Practical Project Management

Learn Project management so you can deliver your next project be on time, on budget, and to requirements.

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 4.4

- Understand how projects work and be able to control your project process
- Deploy some of the main ways to avoid budget and schedule over-runs
- Define your project precisely
- for your benefit and everyone else's

What you'll learn

Understand how projects work and be able to control your project process

Deploy some of the main ways to avoid budget and schedule over-runs

Define your project precisely

for your benefit and everyone else's

Establish a clear scope

so you can combat the dreaded 'scope creep'

Deal effectively with supporters

critics and bystanders

Create time scales on getting the job done using milestone planning

Be able to use the world's favourite project planning tool: the Gantt chart

Achieve fair and effective allocation of project responsibilities

Get the most from your team: motivation

collaboration and communication

Predict problems and plan your responses

Be able to assess which risks to deal with first

Assess which risks to deal with first

Apply all six strategies for action on risks available to use

Stay in control when people change their minds

Deliver your project on budget

on target

and on time

Complete the three key tasks to finally close down your project

* Requirements

* You won't need any software or materials other than your preferred note-taking device (pen & paper
* Evernote or OneNote
* or anything in between. You can even use Udemy's built-in note taking tools (which are private to you).
* If you have any experience of projects at all
* that is absolutely fine. If you do have experience
* bring it with you as you watch the videos. If you don't
* bring your common sense.

Description

Understand how projects work and be able to control your project process
Deploy some of the main ways to avoid budget and schedule over-runs
Define your project precisely, for your benefit and everyone else's
Establish a clear scope, so you can combat the dreaded 'scope creep'
Deal effectively with supporters, critics and bystanders
Create time scales on getting the job done using milestone planning
Be able to use the world's favourite project planning tool: the Gantt chart
Achieve fair and effective allocation of project responsibilities
Get the most from your team: motivation, collaboration and communication
Predict problems and plan your responses
Be able to assess which risks to deal with first
Assess which risks to deal with first
Apply all six strategies for action on risks available to use
Stay in control when people change their minds
Deliver your project on budget, on target, and on time
Complete the three key tasks to finally close down your project

Course content

6 sections • 31 lectures

Project Management Fundamentals: Know the Principles and Get it Right 6 lectures

What is a Project? Preview 04:08

It's important to define terms, and the key piece of jargon we'll be using throughout this course is 'Project'... so we'd better define it.

The Four Stage Project Lifecycle Preview 08:49

Like you and me, projects have a distinct lifecycle with recognisable stages. When you understand this, you have the basics of the structure you need to manage your projects effectively.

Project Stages and Boundaries Preview 08:46

Let's understand why project managers divide our projects up, and what you can gain by doing this in your projects.

One Reason why Projects go Wrong Preview 05:46

The project lifecycle will help you understand one of the commonest reasons for schedule slippage and over-budget projects.

Terminology used in the Project Stages Preview 05:29

The jargon is important... but more important is the ideas behind it. So don't skip this chapter!

More on Project Gateways / Stage Gates Preview 02:15

Project Gateways are a central part of good project governance. Understanding this will help you control your project, secure good decisions, and keep your decisions accountable.

Project Definition Stage: The Vital Foundation to Your Success 4 lectures

Define your Project: Goals and Objectives Preview 10:39

Defining your project is crucial and your Goal and Objectives are at the core. But how to distinguish between these two concepts... I'll make it clear.

Understanding Project Scope Preview 06:35

Establishing the scope of your project is, I think, the most difficult task. You need to balance the needs and the wants of many stakeholders, and reconcile those the the very real resource constraints you find yourself under.

Dealing with Scope Creep Preview 06:48

Scope creep is the insidious reality of all projects. So what is it and, crucially, what are the two steps you can take, to deal with it?

Project Definition: Summary Preview 03:09

You should have watched three videos on this already, but there is always more: let's summarise, and also add in some of those extra details you'll need to get a full definition for your project.

You can also download a Project Definition Document template, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

Project Planning Stage: Failing to Plan = Planning to Fail 12 lectures

The Book of the Plan Preview 05:30

All of your planning in one (conceptual) document. So, what do you need to include?

You can also download a selection of handy planning tools and templates, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

The Stakeholder Engagement Process Preview 04:55

Stakeholder engagement is a vital (but straightforward) process. Of course, the challenge is to maintain a constant attention to all of your stakeholders in a balanced way, throughout your project. A lovely example of simple, but not easy!

As an aside, many project managers refer to this as 'stakeholder management'. I prefer not to, and I think the common terminology is shifting in my direction. Engagement sounds more respectful to me, than trying to 'manage' your stakeholders.

Stakeholder Analysis Preview 06:53

Somewhere down the line, I'll do a full video course on stakeholder engagement. But the practical project manager's most valuable tool for analysing your stakeholders is, without a doubt, the one I present in this video.

You can also download two handy stakeholder engagement tools, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

Milestones are your Best Friends Preview 08:12

For a Project Manager, milestones are your best friends - for two reasons - and I'll tell you why in this video.

You can also download handy Milestone Table and Status Reporting templates, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

The Work Breakdown Structure Preview 08:24

Under-used by even some pretty experienced PMs (who should know better), The Work Breakdown Structure (or WBS) is the workhorse of project planning tools and the the generator of many other useful tools. It may sound complex, but in fact it is simple: it breaks your work down into a structure!

The Gantt Chart Preview 06:45

The Gantt Chart is something of a poster-child for project management and it is very widely used. Here, I'll explain the basics in easy stages.

Tools for Creating a Gantt Chart Preview 04:16

Okay, so you want to create your own Gantt Chart... There are three generations of tool available to you: 1, 2, 3.

You can also download handy Gantt Chart templates, in .docx and .xlsx format (both second generation tools), branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

The Linear Responsibility Chart (LRC) aka The RACI Chart Preview 09:45

Okay, I'll come clean: this is my own personal favourite project planning tool. In this video, I'll explain to you why.

You can also download a handy LRC template, along with a skills requirement schedule, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

The Risk Management Process Preview 04:25

The Risk Management Process is four simple, powerful steps. Persistence is the key.

Risk Analysis Preview 08:08

The standard risk analysis process - described in this video - is based on the definition of a risk, as 'uncertainty that can affect outcome'.

The Six Strategies for Managing Risks Preview 09:16

There are six generic strategies for dealing with a risk. When you know and understand them, you can find the tactics you need and combine them to create your risk action plan.

You can also download a handy Risk Action Plan template, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

The Risk Register (or Risk Log) Preview 06:26

The Project Manager's primary risk management tool is your Risk Register, or Risk Log, and I describe it here.

You can also download handy Risk Register templates in .docx and .xlsx formats, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

Project Delivery Stage: Don't you Love it When a Plan Comes Together! 2 lectures

The Four Essentials of Leading your Team Preview 07:14

You get the team you deserve. But what are the essential things you must do, to deserve the team you want?

Project Delivery - The Three Key Cycles Preview 12:12

Project delivery is the easy bit, after all of the hard work of planning. And the core 'project heartbeat' is made up of three cycles you must follow. Let's see what they are.

You can also download a set of handy tools and templates, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

Project Closure Stage: Deep Sigh - You're Nearly Done 4 lectures

Closing your Project in an Orderly Manner Preview 09:08

There are three things to do, to close your project down in an orderly manner: 1, 2, 3.

You can also download a set of handy Project Closure tools and templates, branded for my 2014 book, How to Manage a Great Project. (Pearson, 2014)

Closing Words Preview 01:22

There's always more. In this short video, I'll point you to some recommended reading, and below, I'll offer you some handy downloads.

Music Credit: Title music, Rollin' at 5, is provided by Kevin MacLeod, www.incompetech.com

Bonus Lecture: Did you enjoy this course? Preview 00:13

Bonus Video Content 3 lectures

What is a PMO? Preview 05:49

A few people have commented in the feedback that they'd like to have an extra lecture about PMOs. methodology. Here is a short video I made for my OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

Do check it out. This is one of a series of Project Management in Under 5 minutes videos. We're currently in our fifth season, so there are over 80 to date.

What is Agile? Preview 06:15

A few people have commented in the feedback that they'd like to have an extra lecture about Agile Project Management. Here is a short video I made for my OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

Do check it out. This is one of a series of Project Management in Under 5 minutes videos. We're currently in our fifth season, so there are over 80 to date.

What is Scrum? Preview 05:42

A few people have commented in the feedback that they'd like to have an extra lecture about Scrum project management. methodology. Here is a short video I made for my OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

Do check it out. This is one of a series of Project Management in Under 5 minutes videos. We're currently in our fifth season, so there are over 80 to date.