Project Manager

Project Management Tools and Techniques

Learning cycles - 3 3 months

In the first part of the programme, you will explore a high-level understanding of what project management is and begin to look at some of the key tools available in your PM toolchest. You will examine the role of a project manager as well as the roles of the wider project team. You will create a structured plan to enhance your skillset and evolve into a more effective project manager. As part of this process, you will tailor your improvement strategy to align with your organisational context, fostering the confidence to lead and inspire project teams. The ability to accurately scope projects and understand how good governance can lead to good project management will also be developed.

The Business Case, Scope, Resource, Risk and Quality

Learning cycles - 3 3 months

In this part of the programme, you will gain an understanding of how to create a business case and examine the benefits and purpose of doing so. You will also learn about project scope and examine ways to avoid scope creep. The first learning cycle covers the business case and project scope. You will then examine the process of managing resources and learn how to monitor the progress of your plan and the performance of your team and providing effective reports to senior management. Finally, you will address aspects of quality and governance that impact the effective delivery of projects, understanding legal limitations and responsibilities.

Managing Project Management Stakeholders

Learning cycles - 3 4 months

In this part of the programme, you will learn about successful stakeholder communication and how to influence potentially challenging stakeholders. Effective communication and stakeholder management will be a key component to any project. You will look at methods of motivating your stakeholders and analyse different leadership approaches. You will examine various psychometric testing techniques which you can use to ensure the smooth running of your projects and the wider project team. Finally, you will devote some time on putting some of the theories into practice through work-based evidence.

Budgeting, Procurement and Project Closure

Learning cycles - 3 4 months

In the final learning cycle, you will enhance your financial management skills by examining funding sources, estimating techniques, and various kinds of overheads which include direct indirect, and fixed costs. You will demonstrate your ability to develop and agree project budgets, monitor forecasts, and actual costs and create processes to control changes. You will be able to confidently create tracking systems for actual costs, accruals, and committed costs and confidently exploring and presenting alternative cost breakdowns when appropriate. You will gain understanding of earned value management and associated data including variances and performance indexes. Finally, you will examine how to report the benefits of the project and gain understanding of the benefits management process including project handover, lessons learned and project closure.