SMART Majority
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Effective Planning and Scheduling

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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.

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Knowledge Checks

Digital Workbook

Certificate

Tutor Support

Course Value $350

Course Description

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.

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  • MODULE 1 • 3 LESSONS

    COURSE OVERVIEW


    • Learning Objectives + Exercise 1
    • Pre-Assignment
    • Pre-Course Assessment

  • MODULE 2 • 2 LESSONS

    PROJECTS AND SCHEDULES


    • Projects and Schedules
    • Making Connections + Exercise 2

  • MODULE 3 • 18 LESSONS

    THE WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE


    • The Work Breakdown Structure
    • What is a Work Breakdown Structure
    • Sample WBS
    • The Role of a Work Breakdown Structure
    • Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
    • Steps for Creating the Work Breakdown Structure
    • Types of Work Breakdown Structure Diagrams: Deliverable-Based
    • Types of Work Breakdown Structure Diagrams: Activity-Based
    • Types of Work Breakdown Structure Diagrams:Deliverable/Activity-Based
    • Work Breakdown Structure Formats
    • Indented List
    • Spreadsheet
    • Organisational Chart
    • Work Breakdown Structure Numbering
    • Sample Numbering
    • What is a Work Breakdown Structure Dictionary
    • Samples
    • Work Breakdown Structure Exercise + Exercise 3

  • MODULE 4 • 8 LESSONS

    ESTIMATING ACTIVITY DURATIONS


    • Estimating Activity Durations
    • Estimating Tips and Techniques
    • Sample Spreadsheet
    • Gathering Resources
    • Activity List
    • Resources
    • Estimating Activity Durations
    • Tips for Increasing Estimation Accuracy

  • MODULE 5 • 2 LESSONS

    CAMPING CASE STUDY + EXERCISE 4


    • Camping Case Study + Exercise 4
    • Camping Case Study

  • MODULE 6 • 10 LESSONS

    IDENTIFYING TASK DEPENDENCIES


    • Identifying Task Dependencies
    • About Task Dependencies
    • Washing a Car
    • Key Questions
    • Dependency Definitions
    • Task Dependency Types
    • FS: Finish-to-Start
    • SF: Start-to-Finish
    • FF: Finish to Finish
    • Case Study: Trip to New York + Exercise 5

  • MODULE 7 • 18 LESSONS

    ALIGNING RESOURCES WITH ACTIVITIES


    • Aligning Resources with Activities
    • Definitions
    • Resource Breakdown Structure
    • Sample Resource Breakdown Structure
    • Creating the Resource Breakdown Structure
    • Availability and Skills, Part One
    • Availability and Skills, Part Two
    • Availability and Skills, Part Three
    • Resource Calendars
    • Stages of Resource Scheduling
    • Definition
    • Allocation
    • Aggregation
    • Leveling
    • Considering the Constraints
    • Case Study: Planning an Outdoor Concert
    • Task Two + Exercise 6
    • Task Three + Exercise 7

  • MODULE 8 • 22 LESSONS

    PROJECT PLANNING


    • Project Planning
    • Network Diagrams
    • About Activity on Node Diagrams
    • Sample Activity on Node Diagram
    • About Activity on Arrow Diagrams
    • Sample Activity on Arrow Diagram
    • Critical Path Method
    • Sample Project
    • Creating a Network Diagram
    • Starting Network Diagram
    • Perform Forward Pass through Network
    • Perform Backward Pass through Network
    • Determine Slack
    • Establish the Critical Path
    • Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
    • The PERT Formula
    • Creating Time Estimates
    • Making Connections + Exercise 8
    • The Value of PERT
    • About Gantt Charts
    • Sample Gantt Chart One
    • Sample Gantt Chart Two

  • MODULE 9 • 5 LESSONS

    SCHEDULING SOFTWARE


    • Scheduling Software
    • Choosing the Right Tools
    • How Do You Know What Software is Best For You
    • Open Workbench
    • Microsoft Project

  • MODULE 10 • 10 LESSONS

    UNCERTAINTY AND RISK MANAGEMENT


    • Uncertainty and Risk Management
    • About Risk Management
    • Sample Risk Register
    • Risk Management Planning
    • Identification of Risk
    • Quantification of Risk
    • Responding to Risk
    • Monitoring and Controlling Risk
    • Mini Case Study
    • Pre-Assignment Review + Exercise 9

  • MODULE 11 • 13 LESSONS

    COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES


    • Communication Strategies
    • About Communication
    • Purpose
    • Information Required
    • Frequency
    • Method
    • Tips for Successful Communication
    • Team Members
    • Project Stakeholders
    • Project Team
    • Other Special Target Groups/End Users
    • Cross-Functional Teams
    • Communication Exercise + Exercise 10

  • MODULE 12 • 4 LESSONS

    CREATING A VIABLE SCHEDULE


    • Creating a Viable Schedule
    • Creating a Schedule
    • Common Scheduling Problems (Part One) + Exercise 11
    • Common Scheduling Problems (Part Two) + Exercise 12

  • MODULE 13 • 10 LESSONS

    UPDATING AND MONITORING THE SCHEDULE


    • Updating and Monitoring the Schedule
    • Schedule Updates
    • Frequency of Updates
    • Receiving Updates
    • Format for Updates
    • Format for Updates Part Two
    • Better Predicting
    • Schedule Monitoring
    • Case Study
    • Questions + Exercise 13

  • MODULE 14 • 5 LESSONS

    A PERSONAL ACTION PLAN


    • A Personal Action Plan
    • Starting Point + Exercise 14a
    • Where I Want to Go + Exercise 14b
    • How I Will Get + Exercise 14c
    • Summary

  • MODULE 15 • 3 LESSONS

    WRAPPING IT UP


    • Recommended Reading List
    • Post-Course Assessment
    • Digital Workbook Submission

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