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Applied Project Management Workshop |
The Applied Project Management Workshop is intended for organizations looking for a practical, hands-on way to quickly establish a workable project management process AND get critical projects off the dime and moving towards successful completion.
The Applied Project Management Workshop is made available to Gryphon Systems's clients through our strategic partnership with Strategy Partners Group, LLP.
Open Enrollment Program Particulars (Cost, Dates, Location) ...
Program Description
If your business future depends upon executing projects flawlessly—then thisworkshop can benefit you.
For example, a billion-dollar insurance company used the workshop to kick off a project to redesign their billing process. A renowned software company used the workshop to plan how to roll a new operating system out to market. And, a generic pharmaceutical company used the workshop to plan a project that resulted in doubling the number of new drugs that they were able to test.
The workshop is about more than just planning and scheduling techniques. It is for situations where project teams need to get organized and to work on projects faster. And, it is for projects where teams need to stay flexible and focused.
The focus of the workshop is on how to answer the key questions that drive successful project management such as:
- What are the expectations of our customers and management?
- How will we show that we are successful?
- Who will do what, when, and for how much?
- What could go wrong and what will we do about it?
- How do we get and maintain management support?
- And, how will we get the resources we need?
The result is to develop a common project management language within a team, which can dramatically increase their effectiveness and efficiency.
The focus is not to flog a particular piece of software full of complex bells and whistles. Rather, it is on managing projects in a way that is fundamental but not simplistic — that can be scaled-up to the appropriate level of detail. Software is advocated and incorporated only where it offers real benefits.
The Applied Project Management Workshop is designed for immediate and practical results. Case studies are not used (although clear examples are provided). Rather project teams apply the tools and techniques in real time.
To enable customization, workshops are limited to four projects or twelve participants. They are lead by seasoned consultants with successful project management experience.
Scores of businesses have successfully applied these project management tools and techniques. They have told us that the workshop has benefited them significantly in terms of mistakes avoided and time lost. If there are key projects in your business that cannot afford to fail and must get started properly — then the Applied Project Management Workshop will benefit you.
A Proven Approach to Managing Projects
The icons in the diagram below represent our tools. These tools fall into four basic groups or phases.
The goal of Scope is to break a larger initiative down into a prioritized portfolio of smaller projects. These are assigned to project or sub-project managers. To keep project plans manageable, for example, we suggest that teams create a portfolio of smaller project plans rather than a single large plan. When possible, each of these plans should not span more than a quarter of a year or require more than ten pages.
The goal of Define is to clearly articulate objectives, work steps and resource requirements. It is during this phase that a project team develops and refines its value proposition or “sales pitch.” The quality of this value proposition will impact the relative importance of a project versus other projects and the ability of a team to negotiate for resources.
The goal of Plan is to negotiate for resources, schedule them, and choose the way in which implementation will be tracked and reported. In some situations, it makes sense to use sophisticated planning tools to support this phase. More often, it is better to keep things simple. We tailor the workshop to incorporate the level of tools that are appropriate for a specific project.
The final phase, Manage, includes those activities that involve managing and improving a project. The workshop will provide teams with tools for developing contingency plans, systematically making (or helping others make) choices, resolving constraints, resolving people problems, planning communications, and designing structures and standards.
Workshop Objectives
During the workshop, project teams will:
- Systematically develop project plans for real projects
- Develop a common library of tools
- Receive practical and professional hands-on guidance
Workshop Flexibility
The workshop can be customized. Variations in the workshop structure may include:
- The way that the workshop is divided into multiple sessions
- The level of follow-on support provided
- Access to technical experts
- Customization around specific project management software, for example: MS Project, ProChain, Primavera, etc.
- Customization around specific business standards or practices, for example:fast tracking, rapid prototyping, regulatory approval processes, etc.
- Integration with other consulting services such as: strategy formulation; outside-in analysis; strategic benchmarking; business model alignment; competitive cost curve analysis; process design; organizational design; mergers and acquisitions—strategic due diligence.
Example 4-Day Workshop
Before the workshop
One of our consultants will talk with project managers and others to make sure that the project team will be prepared to make real progress on their project. Questions discussed include:
- What will the focus of each team be?
- What is the relative importance of a given project?
- What organizational standards should be incorporated?
- Will all essential team members be present?
- What information does the team have or need?
Typical workshop schedule
A workshop can be broken down into several sessions as needed. Between each session, project teams work on their projects. We prefer no more than two weeks between sessions. In the following example, a first draft plan(s) is developed during session one. This plan is then further refined during session two.
| Session One | Session Two | ||
| Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four |
| Scope and define | Plan and schedule | Critique and improve | |
| Opening Briefing | Plan Negotiations | Opening Briefing | Manage People |
| Scope Projects | Manage Change | ||
| Scope Priorities | Plan Schedules | Manage Communication |
|
| Scope Assignments | Manage Choices | ||
| Lunch | |||
| Define Objectives | Plan Schedules | Manage Choices | Manage Structure |
| Define Work | |||
| Define Requirements |
Plan Reports | Manage Constraints | Present to Management |
At the end of day four, project teams will be asked to present their plans (and other work) to management for immediate feedback. We find that having senior managers acknowledge and review the work that teams have accomplished can significantly improve team commitment, plan quality and team confidence.
After the workshop
A few weeks after the last day of the workshop, we review progress with the teams. We ask questions such as:
- What major issues are facing the team?
- What project management concepts need additional clarification?
- What progress has been made?
In Conclusion
Our approach to project management is designed to respond to today’s rapidly shifting business environment. More that ever, businesses must rely on the effectiveness of project teams to build true competitive advantage.
The power of the Applied Project Management Workshop lies in its immediate and practical application to real projects. It is based on methods and tools that we have successfully put to work for hundreds of teams. Companies that have invested in this workshop have realized returns as high twenty times the cost of the workshop.
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Experience
We have developed state-of-the-art tools and techniques to help businesses formulate strategy and implement critical projects and we've used them with hundreds of businesses — large and small, service and product, for and not-for profit, public and private. Companies that our consultants have worked with include:
AARP - Aegon - Algoma Steel - Armco - Babcock and Wilcox - Basix Corp. - Bradley Intl. - CANAM-MANAC - C.E. Heath - Citigroup - Computer Science Corp. - Corning - Dow Chemical - Equitable - Executive Technique - Federated Investors - First Florida Bankshares - Food Lion - Ford Motor Credit - Free Congress Foundation - General Motors - Glaxo Wellcome - Glidden - Guardian Life Insurance - Hertz - Hewlett-Packard - Hudig Langeveldt - Hydra-co - Hydril - Keystone Financial - Laubach Literacy - Lincoln National Bank - Mass Mutual - Middle South Utilities - Morgan Stanley Dean Witter - Motorola - Niagara-Mohawk - Nippon Kokan - Nomura Research Institute - Ohio Mattress - Oklahoma Gas and Electric - Open Software Foundation - Pacific Life - People’s Bank - Pocono Area Transitional Housing - Quality Castings - Quanterra - Quest Diagnostics - R.R. Donnelley & Sons - Rollins Burndick Hunter - Smith Barney/Sherson - Tau/Tron - The Boston Financial Group - The Depository Trust Co. - The Polystyrene Packaging Council - The Securities Industry Association - TRANSOK - Tremco - Trust Houses Forte - Twenty First Securities - United National Group - Union National Bank - USF&G - USX - UTI-MCC - WLR Foods
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Program Particulars
The Applied Project Workshop is currently offered only as an in-house program and is designed to be delivered to teams working on real projects. During the workshop the participating teams will learn and immediately apply the tools and techniques to their projects. In addition, the nature of the workshop makes it possible to weave effective current business practices into the workshop, helping to ingrain your organization's core beliefs and values.
Fees for the workshop vary based on the number of participants and teams and the degree of customization you may require. To obtain additional information about the workshop and/or discuss your particular needs please contact us.
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