Project Management Institute® at Montgomery College

Successful Project Management - AMA035

Successful Project Management, AMA035
Learn the project management process including project selection and evaluation. Gain skills in developing a project plan defining the scope, phases, milestones goals, and purposes. The types of project organizations will be detailed, including intra functional organizations, cross-functional matrix, and task force organizations. Learn how to construct a work breakdown structure and create a project task network. Textbook included.

Textbook: Successful Project Management, Larry Richman, American Management Assoc. Book included with registration.

Course Syllabus:

Chapter 1 Understanding Project Management

• What Is Project Management?
• The History of Project Management
• Project Management Today
• Functional Work vs. Project Work
  • Functional Work
  • Project Work
• Why Project Management Is Necessary in Today's World
  • Today's Business Trends
  • A Proactive Management Style
• Organizing for Project Management Efficiency
• Adopting a Project Management Philosophy
• Organizational Structures
  • Functional Organization
  • Project Organization
  • Matrix
• Functioning Effectively
• Setting Up a Project Management System
  • Planning the Project
  • Executing the Project
  • Closing the Project

Chapter 2 Defining the Roles of the Project Manager and the Team

• The Role of the Project Manager
  • Project Manager Skills
  • Project Management Skills
  • People Skills
  • Integration Skills
  • Technical Skills
  • Knowledge of the Organization
• The Makeup of a Project Manager
• Project Manager Relationships and Tools
• Responsibility, Accountability, and Authority
  • Responsibility
  • Accountability
  • Authority
  • Maintaining the Balance
• Role of Team Members
• Defining the Roles of Clients, Customers, and Other Stakeholders
  • Client
  • Customers
  • Other Stakeholders

Chapter 3 Defining the Project

• Defining the Problem or Opportunity
  • Types of Projects
• Establishing Project Objectives
  • Keeping the Objectives in Balance
  • Cost Considerations
  • Time Considerations
  • Scope Considerations
  • Final Statement of Project Objectives
• Performing Project Reviews
  • Conceptual Review
  • Feasibility Study
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis
  • Profitability Measures
  • Alternative Course of Action Review
  • Opportunity Cost Review
  • Preliminary Risk Assessment
  • Possible Review Outcomes
• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
  • Job Aid: Work Breakdown Structure Checklist

Chapter 4 Estimating the Activities

• The Importance of Estimating
• Steps in Estimating Activities
• Estimating Methods
  • Analogous Approach
  • Parametric Modeling
  • Bottom-Up Estimate
  • Simulation
• Precision of Estimates
  • Underestimating Activities
  • Inflating Estimates
  • Estimating Familiar vs. New Work
  • Weighted Estimating Formula
  • Range Estimates
  • Rolling Wave Estimates
• Work Environment and Skill Level
• Type of Contract
  • Fixed-Price Contract
  • Unit-Price Contract
  • Cost-Plus Contract
  • Incentives
• Using Project Management Software
• Recap
• Review Questions

Class #2

Chapter 5 Planning the Activities

• Sequencing Activities
  • Diagramming Methods
  • Creating a Network Diagram
  • Understanding a Network Diagram
• Calculating the Critical Path
  • Using the Critical Path Method (CPM)
  • Critical Path Calculations

Chapter 6 Preparing a Project Plan

• Preparing Schedules
  • Milestones
  • Gantt Charts
  • Crashing the Schedule
• Preparing Resource Plans
  • Identifying the Required Skills
  • Recruiting Personnel
  • Assigning People to Activities
  • Leveling the Resources
  • Adjusting the Project Schedule
• Preparing Budget Plans
• Managing Risk
  • Identifying Risk
  • Assessing Risk
  • Responding to Risk
• Getting Approvals and Compiling a Formal Project Plan
  • Reconciling the Project Objectives
  • Getting Approvals and Commitments
  • Creating a Project Plan

Chapter 7 Controlling Time, Cost, and Scope

• Initiating the Project
  • Kickoff Meeting
  • Communicating Project Plans
• Setting Up a Monitoring and Control Process
  • Principles of Monitoring and Control
  • Establishing a Plan to Monitor and Control the Project
  • Status Information
  • Variances
  • Reports
  • Course of Action
• Controlling Project Objectives
  • Time Control
  • Cost Control
  • Scope and Quality Control
  • Resource Control
  • Control Thresholds
  • Tools for Controlling Project Objectives
• Controlling Changes in the Project
  • Actions
  • Change Request and Approval Form
  • Change Control Log

Chapter 8 Evaluating and Reporting on Project Performance

• Conducting Project Evaluations
  • When to Perform Project Evaluations
  • Considerations in Project Evaluations
• Reporting on Project Objectives
  • Reporting Considerations
  • Graphical Reports
  • Reporting Percent Complete
  • Sample Reports
• Closing the Project
• Recap
• Review Questions

See the "At a Glance" Schedule of classes. This is provided to help you plan your schedule, registration may not yet be open for all classes. Below you will find links to the Official Schedule of open classes.
Schedule of Project Management Classes ►
Schedule of Management and Supervision Classes ►