Effective Planning and Scheduling

Duration: Offered as a 90 minute webinar or 2 days in class

Course Overview

As project managers and leads, we all know how difficult it can be to accurately determine the duration of a project, yet that is exactly what is expected of us on a regular basis. This course will not disclose the secret of creating an accurate schedule, because there isn’t one. However, it will provide the factors and fundamental elements that you should consider and address when creating any type of schedule.

Learning Objectives

  • Define and create a Work Breakdown Structure
  • Identify and understand task relationships
  • Estimate task durations and determine project duration
  • Construct a network diagram
  • Calculate the critical path of a project
  • Use the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) to create estimates
  • Plan for risks
  • Create a communication plan
  • Effectively allocate project resources
  • Update and monitor the project schedule

Course Outline

1. Course Overview

2. Projects and Schedules

3. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

  • What is a Work Breakdown Structure?
  • The Role of a Work Breakdown Structure
  • Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
  • Work Breakdown Structure Formats
  • Work Breakdown Structure Numbering
  • Work Breakdown Structure Dictionary
  • Work Breakdown Structure Exercise

4. Estimating Activity Durations

5. Camping Case Study

6. Identifying Task Dependencies

  • About Task Dependencies
  • Task Dependency Types
  • Case Study: Trip to New York
  • Task Relationships Exercise

7. Aligning Resources with Activities

  • Definitions
  • Stages of Resource Scheduling
  • Case Study: Planning an Outdoor Concert

8. Project Planning

  • Network Diagrams
  • Critical Path Method
  • Critical Path Exercise
  • Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
  • About Gantt Charts
  • Gantt Chart Exercise

9. Scheduling Software

10. Uncertainty and Risk Management

  • About Risk Management
  • Risk Management Planning
  • Pre-Assignment Review

11. Communication Strategies

  • About Communication
  • Team Members
  • Communication Exercise

12. Creating a Viable Schedule

  • Creating a Schedule
  • Common Scheduling Problems

13. Updating and Monitoring the Schedule

  • Schedule Updates
  • Case Study

14. Personal Action Plan