Project Management Foundations – 2-day Workshop

Course Description

Organizations that apply project management best practices complete projects on time 28% more often and on budget 24% more often. The Project Management Foundations workshop delivers the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to apply essential project management skills across predictive, agile, or hybrid approaches.

Aspiring and current project managers, team leads, and professionals who manage projects gain the tools to define project scope, engage project stakeholders, and create project plans that fit the organizational environment. This fundamental, discussion-driven course aligns with PMI guidelines and can be applied toward maintaining PMP or other Project Management Institute certifications. Participants also explore AI-powered tools and develop leadership and management capabilities for successful project execution.

Note: This project management course provides 16 PMI PDUs and a certificate of completion.

Course Objective

This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently initiate, plan, execute, and close projects across methodologies. You’ll gain the ability to identify the right approach for your environment, use AI-enhanced tools, and engage stakeholders effectively for project success.

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

Understand and use project management core terms and concepts
Engage and manage stakeholders to support project objectives
Develop components of a project management plan for any project size or type
Apply predictive, agile, or hybrid best practices for greater project success
Integrate AI into project management activities for improved efficiency

Course Outline

Module 1: Project Context

Understanding Projects, Products, and Processes
Project Management and the Stages of the Project Life Cycle
Key Factors Affecting the Project Environment
Defining What Project Success Looks Like

Module 2: Project Approach

Comparing Waterfall and Agile Methodologies
Agile Manifesto and Core Principles
Introduction to Scrum and Kanban Frameworks
Embracing and Managing Change

Module 3: Partnering with Stakeholders

Key Project Roles and Responsibilities
Using the Stakeholder Register Effectively
Creating a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and RACI Diagram Exercise

Module 4: Initiating the Project

Predictive Project Life Cycles
Developing and Using Project Charters
Charter Creation Exercise

Module 5: Planning the Project

Best Practices for Building a Project Management Plan
Components of a Comprehensive PM Plan
Balancing Project Constraints

Module 6: Defining Project Scope

Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
WBS Development Example

Module 7: Defining and Estimating Activities

Breaking Down Activities into Manageable Tasks
Defining Activities Exercise
Understanding Effort vs. Duration
Estimation Techniques and Resource Planning
Rolling Wave Planning
Activity Estimation Exercise

Module 8: Developing the Project Schedule

Sequencing Activities for Logical Flow
Understanding Dependencies, Leads, and Lags
Determining the Critical Path and Float
Schedule Compression Techniques
Schedule Presentation Formats
Budget Development
Schedule and Budget Creation Exercise

Module 9: Planning Project Communications

Common Communication Challenges and Best Practices
Assessing Stakeholder Communication Needs
Tailoring Communication for Stakeholders
Creating a Communications Matrix
Project Communications Plan Exercise

Module 10: Planning Project Risk Management

Roles and Responsibilities in Risk Management
Overcoming Risk Identification Challenges
Identifying Known and Unknown Risks
Using Contingency Reserves
Conducting Risk Analysis
Calculating Expected Monetary Value (EMV)
Recognizing Risk Triggers
Maintaining a Risk Register
Planning Risk Responses
Risk Register Creation Exercise

Module 11: Artificial Intelligence in Project Management

Generative AI (GenAI) vs. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
Practical Applications of AI in Project Management
Understanding the Risks of Using GenAI

Module 12: Executing a Project

Leading and Managing Projects Effectively
Building Team Trust and Cohesion
Engaging Stakeholders Throughout Execution
Leveraging Power Skills and Emotional Intelligence

Module 13: Overseeing and Controlling the Project

Distinguishing Between Monitoring and Controlling Activities
Change Management Processes
Tracking Progress and Reporting Results
Controlling the Project Schedule
Monitoring Communications, Risks, and Stakeholder Engagement
Top 10 Project Monitoring and Controlling Practices
Project Tracking Requirements Exercise

Module 14: Closing a Project

Closing Projects, Phases, or Milestones
Capturing and Applying Lessons Learned
Celebrating Project Achievements

Module 15: Wrap-Up

Reviewing Open Items (“Parking Lot” Review)
Key Takeaways, Confirmations, and New Ideas