Project Initiation: Discovery and Analysis

• Identify the Stakeholders Involved in the Project
• Strategizing Communication Methods throughout the Project
• Creating a Project Concept Definition
• The Business Case
• Defining Business and Functional Requirements
• Define Technical Requirements
• Strategic and Operational Relevance
• Assessing Project Feasibility
• Perform Risk Assessment

Software Development Life Cycle Models and Methodologies

• Examining Different Life Cycle Models
• Understanding a Phased Delivery Model
• Rapid Application Development (RAD)
• UML Techniques (Overview)
• Agile Software Development
• New Trends in Software Development
• Key Events and Deliverables in Each Stage

Understanding ITIL

• ITIL Overview as it Relates to Software Development

Project Initiation: Estimating

• Construct a Formal Estimate
• Create Time Estimates
• Create Cost Estimates
• Confidence in Estimating
• Estimating Techniques Flow Chart
• Time Estimates Flow Chart

Project Initiation: Framing the Project

• Managing Change
• Writing the Scope Statement
• Writing the Project Charter
• Writing a Statement of Work

Project Planning: Laying the Foundation

• Setting Expectations for the Planning Process
• Creating an Overall Project Plan
• Decomposing a Work Breakdown Structure
• Creating a Network Diagram
• Identify and Analyze the Critical Path
• Creating Project Schedules
• Creating Project Budgets

Project Planning: Developing the Plan

• Develop a Resource Management Plan
• Develop a Risk Management Plan
• Develop a Quality Management Plan
• Develop a Change Management Plan
• Develop Project Metrics
• Develop an Operational Transfer Plan
• Develop a Communication Plan
• Compile a Comprehensive Project Plan

Project Planning: Managing Risk

• Analyzing Project Risk
• Differing Risk Models
• Contingency Planning

Project Planning: Building the Team

• Role of the Project Manager
• Accountability and Responsibility
• Assemble the Project Team
• Building and Supporting the Team
• Team Commitment and Communication Techniques
• Developing the Team
• Motivation Techniques
• Delegation Techniques
• Negotiating Techniques
• Conflict Resolution Techniques
• Team Problem-Solving Techniques

Project Execution: Monitoring and Managing

• Day-to-Day Project Tracking
• Measuring Progress with Milestones
• Monitor the Project Iteratively
• Calculate Earned Value
• Execute Schedule Updates
• Execute Budget Updates
• Managing the Critical Path
• Using Gantt Charts and Network Diagrams
• Managing the Project Team
• Managing Vendors

Project Control: Managing Chaos

• Warning Signs Your Project is in Trouble
• Analyzing Control Techniques
• Defect Detection and Prevention
• Mitigating Scope Creep
• Managing Variances

Project Closure: Tying Up Loose Ends

• Managing Documentation
• Managing the Operational Transfer Plan
• Write Project Closure Report
• Obtain Final, Formal Sign-off
• Document Lessons Learned
• Managing Administrative Closure

Change and Issue Management Process

• The Need for Control of Change to Requirements
• How to Manage Changes and Issues
• Business Control of Project Changes

Action Planning

• Participants determine how to apply the techniques to their own projects