Course Length: 2 Days                                                                       14 PDUs

Course Description

In today’s dynamically changing business environment projects are initiated under tighter budgetary, resource and time constraints than ever before. This seminar focuses on the core project communications management skills, as presented in the PMBOK® Guide, 4th Edition, that are required to manage a project.  The program will provide the attendees with proven “real life” tools and techniques, and put into context through various exercises and scenarios and case studies.

Target Student:  Students enrolling in this course should be planning to lead a project (primary audience) or serve on a project team (secondary audience).

Prerequisites:  To ensure your success, we recommend you have taken a foundation course in project management or have strong working knowledge or experience in project communication.

Delivery Method:  Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured minds-on and hands-on activities.

Benefits:  Students will learn how to use communications management techniques to plan, organize, control, document, and improve their project communications.

Performance-Based Objectives

Discuss the processes of Project Communications Management and a project manager’s role in it.
Discuss the Identify Stakeholder and Stakeholder Analysis processes.
List and discuss challenges to effective communication and how to deal with these challenges.
Discuss key elements of project management communications and reporting.
List and discuss elements of a Communications Management Plan.
Discuss techniques for distributing project information.
Learn how to Report Performance to track a project’s progress and report on any variances.
Discuss techniques for managing the expectations of project stakeholders.
Discuss project closure activities
Learn effective communication tools and techniques that can be applied to a project environment.

Course Content

1. Introduction
   Session Overview
   Exercise – Project Communication Problems

2. Communication Challenges
   Project Communications Management
   PMBOK® Guide Processes
   Exercise – T-Exercise
   Communication Concerns
   The Dimensions of Communication

3. Identify Stakeholders
   The Triple Constraint
   Stakeholder Analysis
   Exercise – Identify Project Stakeholders
   Identifying Stakeholder Impact and Interests
   Exercise –Stakeholders 2 x 2 Matrix
   Stakeholder Management Strategy

4. Planning Project Communications
   Project Subsidiary Management Plans
   Plan Communications
   Communication Planning Factors
   Communication Channels
   Communication Media
   Project Communication Requirements Analysis
   Project Communications Management Plan Components
   Communication Planning Table
   Exercise – Create a Communications Planning Matrix for a project
   Performance Measurement Baselines
   Calculating Variance

5. Distribute Information
   Information Distribution Tools and Techniques
   Information Distribution Methods
   Exercise – Recommended/Not Recommended practices for communications                                           tools
   Lessons Learned
   Exercise – Determine variances

6. Manage Stakeholder Expectations
   Tools & Techniques
   Management Skills
   Business Writing
   Active Listening
   Presentation Skills
   Meeting Management
   Conferencing SkillsIssues Management
   Issues Management Plans
   Process Flow for Issues Management
   Tools and Best Practices for Issues Management

7. Report Performance
   Earned Value
   Calculating Earned Value
   Using EVMS to Forecast
   Exercise – Earned Value Calculations
   Types of Reports
   Perform Integrated Change Control
   Exercise – Performance Reporting and Corrective Actions

8. Project Closure
   Closing Processes
   Close Project or Phase process
   Discussion – What happens at project closure?
   Contract Closure
   Administrative Closure
   Archive Project Records
   Lessons Learned
   Course Summary
   Course Review
   Appendix – Communication Tools and Techniques

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Communications Management