1. Intro to the Project Management Course
Background to Project Management. What is a project? Why do we need to plan? Common Mistakes. Leadership and structure within the Project. Stakeholder interaction

2. Start Planning and don’t stop until the project is over
Bounding the Goal of the Project – Objectives, stakeholders, constraints, assumptions. Determining the SUCCESS criterion. Visualising the goal. Three factors that can be varied to suit your project

3. Objectives and Deliverables
Main Phases and the WBS – work breakdown structure. What is it and how to build one based on the Objectives

4. Detailed task list
The Granularity required for a successful project. Estimation and Informed guesswork. This is one of several passes through the plan. Checklists and catch-alls (Tollgates)

5. Staffing your project
Who does what and when? What kind of staff do you have? How to get the best out of them. What to do with troublesome colleagues

6. Contingency – you need it no matter what anyone says
Margin for Error. Types of Contingency. What to do if it all goes wrong

7. Communicating the plan and managing the expectations
Be visible and be brave. Telling the truth and staying “on message”. Giving the Kick-off presentation. Broadcasting your message and making sure everyone is on the same page

8. Your daily and weekly routine as a Project Manager
How often to re-plan? How to deal with the unexpected, and how to run meetings

9. Reporting and change management
Be real, be ruthless and be upfront. Need to know and sins of omission. The status report

10. The Post Mortem
Who should be there and when should it be done. What went right. What went wrong.
Lessons Learned and what you can bring with you on your next project

This Project Management course is assessed by a Professional Development Project (PDP). The learning philosophy underpinning this form of assessment is that students learn best from applying the concepts, models etc, they have covered in the classroom and in their directed reading to a practical organisational setting.

In doing this, students develop a greater knowledge and understanding of innovation and design thinking and of how it can be applied in a practical context. The objective of your Professional Development Project is to provide a platform in job interviews and your Performance Reviews at work to demonstrate your aspirations and worth to your organisation.

A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding the Diploma.

The assignment/project must be handed in on the due date unless a sound reason for lateness is provided. In such instances, an extension may be awarded at the discretion of the lecturer.

A City College Dublin’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.

City College Dublin Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.

In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City Colleges Dublin can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact Kevin.Coyne@citygroup.ie for further details.