mitigation by risk development and measuring the effectiveness of the responses.
  • Evaluate progress on identified projects through status reporting, comparing planned versus actual occurrences, measuring and communicating overall performance to key stakeholders.
  • Develop the skills necessary for project and resource management: leading and engaging stakeholders, motivating team members, making decisions, and allocating resources.
  • Demonstrate ability to control the big picture: performance measurement using Earned Value Management, Schmidt charting, schedule control, and rolling wave development.
  • Understand the project management maturity model, project management methodologies, critical chain schedule development, continuous improvement, Six Sigma concepts, managing multiple projects and inherited projects.
  • Learn how to monitor risk management processes and attitudes towards risk with risk analysis techniques and tools and planned responses.
  • Analyze the strategic concept of tailoring best practices to fit organizational culture.
  • Focus on project value-adding concepts related to repeatability and consistency, metrics and measurability, correlation and best practices in process improvement.

Workshop Outline:

Session Overview
Session 1 Developing Project Management Skills

  • Three-day, results-oriented, “roll up your sleeves” workshop will introduce you to the quality-driven philosophies and tools that contribute to enhancing the project team’s participation and productivity.
  • Build a foundation of project management skills from a strategic, organizational, and tactical viewpoint.
Session 2 Advanced Project Management with Simulation

  • Three-day workshop includes an online interactive project simulation to test not only knowledge, but also performance.
  • Learn by making actual project decisions.
  • Pick up where other traditional project management courses leave off. Participants will learn to monitor a project using SimulTrain®, software that provides a simulation for planning and executing phases of a project.
  • During project execution, participants are placed in common situations that generate stress and require timely decisions that affect not only project performance, but also team motivation.
  • Focus on advanced project competencies, tools and techniques.
Session 3 Building and Sustaining Best Practices for Project Management

  • Two-day workshop provides the skills and knowledge to identify, document, and apply best practices to improve current and future project performance and foster the application of best practices throughout the organization.
  • Build a best practice methodology and tailor it to your company to sustain a repeatable, quality project discipline that supports process improvement.

Workshop Lead:

Steve Griffin's PhotoSteve Griffin, PMP

Steve Griffin, a freelance consultant, has been active in worldwide project management and business analysis in the national and international communities for over 30 years. His decades of knowledge in project management, procurement, critical chain project management relations, regulatory oversight and engineering, among many other topics, highlight his successful career in project management over a wide range of industries.

Program Manager:

Mary Patterson's Photo
Mary Patterson, CPA, SHRM-CP
Phone Number: 205-348-7049

 

Mary Patterson works in the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education at The University of Alabama as Program Manager, where she assists the OTIDE team in designing and implementing professional development and training programs, industrial training programs, and executive education programs.  She is a certified public accountant, as well as a certified professional in the Society for Human Resources Management.  She works closely with HR departments to design custom training to enhance work objectives, increase productivity and build a positive culture.