Key Aspects of Project Management

The objective of this training is to provide participants with some basic knowledge and skills required to perform effective project management activities in projects of any kind. Focus is placed on methodological aspects of proven practices.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Know basic terms and concepts related to project management;
2. Identify a set of project constraints and use them in planning;
3. Identify and prioritize project stakeholders, identify their goals related to the project, and achieve them;
4. Ascertain principles behind the most popular software development methodologies such as Waterfall, and iterative/incremental models including SCRUM in particular;
5. Select optimal methodology (combine elements of various methodologies) that meets project needs;
6. Analyze, optimize, and document project processes as well as maintain them during the project;
7. Find that balance between formal and informal process management aspects;
8. Apply essential management tools: SMART criteria, root-and-cause analysis, Pareto principle, and decision-making options when there are several, etc.

Please note that the course does not cover:

• Detailed examination of software development methodologies;

• Agile project principles;

• Expert topics of project management;

• Configuration and defect management tools.

The above topics are covered in separate courses (see Related courses).

The course also does not cover:

• Project size estimation, project planning, and monitoring;

• Effective team building, negotiations, and meetings.

These topics are covered in separate courses of the Project Management Class (see Related courses).

Project group leaders who have recently been promoted to project managers or are going to perform this role in the near future;

Project managers and project group leaders with some experience in project management, who are open to acquiring new and/or reinforcing existing knowledge (as well as current skills) in order to perform their responsibilities more effectively;

Leading technical specialists who are preparing to perform the role of a project manager /or project group leader (personnel reserve).

The expected level of participants’ experience is indicated in the Prerequisites

• Experience in software development projects.
• Know the basics of project management and some managing experience: 2 to 3 subordinates (small project or group within a project).
• The absence of practical managing experience is allowed if compensated by preliminary theoretical preparation, active interest in the topic and readiness to use all efforts to keep up with the rest of the participants, who might have more experience.