I/S Resource Group: Small Project Management, Training, Project, Project Management, PMBOK, PMBOK Guide, Small Project Definition, Project Request, Project Skills, Project Charter, Project Size, Scope and Objective, Business Requirements, Project Prioritization, WBS Templates, Effort Estimating, Duration Estimating, Calendar Scheduling, Gantt Scheduling, Quality Reviews, Change Control, Testing, Documentation, Training, Project Tracking, Status Reports, Closure

Small Project Management

Why This Course?
(2 Days)

Today's professionals spend up to 75% of their time in project-related work. Much of this work consists of small projects that we fail to manage as projects. Rather we treat it as work that needs to be done by the end of the month. Thus, this unmanaged work just "happens". Because we are in an era where responsiveness and effectiveness are crucial, letting small projects "happen" is no longer acceptable.

Can project management methods help small projects in the same way the methods help larger projects? Yes! This case-oriented workshop shows how to apply basic techniques to managing, understanding, and coordinating small projects. At the same time, the techniques are fully compatible with our methods for larger projects.

Learning Objectives

Define Project Management. Discuss the unique challenges of small projects, the skills needed to make small projects successful, and the methods that can keep them small.
Document the Project Request; describe the 3D Life Cycle; discuss the purpose and benefits of each project phase.
Use business case analysis to clarify the need, then produce one good objective. Determine the business requirements.
Begin planning the project by prioritizing it compared to other projects.
Describe the activities of the Design phase, and the value of each to the project.
Tailor the Small Project WBS Template to create a work plan framework at an appropriate level of detail.
Estimate activity effort and duration using the Small Project Worksheet. Describe how communicating assumptions produces more accurate, useful estimates.
Schedule the project, using methods that are useful for one-person and multi-person staffing.
Discuss the importance of involving others in appropriate project activities, and the challenges and strategies for doing so.
Describe the use of Quality Reviews and Change Control in small projects.
Describe the Deliver Phase activities and the value of each to the project.
Apply minimum-effort project tracking methods; evaluate project progress.
Scale Small Project Management techniques for smaller JDI and VSP (Just Do It and Very Small Projects), or for larger projects.
Describe the personal and enterprise benefits of implementing small project management.

Audience

This workshop is for every professional who spends time on small projects, namely those projects that take up to 360 work-hours of effort and up to 3 months to complete. Although the workshop focuses on techniques for managing small projects, the techniques are for larger projects as well.

Course Outline

1. Defining The Project

Defining Project Management; Issues of Small Projects
Characteristics of Small Projects; Successful Project Skills
Project Management Techniques; The 3-D Life Cycle; The Small Project Activity List
Why Not "Just Do It?" First Step: Size Project and Plan First Phase
Make a First Guesstimate; Evaluating Small Project Success Criteria
State the Problem (or Opportunity); Define Scope and Objective
Understand Current Environment; Define Requirements for an Acceptable Solution
Priority and Planning the Next Phases; Reviews and The Basic Nine Deliverables
Summary: Defining The Project

2. Planning The Project

Establishing Priority Over Multiple Concurrent Projects; Reflecting Priority
Building a Work Plan; Small Project Activity Templates; Specialized Activity Lists for Unique Projects
Estimating Project Activities; High-Low Consensus Effort Estimating
The Small Project Worksheet; The Effort -- Duration Conversion
Scheduling Methods: Calendar Scheduling; Scheduling with Gantt Charts
Quality Assurance and Small Projects; Change Management and Small Projects
Summary: Planning The Project

3. Coordinating The Project

The Challenge of Coordinating Others; Leadership Meets the Challenge
The Design Phase Activities; The Deliver Phase Activities: Purpose and Benefits
Often Omitted Activities: Testing, Documentation and Training
Minimalist Project Tracking; Implementing the Project: An Acceptance Test
Evaluating and Ending the Project
Scaling Techniques Upward; One Minute Small Project Manager
Summary

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