Making a Business Case: The Business Case in Context   Importance of Projects Managing Your Investment in Projects: Portfolio Management Overview How Projects Support Strategy Business Value and Return on Investment (ROI) Definition of Project Success Project Selection Process: Using a Business Case How the Business Case Adds Value Building Project Success   Making…

Introduction Introduction: Respect and Professionalism Introductory exercise: Handwriting exercise Case Study: Is this Professional behavior? Defining Professionalism Group Work: Positive and negative behaviors Definition Three tiers of an organization to sustain professionalism When All Else Fails: Building an Image of Integrity and Trust Group Work: What is integrity? Case Study: What went wrong? Professional Image…

Introduction to Planning and Project Management Course objectives and road map Special project management challenges posed by the site acquisition process Nine steps to effective project management Initiating the Project Linking projects and outcomes with stakeholders’ goals and priorities Project charters Gap analysis:  Description of the project Developing Objectives and Diagnosing Issues Designing SMART objectives…

Introduction Personal Risk Profile Our relationship with risk CHAOS study Sources of project risk Project success factors Importance of Risk Management Basic Risk Management Concepts Risk Threat and opportunity Relationship between issues and risks Risk Management The Standard Risk Model Impact of risk on project plans Levels of risk Risk Management timing Planning for Risk…

Introduction to Course Course objectives and road map Story: Respect is not always the easy answer! Signature exercise What Exactly Is Respect? Case Study: Respect in the workplace The moral of the story: Respect has many meanings Respect at the organizational, process, and individual levels Open Communication: Communicating with Honesty and Tact Honesty and Tact:…

Day 1 Introductory Concepts Instructor and student introductions Quality definitions Defining customer requirements and expectations Internal and external customers Typical quality challenges Class exercises Continuous Improvement Concepts Documenting nonconformances Measuring quality Quality measurement systems Quality data collection and databases Pareto analysis Acting on Pareto analysis findings Class exercises   Day 2 Statistical Considerations The normal…

Introduction Types of bids Overview:  Technical, management, and cost proposals RFP production process Proposal process Proposal evaluation process Writing a proposal plan RFP Analysis RFP structure Problems with RFPs:  What to look for Formulating questions for a bidders’ briefing Writing in STOP STOP history Benefits Addressing the customer’s problem Identifying and organizing themes Theme sentence…

Project Structure Sources of Project Success and Failure Defining Project and Project Management The Project Environment Roles in the Project Project and Project Lifecycles The Importance of Business Value PM Methodologies Project Initiation Where Projects Come from: Enterprise Analysis The Business Case The Project Charter Stakeholder Identification Establishing Preliminary Scope Boundaries Defining Project and Business…

Project Structure Sources of Project Success and Failure Defining Project and Project Management The Project Environment Roles in the Project Project and Project Lifecycles The Importance of Business Value PM Methodologies Project Initiation The Project Charter Stakeholder Identification Establishing Preliminary Scope Boundaries Defining Project and Business Objectives Viewing the Project as an Investment Developing Useful…

Project Structure Defining Project and Project Management The Project Environment Sources of Project Success and Failure Project and Project Lifecycles The Importance of Business Value PM Methodologies Project Initiation The Project Charter Stakeholder Identification Establishing Preliminary Scope Boundaries Defining Project and Business Objectives Developing Useful Estimates Project Planning Defining Scope: Requirements and the WBS Developing…

Project Structure Defining Project and Project Management The Project Environment Sources of Project Success and Failure Project and Project Lifecycles PM Methodologies The Project Charter Project Planning Stakeholder Identification Defining Scope: Requirements and the WBS Developing the Project Schedule Resource Planning Procurement Project Budget The Communication Strategy Delivering Quality Managing Project Risk Execution and Control…

Project Structure Sources of project success and failure Project vocabulary The project environment Project and product life cycle Creating value after the project Project Planning The project charter Defining scope: Requirements and the WBS Developing the project schedule Resource planning Project budget The communication strategy Quality Managing project risk Planning for business value Execution and…

The Project Budget in Context Why we do projects: Business Value Impact of Portfolio Management Budget lifecycle Connecting project, program and business budgets How effective project management prevents cost overruns Setting project baselines The four functions of the budget Initiation How to create useful estimates Estimating project cost Defining scope Analyzing risks Considering organizational impact…

Introduction Introductions exercise Discussion: The key to becoming influential Presenting as a Process The ADDIE process for presenting: Analysis, design, develop, implement and evaluate Case Study: How do you prepare? Exploration: What makes a presentation successful? Dissecting why you are presenting Preparing for a Presentation Four primary types of presentations: Selecting the perfect style Formatting…

Introduction:   What Brings Us Down Case Study:  The impact of our surroundings Why we let things “get to us” Focusing on the Positive Accomplishments exercise Translating strengths, talents and value into positive thinking Exercise:  Switching to “Now Focus” Case Study:  Playing with Words (a terrific tools for thinking positively) Understanding Positive and Negative Thinking Case…

Introduction to PMP® and CAPM® Certifications Preliminary Assessment (Practice Test) Application Requirements Exam Fee Structure Exam Specifications and Requirements Continuing Certification Requirements Exam Overview Project Management Essentials Basic Terms and Definitions Organizational Structure Project Life Cycle Project Management Process Groups Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Project Management Knowledge Areas & Processes PM Guide Layout…

I. Introduction What is PFM? Fundamental PFM concepts Measuring your investment in projects What’s at stake; why PfM matters Portfolio success rests on project success Benefits of a formal approach to PfM II. PfM Process Overview The PfM process PfM governance structures PfM process groups PfM stakeholders Steps for improving the PfM process III. Portfolio…

Introduction What is PfM? Fundamental PfM concepts Measuring your investment in projects What’s at stake; why PfM matters Portfolio success rests on project success Benefits of a formal approach to PfM PfM Process Overview The PfM process PfM governance structures PfM process groups PfM stakeholders Steps for improving the PfM process Portfolio Definition Portfolio overview…

Introduction Project success and failure Human Factors at work How people are the source of project success Responsibilities of management in projects Defining project roles Critical project processes Project Manager: Leveraging the power of each project role Role of Management Responsibilities of management in projects Management Best Practices Assessment of current management practice Role of…

Introduction Conventional Wisdom What’s Inside and What’s Outside Possible Benefits Overview of Systems Engineering Elements Customer-defined Developer-defined Complex Systems Problems Systems People Software Management Overview: Thinking Outside the Box The Inventive Mind Management Thinking Technical Thinking Broaden and Generalize Architecting Functional Decomposition Systems of Systems Crossover The Concept Software Applications Building/Managing New Systems Conventional Wisdom…

Introductions My biggest time wasters Game: Dealing with competing interests; uncover why we don’t manage time well Setting Priorities: Determining What is Important Stephen Covey’s Quadrants Values: Are they aligned with my activities? Developing a strategy for prioritization Managing My Biggest Time Wasters Clutter versus organization (how much is okay?) Managing incoming communication Decision making…

Violence in the Workplace Introduction and violence video Facts and statistics about workplace violence and related issues Defining Workplace Violence Levels of violence Workplace violence spectrum Are these behaviors threatening situations Identifying Potentially Violent Employees without Discriminating Profile of the potentially violent employee Motivations for violence Behaviors and what they may mean Company Culture and…

Introduction Fascinating Shocker: The primary reason our customers’ real problems don’t get solved Making the connection: Customer focus, strategic direction and problem solving Futuring and Strategic Thinking Systems thinking Futuring tools and application Help others break through their paradigms to uncover truth Embark on problem solving with staying power Overview of the nine step problem…

Introduction Need for technical writing Definitions Technical writing process:  Step by step Typical technical writing products Audience Analysis Identifying your audience’s “problem” Classes of audience Intuitive analysis Interviewing representative members of your audience Selecting audience analysis methods Research Searching the literature Interviewing subject matter experts Using hands-on experience and demonstrations Selecting research approaches Structuring Your…

Introduction Introductory exercise: Seeing others in 3D Game: The value of working toward a common goal What is a Team? Discussion: Defining team and teaming Activity: Are there really four stages of a team? Team rules and roles Partnering to Be Seen as One Team Case study: One team, one voice Communicating as a team…

Day 1   Module 1: The Nature of Offshoring. Introductions. Definitions. Offshoring growth in US industry. Offshoring advantages and disadvantages. Offshoring, subcontracting, and outsourcing. The nature of the offshoring challenge.   Module 2: Making the Decision. Company size versus offshore outsourcing. Deciding what to outsource and what to keep in house. In-house, offshore, in-country outsourcing.…

Introduction to Supervision Exercise: Fears and expectations Introductions exercise: What is a supervisor’s responsibility for setting a social context at work? Leadership in a Supervisory Role Video: Leadership Is Characteristics of a leader Creating a leadership model Generating a Culture of Success Setting employee expectations Developing learning plans for all types of employees Engaging your…

Openers Exercise: What does change feel like? Case study: How would you react to this change? Introduction: How to Chill Course objectives and road map Game: The power of laughter Does stress kill? The four stages of stress Dealing with Stress as if It Were Your Enemy The reactive approach: Recuperation The adaptive approach: Prevention…

Openers Exercise:  What is strategy? 5 Forces Industry Analysis Industry analysis: Competitors, barriers to entry, threat of substitutes, buyer power, supplier power Discussion: Given these 5 forces, what is the long-term attractiveness of our industry? 5 C’s Market Analysis Business analysis: Customer needs/wants, external context, company business model and current strategy; collaborators; competitors Discussion: Given…

Openers Discussion: What are the challenges of leading a non-co-located/global/culturally diverse team? Creating and Leading a Virtual Team Short lecture:  Composition of virtual team, skills to look for and build in team members; determining and establishing elements of effective virtual workgroup Activity:  Building trust and establishing your credibility with a virtual team Activity:  Setting group…

Openers Discussion: What are the challenges of collaborating with a non-co-located/global/culturally diverse team? Creating and Collaborating with a Virtual Team Short lecture:  Composition of virtual team, skills to look for; membership on a virtual team, being a “team citizen” virtually; recognizing the seeming saliency of local requests and committing time to virtual team Activity:  Building…

Day 1:  The Basics The writing process Defining the message Organizing one’s thoughts Outlining using a creative approach Creating the first draft Rewriting The 24-hour test Creating the final draft Common errors Group exercises Sentence structure The four parts of every sentence Active versus passive styles Subject/verb agreement Eliminating semantic noise Appropriate sentence length Common…

Introduction Case Study:  What Do I Do Now? Exercise:  Danger or Opportunity? Understanding Change:  Typical Response to Change and How Change Is Best Accepted Change Model The Movement of Change Anticipating and Dealing with Reactions to Change Chaos Theory and How Humans Adapt to Change Nine Principles of Change What Prevents Us from Accepting Selecting…

Communication in a Consulting Role Recognizing the primary inhibitor to successful communication and influence Exploring typical barriers to communication Dissecting and overcoming barriers Consulting and Customer Service as a Five-Step Process Exploring the role of internal or external consultant Five points to the consulting star Developing positive ongoing client relationships and long lasting rapport Customer…

Introduction to Course and Sales Welcome and Introductions Course Objectives and Road Map Discussion: What is Sales Introduction to Sales The Seller and the Buyer The Changing Scope of Selling: Global Economy and the Internet The Science of Sales: The Seven Strategies of Selling Prospecting First Contact Qualification Presentation Resolving Objections Closing Wrap-Up and Follow-Up…

Introduction to Course Welcome and Introductions Course Objectives and Road Map Discussion: What Is Empowerment Introduction to Empowered Thinking Inspiration versus Motivation Habits of Thought: Intentional vs. Inherited Meta Programming from the Cultural Perspective Background Tapes The “Not Enough” Syndrome Exercise:   Identifying Limiting Belief Patterns Qualities of High Achievers Instincts and Aligning with Natural Talents…

What to Do Before Meetings How to Develop Effective Agendas Handling Latecomers and Disruptive Calls in Meetings What Meetings Can and Cannot Do Well; 6 Types of Meetings Effective Participant Roles and Behaviors The Behaviors Participants Use in Successful Meetings (Small Groups) The 9 Task Roles Effective Participants Use The 5 People Skills Effective Participants…

Session 1: Introduction Course content Historical manufacturing perspectives Manufacturing enterprises Organizational approaches Organizational cultures Session 2: Leadership Leadership Leadership traits and styles Characteristics of a good leader Situational leadership Supervision versus management Executive management Responsibilities versus organizational position Session 3: Theories of Motivation Hunsaker-Allesandra personality styles Maslow’s hierarchy of needs The power/achievement/affiliation motivation model Identifying…

Openers Discussion: What is upward leadership?  How do we exercise voice in this organization? Case studies:  Would you speak up in this situation?  What are the risks?  How can you best be heard? Managing and Supporting Your Boss Exercise:  Determine your boss’ style and needs; create a personal plan for improving your relationship and work…

Openers Discussion: What are the challenges of e-communications Case study:  What was the intent and impact of this email? How could both the sender and receiver have used email more effectively? Email Productivity Discussion – basics:  Security issues, urban legends/hoaxes, email forwarding decisions Exercise:  Emailing self-assessment Activity:  When to email, when to call, and when…

Introduction When do we negotiate? Formal negotiations and their structure Informal negotiating and influence situations Negotiation and Conflict Styles Inventory: What is my style? Negotiation styles of others Control/power versus influence; when not to negotiate Selling “ideas”: When you’re “selling”, are they “buying”? How to make that happen Achieving a Win/Win or Accomplishing Interest-Based Negotiations…

Openers Discussion: What is upward leadership?  How do our direct reports exercise voice in this organization? Creating a Leading Up  Culture Discussion:  Organizational culture and our own influence over our work group’s culture Activity:  Learning to listen Exercise:  Determine our work group’s culture and create a plan for ensuring our direct reports are comfortable sharing…

Introduction to Course and Leadership Welcome and introductions Course objectives and road map Discussion: What makes a leader Leadership Before, Now, and After Leadership throughout the history Contemporary leaders: What makes them successful? Debrief and discussion: Defining leadership styles Are there specific traits and competencies of a successful Leader? What if I don’t fit the…

Introduction to Course and Leadership Welcome and introductions Course objectives and road map Discussion: Defining leadership Responsibilities of Leadership Requirements of an effective leader Leadership vs. management Discussion and examples of leaders vs. managers Transitory Nature of Leadership Leadership styles:  Classes – relational and functional/styles – directing, selling, participating and delegating Follower classifications:  Committed novice,…

Introduction to Course and Leadership Welcome and introductions Course objectives and road map Discussion: What makes a leader? Leadership Defined, Leadership Issues Explored Leadership, power and management: What’s the difference? Video: Leadership Is Debrief and discussion: Defining leadership styles Recognizing the traits and competencies of a successful leader Leadership at all levels of an organization…

Introduction Puzzle:  The Biases We Bring Diversity:  Differences or Perceptions Exercise:  Breaking out of Current Paradigms The Impact of Disparate Treatment Video:  30 minute Blue Eyed Experiment Group Work and Discussion of Video The Impact of Inclusion Group Work:  Story of the Misfit Team Discussion:  When Employees Do Not Feel Part of the Team Misperceptions…

Part I:  Defining the Impact of Change Sources of project success Human factors at work Impact of organizational change in IT projects Why IT projects provoke such a reaction Resistance to change Why employees resist change Why managers resist change Causes of poor organizational change management What happens when resistance to change is not managed…

Introduction Puzzle:  The Biases We Bring Diversity:  Differences or Perceptions Exercise:  Breaking out of Current Paradigms The Impact of Disparate Treatment Video:  30 minute Blue Eyed Experiment Group Work and Discussion of Video The Impact of Inclusion Group Work: Story of the Misfit Team Discussion:  When Employees Do Not Feel Part of the Team Misperceptions…

Introduction There are no difficult individuals, only difficult behavior Types of and reasons for difficult behavior Case study:  Difficult behavior Exercise:  What we have control over and what we don’t Understanding What Causes Difficult Behavior Inventory:  Diagnosing differences in personalities and approaches to work Communication style and decision making style differences Attitudes toward work:  Recognizing…

Introduction to Course and Customer Service Welcome and introductions Course objectives and road map Discussion: What is customer service Introduction to Customer Service Developing a customer-centric mindset Focusing on serving customers Who are your customers? Internal and external When and where does CS take place? The need for CS: Rewards and penalties Group Exercise: Are…

Introduction to Course and Creativity Course objectives and road map Are we inherently creative? Participant introductions and inventions Tapping into Our Natural Creativity Right brain vs. left brain: What’s the difference? Exercise: Unleashing creativity Video: The New Business of Paradigms Exercise: What is impossible to do today…? Creativity as a Tool To Develop Innovative Ideas…

Day One of the Course   Introduction and Program Overview Optimizing Labor Costs Defining Headcount and Controlling Staff Growth Developing and Implementing Time Standards Measuring and Using Efficiency Assessing Machine Utilization Controlling Overtime Making Multiple Shifts Productive Finding and Reducing Lost Time Using the Learning Curve to Drive Costs Down Risks and Risk Reduction Strategies…

Introduction The nature of project change Definition of change control Three primary change control strategies How change control supports successful delivery How change control protects post-project Business Value Other benefits of controlling change Minimizing the Need for Change Initiation Phase How the Project Charter sets the stage for change control Defining business value and project…

Introduction Managing change: Seeing opportunity in job searches Preparing psychologically for a new job Uncovering our Unique Talents and Values Accomplishments exercise Focusing on the A’s; not the D’s to bring out our strengths Marketing our strengths Preparing for the Interview Designing our individual sound bites Building our confidence Three tips to handling nervousness Designing…

Recognizing and Understanding Conflict Project Management Overview The Problem Levels of Conflict Differences Improvement Project Costs Associated with Conflict Wasted Time Decision Making Loss of Skilled Resources Reorganization Sabotage/Theft Low Morale Lost Time Health Costs Resolving Project Conflict What Not to Do Agree to a Conversation Establish the Context Converse Reach an Agreement Communicating Realistic…

Dissecting Conflict Is conflict truly harmful? Bubbling issues to the surface Factors that influence conflict Levels of conflict: Proactive, adaptive, reactive Negotiation as a Resolve for Conflict Discussion: Relationship building Self-assessment: MBTI or other work style inventory, group work Setting the stage: Why is this critical? Definition of goals and issues Negotiation of recommendations: Inventory,…

Introduction Exercise: The primary obstacle to getting results through others Understanding mutual goals and partnering Exploring barriers to partnering Getting Results with a Consultative Approach Authority, Influence, Power, and Results Consulting as a tool Five Steps to getting others to achieve goals Developing positive ongoing relationships as a tool to get results Rapport building: How…

Introduction to Course and Coaching Course objectives and road map Exercise: Discover how our goals often get in the way of good coaching What Is Coaching? Coaching vs. management: What’s the difference? Video: Leader as Coach Discussion: Coaching at all levels of the organization Case Study: How we often miss the key components of coaching…

Introduction Exercise: What does change feel like? Case study: How would you react to this change? Integration of Change: Acting to Accept Change instead of Allowing Natural Human Response to Take Over Change model Steps to bring change into an organization Anticipating and dealing with reactions to change Chaos theory and how humans adapt to…

Introduction to Course Welcome and Introductions Course Objectives and Road Map Discussion: What Is Communication? Introduction to Communication The Sender and the Receiver Communication Barriers Defining Communication Success Stages of the Communication Process: Sender, Message, Channel, Receiver, Feedback and Context Effective Listening (the Greatest Communication Skill of All) Business Email Advanced Technology Does Not Replace…

Introduction to Measurement and Metrics The Four Components of Metrics That Create Accountability Linking Metrics to Clients’ Business Plan Employee and labor relations metrics:  What to measure and how to use the results EEO and diversity metrics:  Don’t just measure complaints or activities but how your involvement is improving performance Workforce retention (an area for…

Introduction to Sexual Harassment Initial Assessment Definition Types of Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment vs. Sexual Discrimination Other Types of Harassment Quid Pro Quo Statistics and Facts Employer Responsibility and Liability Myths Review and Exercises Avoiding Sexual Harassment Physical Appropriate vs. Inappropriate Touching Rules of Touching Innuendos Non-Verbal Eye-Contact Sending Signals Correspondence Verbal Appropriate Speech Jokes…

Beginning with a Participant Centered Approach Agenda and Objectives Methods: How We’ll Work Together Participant Input: Workplace Situations for Feedback Skills Skill: How to Give Employees Feedback the Way They Want to Receive It Gaining Employee Cooperation When Giving Feedback “Constructive Criticism” Isn’t The 5 Goals of Giving Performance Feedback Develop Feedback Model with Group…

I. Introduction Source of project success and failure: Dealing with the human element Many views of the project The project as an investment Project and product lifecycles Business value as a driver of project practice Enhanced definition of project management II. Project Structure The project environment Getting a project off to a good start Defining…