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* Home
* Courses
* APM PROJECT MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS
Step
1
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)
Step
2
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
Step
3
APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ)
Step
4
Project Management Chartered Standard (ChPP)
* Corporate Solutions
* Our Approach
* Project Management Qualifications: The Definitive Guide 2021 Benefits of
Project Management Training What Is Project Management? Clients &
Testimonials
* Blog
* Contact Us
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
TRAINING THAT DELIVERS
Parallel deliver world-class project management training to both individuals and
groups.
We pride ourselves on our interactive and engaging courses with high pass rates.
We specialise in APM qualifications, but also have extensive experience of
delivering bespoke project management courses for clients in many industries.
Find a course Make an Enquiry Learning Options Case Studies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step
Fundamentals At a Glance Find out more
APM Project
Fundamentals
Qualification (PFQ)
from 325
Find out more
Ideal for those who are new to project management and want to understand the
language and principles of project management.
60
Multiple Choice
Exam questions over a one hour period.
95%
believe that taking an APM qualification will add value to their career.*
Gain a broad understanding of the principles of the profession.
Learn the fundamental principles of project management.
No prior knowledge or experience is required
See Learning Options
Step
Management At a Glance Find out more
APM Project
Management
Qualification (PMQ)
from 850
Find out more
Ideal for those with some project management knowledge and want to further their
knowledge to manage and control projects.
Knowledge based qualification
3
Hour
Exam
10
out of 16
Questions must be answered.
Gain a broad understanding of cost planning.
Learn the fundamental principles and importance of leadership.
Gain knowledge and techniques behind good negotiation.
See Learning Options
Step
Professional At a Glance Find out more
APM Project
Professional
Qualification (PPQ)
from 950
Find out more
For existing project managers who want to progress their career and prospects.
Assesses your capability
3
Hour Exam
with 4 scenario based questions
Must pass
3 core and 1 elective modular exam
Learn the importance of professionalism and managing others
Learn the fundamentals of governance in project management
Gain a thorough understanding of project planning and control
See Learning Options
Step
Chartered At a Glance Find out more
Project Management
Chartered
Standard (ChPP)
Contact Us
for prices
Find out more
The APM ChPP credential is the most advanced project management accreditation
available.
Track Record
of delivering projects, programmes, portfolios etc
Knowledge
of current project methods and practices
Actively Involved
in the project management profession
Stand out in the job market with an enhanced CV
Increased understanding to help you work more effectively
Assurance for clients of high standards and ethical practice
See Learning Options
BUILDING PROFESSIONAL PROJECT MANAGERS
Parallel Project Training has a proven capability to make a real difference to
the successful delivery of projects in organisations. You can read some of our
client case studies with the National Trust, Network Rail, Arcadis, IFS and
Turner and Townsend on our case studies page. We have a number of approaches
that we can use help you and your organisation with project management. These
range from helping you understand the competencies of your best project
managers, developing a project methodology which fits with your organisational
culture to delivering highly tailored or certification training courses.
OUR VALUES
Professional
We are professional with experience applying project management in many sectors.
Personal
We offer our clients a personal service, with consultants who will fully
understand your business needs.
Flexible
We can deliver flexible training options including virtual classroom, distance
learning and virtual learning.
Interactive
We strive to deliver interactive training with breakout groups whether
face-to-face or online.
Practitioners
It’s not just the theory of project management but practical hints and tips that
you can apply in practice.
Adaptable
We can adapt our programmes to fit your culture, language organisation and
approach.
Find the right course for you
OUR LEARNING OPTIONS
Open training events Virtual Classroom
Our wide range of public project management training courses get fantastic
feedback and excellent exam passrates.
Find a course
Flexible solutions Distance Learning
Study at your own pace & timescale with our APM project management distance
learning packages from £300 plus VAT.
Find a course
We come to you Corporate Solutions
We have more than 15 years’ experience delivering off-the-shelf & bespoke
training courses on client premises.
Contact Us
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* So far I have had a great experience with Parallel Project Training.
Michelle trained myself and my colleagues for the PMQ exam and it was an
amazing experience. Michelle is very positive and breaks the content down so
it is all more easy to understand than reading only from the textbook.
Michelle asked immediately at the end of the first day and following days for
any feedback which she took it upon herself to incorporate the feedback into
the following days training us, rather than asking for feedback only at the
end. Michelle also taught us how to structure our answers for the exams and I
think this tool has helped everyone out. This is a testament to the kind of
teacher she is and shows how much she cares for everyone involved. Thank you
Michelle!
Christian Pabis
26th November 2019
Very professional from booking through to the course. I received my text
book promptly and the online videos and podcasts provided a fantastic base to
start training from. Our trainer, Adrian Wilson was brilliant and checked our
understanding throughout! I will definitely be using Parallel again.
Emma Fuller
23rd October 2019
* APM Project Management course, was a fantastic introduction to project
management, perfect for people who may do a little project management or none
at all and would like to learn more. The course was very well ran and
engaging with excellent interactive sessions and group work to help the
learning process. Paul is an excellent trainer, drawing on his own
experiences to explain how project management and the process work in an easy
and informative way. 5 Star!!
Marie Kenny
3rd October 2019
Excellent course with great delivery. Very supportive with varied delivery
that ensures steady pace in progress.
David Raymond
28th November 2019
* It has been a unique experience being part of this training course. Highly
recommended!
Tamara Guerra
4th November 2019
Would definitely recommend Parallel Project Training for project management
courses. I recently completed the APM PFQ course that was expertly taught by
Adrian Wilson. He was an engaging and knowledgeable trainer who made the 2
days a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience. The course content (both in
class and via online podcasts and resources) was very comprehensive and as a
result I felt very confident with my new knowledge when it came to taking the
exam. I came away with enthusiasm to put new skills into practice as I pursue
a career in project management and look forward to taking further courses
with Parallel in the future.
Anna Thompson
18th January 2020
* Parallel held a great training session for my 1 day APM PMQ retake exam. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time with this service provider. Would recommend them
to any professional within the profession!
Declan Antonio Bissick
3rd February 2020
The study guide and podcasts were excellent. Paul Naybour’s words of
wisdom, giving helpful feedback throughout the distance learning and at the
final exam preparation session, proved invaluable. In particular, providing
feedback on the level of relevant detail required in exam answers was
extremely useful. It is definitely worth going through the typical exam
questions, which are found throughout the study guide, a number of times.
Thank you Paul and team!
A Buck
11th February 2020
* Adrian did an excellent job explaining the concepts of project management
and preparing everyone for the exam.
W Idowu
19th February 2020
Informative, learning was well designed and managed, and delivered at a
good pace. The instructor was personable and engaging and helped explain
concepts very well. Online learning was very engaging, use of quizzes and
interaction very good, plus extra resources like moodle videos also really
beneficial.
Mandy Jandrell
12th May 2020
* I like Parallel, I’ve used online training for PFQ and PMQ exams. They are
supportive. The training is actually happening online or classroom. I enjoy
the fact that they respond to emails and work with their students.
Anna J
30th April 2020
I’ve only recently started the distance learning course. I’m enjoying
listening to the podcasts and tuition. Thank you all.
Helen May
29th April 2020
* I recently passed the APM PMQ after attending a week long training course
provided by Parallel Project Training. The course context and delivery were
excellent under the tutelage of Jan Underdown. The podcasts and videos that
were available from Parallel prior to the course were the perfect preparation
to complement the coursework. I would have no hesitation in highly
recommending Parallel Project Training to any interested party.
JOHN LALLY
13th May 2020
I completed the APM PFQ course and exam by distance learning at the end of
February. The study materials are easy to follow and understand. I used the
booked and all the online content. Passing the exam has secured me a position
as a project engineer. I recommend Parallel Project training.
Angela Rogers
15th May 2020
* I like Parallel, I’ve used online training for PFQ and PMQ exams. They are
supportive. The training is actually happening online or classroom. I enjoy
the fact that they respond to emails and work with their students. Overall, I
felt in good hands
Anna J
20th May 2020
I have recently completed the APM PMQ using the online self-study option
and the exam prep-morning with Paul. The learning materials (online, podcasts
and the study guide) were well written and contained all the information that
I needed to pass the exam with a good mark. The exam preparation morning was
particularly useful for consolidating my learning and getting my exam answer
technique dialled before sitting the exam in the afternoon. Parallel were
also fast to respond to any questions that I had throughout my learning. The
change from BoK6 to BoK7 occurred during my studies and my options were
clearly explained to allow me to decide which exam to sit. I would highly
recommend Parallel to anyone looking to obtain an APM qualification, whether
you chose to attend a taught course or self-study like myself.
Matt Brett
11th June 2020
* Very helpful. Gave me some very useful tips when no one else did which
allowed me to pass my exam. Thank you
Sophie Berryman
29th June 2020
I would strongly recommend Parallel Project Training to anyone looking for
training for the APM Project Management Qualification. I enrolled on their
online PMQ training event in June 2020, and consider it a very worthwhile
investment of my time and money
Anthony McCabe
9th July 2020
* The ChPP course really helped make sense of the whole process and was
instrumental to my successful Chartership application. Great instructors with
a wealth of Project Management experience.
Rob Grey
7th August 2020
I would like to thank the Parallel, in particular John Bolton (I’m sorry I
can’t remember the name of your sidekick) for helping me through the whole
process. Very professional, explained everything clearly and provided
excellent support and a good sounding board.
John Edge
6th August 2020
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See all Case Studies
TRAINING FOR EXISTING PROJECT MANAGERS:
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
Training and professional development will improve existing project management
skills and capabilities for all delegates. Our APM courses will help delegates
gain a better understanding of PM terminology and improve their ability to use a
common language when discussing projects. This contributes to better project
outcomes because project requirements become clearer and success criteria are
better defined and understood. Stakeholder and customer expectations are aligned
with the project manger’s understanding of what is required.
OUR PM TRAINING HELPS TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE:
* Communication with Stakeholders, Customers and Team Members
* Project Planning
* Leadership Skills
* Dealing with Complex Change
* Conflict Resolution
Our training will help formalise topics, processes and procedures that may
already be in use in an organisation. But they put them into a real-world
context through the use of meaningful case studies. A project professional will
learn new theory or learn to put theory they already know into effective
practice. They learn how to capitalise on the project team members available in
order to deliver projects more successfully. By implementing PM theory
constructively an organisation is better able to more reliably and consistently
deliver successful outcomes.
TRAINING FOR NEW PROJECT MANAGERS:
LEARN NEW SKILLS
Whilst our APM project management courses will improve the existing skills of
those attending, the main aim is to ensure all delegates learn new skills to
help them better perform their role. Feedback from all of our Association for
Project Management courses shows that the vast majority of delegates do, indeed,
learn new skills. Parallel Project Management Training uses active learning
techniques to develop the necessary skills and knowledge, but also to develop
the behaviours and attitudes that underpin these essential capabilities.
TYPICAL NEW SKILLS LEARNT INCLUDED:
* Proactive management of risks
* Pert charts
* Budgeting techniques for projects
* Understanding the procurement process
* Earned Value Management
Traditionally project managers would have gained experience on-the-job which
often meant by trial and error. However, this approach leads to wasted time,
effort and money. There is also a hidden cost to learning through trial and
error because when things go wrong it can adversely affect customer satisfaction
and the professional reputation of an organisation. PM accreditation avoids all
of these risks and will fast track team members at every level to be able to
deliver successful projects without wasting resources and without risking
reputational damage.
IMPACT OF TRAINING
Professionals across the globe have discovered that APM project management
training can increase their success as professional project managers (PM). All
project phases are vital to a successful project completion, requiring PMs to be
effective planners, executers, and monitors. In order to decrease the risk of
deadline failures and to make managing projects easier, individuals should
contemplate undertaking professional training from the Association for Project
Management, allowing them to polish their management skills and enhance overall
business productivity.
Read more …
Lack of training is becoming commonplace in today’s industry, especially when
companies are searching for ways to increase revenue and decrease costs. Because
companies place an immense amount of resources into projects, PMs should hold
the necessary skill-set to improve the project’s success rate. Undertaking the
right course of study will not only prepare managers for various challenges that
may arise but will also make them better project managers.
1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION ENCOURAGES SKILL AUGMENTATION.
The foremost benefit of APM accreditation is skill augmentation, which helps
those managing projects to learn how to effectively schedule projects, analyse
business data, budget projects, and hone communication skills. These skills have
a direct impact on the PM, organisation, clients, and stakeholders. The APM PMQ
qualification is also suitable for PRINCE2 Practitioners holding a PRINCE2
certification who require knowledge of other project management tools and
techniques in order to acquire a more comprehensive project management skill
set.
PMs will be able to sharpen any existing skills and learn new ones that can have
a positive impact on their ability to motivate team members and communicate with
all levels of the company. Individuals who have gained project management
accreditation will be able to hone their existing skills and learn new ones in:
* Active risk management
* Pert charts
* Costing
* Project planning, implementation, and monitoring
* Project scheduling
* Earned Value Management systems
* Procurement process
2. LEARN TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER.
When attending PM training, individuals will learn from highly experienced
professionals, encouraging a positive change in leadership behaviour through the
sharing of experiences and views from various backgrounds. These classes will
teach PMs the necessary behavioural changes, such as decisiveness and leadership
qualities, to help them become more self-dependent in the workforce. With
self-dependence comes self-confidence, which increases the project manager’s
ability to delegate tasks to the appropriate employees and make tough decisions
in a timely manner.
3. INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF GROWTH IN THE COMPANY.
Due to the fact that trained employees know how to visualise market trends,
relevant training helps PMs understand the current market trends in their
industry, ensuring a smooth workflow. This helps project managers make the right
decisions when challenges arise and budget the necessary funds to the
appropriate tasks. Those who prove themselves proficient in the workplace will
increase their chances of earning a raise or promotion and be set on a
successful career path.
4. PROMOTING A COMMON LANGUAGE.
Professional APM training reinforces the PM’s ability and understanding in
utilising a common language for project management discussions, allowing them to
better communicate and capture each project’s requirements and success criteria.
It enables professionals to ascertain a concise consensus on successful projects
from stakeholders, clientele, and the project manager. One major benefit of
training is that the topics covered effectively formalise already understood
topics, utilising real world examples to improve the project manager’s overall
management skills.
SUCCESS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Managers who do not have prior experience in a technical role can utilise
professional PM training to learn about the core facets of project managing,
providing them with the tools needed to make the project run smoothly. From
proper organisation techniques to effective leadership skills, project managers
learn how to stay focused throughout the duration of the project. Key aspects
that PMs should learn about include:
* Planning: Using the latest techniques, software, issues, and tools to plan a
successful project and delegate the tasks to the appropriate team members.
* Budgeting: Sticking to the client’s designated budget is essential to
satisfying the customer. Budgeting expertise will help PMs stick to the
budget and allot the appropriate funds to the right locations.
* Negotiating with Customers: Customers need to feel like they are important.
When managing customer projects you need to be able to communicate and build
successful client relationships, increasing the chances of client cooperation
to get the job done in a timely manner.
* Lending a Team: If another project is taking place with its deadline looming
in the distance, people need to be able to make the tough decision to
delegate their team members to the other project to get it completed within
the designated time frame.
* Managing Contracts: Break down the contract and delegate the work to make
sure the contract is completed to scope and within budget.
* Reporting: With the proper training, people are able to document the progress
of their team toward project completion, informing stakeholders and upper
executives through data reports.
* Managing Risks: Project professionals can take into account the potential
risks that may arise throughout the project duration, allowing them to manage
risks more effectively and minimize challenges before they occur.
The courses that a project manager takes are just as important as where the
training takes place. For individuals seeking to take their training with a
premier company in a fun and exciting city, Parallel Project Training offers
excellent training opportunities in both London and Reading in the United
Kingdom. Our research on the benefits of project management training shows that
almost 90% of project managers who attended our training believed their
organisation has benefited from the new knowledge and skills they learned. Those
who wish to take their careers to the next level should strongly consider PM
training with Parallel Project Training.
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Find the right course for you
BENEFITS OF PARALLEL PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING
Increased Efficiency
A project management professional can better determine the requirements of a
project and hence make best use of the available resources. Scope, schedule and
budget are then correctly understood from the beginning.
Effective Risk Management
The ability to identify potential risks and manage those risks in the most
efficient way improves a project manager’s ability to manage projects to a
successful outcome.
Consistent Project Delivery
When project managers understand risk and how to manage projects effectively
organisations can avoid wasting time, effort and money.
Higher Levels of Customer Satisfaction
When projects are delivered consistently and reliably then customers receive
what they expected at the time they expected and within budget; resulting in
satisfied customers.
Find the right course for you
READ OUR EXPERT TIPS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS:
How to Avoid Scope Creep
Change happens, and this is never truer than on a project when the smallest
thing can go wrong and require adjustments to be made. It is these incidents
which, if not handled properly, can lead to scope creep and cause headaches for
the project manager, regardless of their skills and experience. This is why
managing scope is such an important part of all project management courses. and
gaining accreditation such as a project management APM certification.
Let’s take a look at what a project management professional should be doing
right now to avoid scope creep.
WHAT IS SCOPE CREEP?
First, we need to make sure we know exactly what we are dealing with. Scope
creep is when the requirements, visions or goals of the project grow beyond any
original agreement that was made. When this happens, there is no longer such a
clear definition to the final outcome of a project or what a successful project
will look like, and the responsibilities involved can become a little fuzzy.
This can either occur when many seemingly minor changes are added bit by bit to
the project or one major change is added to the original brief.
CAN SCOPE CREEP BE A GOOD THING?
It is not the changes themselves that are the issue but the way in which they
need to be dealt with. These new concepts need to be worked into your project
plan, fitting in around other aspects and potentially moving timeframes around.
This has the potential to disrupt your end goal, particularly in terms of any
agreed deadlines. The later these requests are made, the more likely they are to
result in work needing to be redone to accommodate them with can lead to
frustration and failure to meet deadlines or deliver what is required..
Scope creep is bad for the project and can be bad for the morale of the whole
team, so it is vital to keep on top of it and prevent it from getting out of
hand. Here are some of the steps you can take:
HOW DO I FIX SCOPE CREEP?
KNOW YOUR GOALS
One of the first things to remember is that in order to keep your project in
scope, you need to know exactly what your project goals are. When you know what
your goal is, you can make more accurate assessments about the timeframes and
budgets involved.
DOCUMENTATION
One of the best things an effective project management professional can do is
learn how to properly set out the requirements of a project. This means,
budgets, timelines and any expectations or responsibilities that there should be
for stakeholders and team members. Talking about them is good, but you should
make sure they are documented correctly as well.
There is plenty of good project management software out there that you can use
to help make this task a much more efficient and easy to follow process.
USE YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Having written out your project plan, you can use the same project management
software to help you keep on top of the project. You can use it for
communication, keeping everything accessible, it can help you keep on schedule
and should a problem arise help you see where you might be able to divert
resources in order to be able to cope with the unexpected.
CHANGE CONTROL PROCESS
Of course, all the suggestions so far look at ways of avoiding scope creep.
However, it is unlikely you will never have to deal with it.
Projects can run for weeks or even months, so it is highly unlikely that you
won’t encounter some changes to your original plan. This is when having the
right change control process in place can be vitally important. It will give you
the chance to review and approve any reasonable changes. Your change control
process offers you a workflow for making sure changes are properly laid out,
reviewed and approved before further work begins.
HAVE A CLEAR SCHEDULE
If you want to stick to the scope of your project and avoid scope creep, then
task and time management are very important. It is, of course, easy to lose
track of where you are up to with tasks, which is why you need to be able to see
them broken down and scheduled properly.
If you want to avoid scope creep, then communication is key and is best done on
a regular basis. This could be done as stand-up meetings or daily scrums; it
doesn’t need to be a long catch up just make it a regular thing.
COMMUNICATION
Communication really is the most important tool you have in your arsenal as a
project manager, whether you are communicating with the rest of your team or
with stakeholders how you do it can make all the difference. If you want to
ensure that you are in control of the scope of your project, then you also need
to learn how to speak to your stakeholders because sometimes in order to avoid
scope creep you may need to say no and saying no to people who are in power is
not an easy thing.
PROTECT AGAINST “GOLD PLATING.”
Scope creep isn’t something that is always imposed on us. Gold plating is what
occurs when an individual works on a task or product beyond the stage of
diminishing returns – for example even when you have hit your brief you keep
going in case you can add more value to it. This is risky and has the potential
to miss the mark completely. Continuing to use up more time on this already
finished project does not guarantee that you will end up with a better outcome.
Ensure that the whole team understand what success is in terms of your project,
set your goals and stick to them. Sometimes scope creep can occur, but there are
certainly things you can do to avoid it where possible.
Find the right course for you
Project Procurement Process
Project procurement is just one aspect of your project, but as you will learn on
all project management courses (for all types of project management
certification) it is a very important one.
WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCUREMENT?
When it comes to project management, procurement is when you are required to
rent, purchase or contract with an external source in order to meet the goals of
your project. Just like any other process within your project, these processes
need careful management.
In order to manage procurement, you need to ensure that you get the best quality
possible from any external vendors that the company employs considering any
constraints on time and cost that may exist. Procurement management is a way in
which you can handle the process of requisitioning, ordering, sourcing,
inspecting, expediting and reconciliating procurement more efficiently.
THE PROCESS
During the planning stage of any project, you will identify your procurements.
You will need a statement of work (SOW) for every external contractor that you
use; this is a document that outlines the work being undertaken. Before this,
you will need a request for proposal during which several contractors will be
able to bid on the job and this will allow you to determine who will receive the
contact.
It is really important to ensure that you are comparing like for like completely
when looking at different bids, and not simply going for the cheapest bid, as
this may not give you everything you could get from another contractor. There
are techniques and tools that can help you to deal with this decision. When it
comes to asking for bids it is a good idea to cast the net as wide as possible,
whilst you may already have some contractors in mind who you might ask to bid
advertising can be a useful way of soliciting further bids.
Once you have completed any paperwork linked to the first stage of your
procurement process and selected the bid that works best for your project you
will need to sign agreements and update your project plan.
It is really important to keep on top of things once you have agreed a contract.
CONTROL THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS
When it comes to schedules and budgets, contractors can have a negative impact,
this can result in a project going off track at the very least, so it is
important to ensure that contractors are included into your overall
responsibilities as a manager.
Regular status updates are vital in order to check contractor agreements, review
performance of work and to ensure that the requirements outlined in any
contracts held are being met. Whilst it is expected that the contractors you
have hired will be experts in their own field you should still expect to track
and monitor their work in order to ensure that it is going as planned. It can be
a good idea to have regular reviews of procurement performance, with audits and
inspections to ensure that work is proceeding as it should be. This will allow
you to keep managers informed as well.
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Negotiating with Reluctant Stakeholders
Negotiating can be one of the more challenging aspects of being a project
manager, and the trickiest of all negotiations will take place with a reluctant
stakeholder. This is why learning negotiation skills is such an important part
of all project management courses. and gaining accreditation such as a project
management APM certification.
Whether your stakeholder is a group, an organisation or an individual they will
be impacted by the outcome of the project you are working on. Of course, they
may have a huge interest in the success of the project, but they can also have a
negative influence on the project. Such as when a project has been imposed on
individuals or whole departments and they are reluctant to change. When there
are multiple people involved in the project, whether they are there from
inception or join part way through, a good project manager will need to learn
how to manage each of them, even those who do not form a direct part of the
project team. When it comes to stakeholders you need them on your side because
otherwise they can hinder a project at every turn.
USING THE RIGHT TECHNIQUES
When it comes to dealing with your stakeholders it is really important to ensure
that they are kept in the loop, this will ensure that they feel connected to the
project, and more importantly that they are less likely to feel the need to get
involved in every detail of the project. So, treat them like anything else that
is on your task list and prioritise them. Stakeholders who feel like they are
being included are more likely to trust your decision making, allowing you to
get on with the project.
COMMUNICATION
One of your most important project management skills is that of communication,
which is why it is such an important part of all project management courses.
When it comes to your stakeholders it is important to ensure that communication
does not just take the form of verbal communication. It can be a good idea to
put things in writing so that you both remember what has been agreed. This is
particularly important if your stakeholder is involved in multiple projects as
it is easy to get confused over which decisions have been made for each project.
Having things written down will give a proper record of what has been decided
and will ensure that there are no disagreements later on helping you with your
negotiations.
BE TACTFUL
Sometimes there may be a valid reason for a conflict you have with your
reluctant stakeholder. Do not just sweep this under the carpet, you still need
to achieve a successful outcome for your project whilst meeting the quality that
your stakeholder expects. If what they are suggesting is not in the best
interests of the project, then it is important that you address this but
remember whilst honesty is important it is also necessary to be tactful. Your
stakeholder will not want to hear that they are wrong, it is better to make an
alternative suggestion that will work rather than simply taking away the option
they have suggested.
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Crisis Risk Management
If there is one way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has tested project
professionals then it is almost certain that some of them are managing risks.
Whilst this may vary from one region to another, and indeed one industry to
another those project management skills are almost certainly being tested to the
limit.
There are six principles relating to crisis management that can be useful.
BE CLEAR ON YOUR PRIORITIES
The first thing that you need to do is take a good look at the crisis that you
are facing; there is a good chance that you will not be able to tackle the
entire issue in one go. Break it down into sections; you need to consider the
health and safety of your employees, continuation of your operation and also
continuing any service that you offer to customers. Consider how you will tackle
each of these issues and make sure you have your priorities clearly set out.
PUT A TEAM TOGETHER
When it comes to monitoring any crisis risk management, it is important to make
sure that you have people overseeing everything. Put together a small team who
will be able to meet on a regular basis in order to monitor the situation. This
will allow them to adjust the responses that you need to make to the crisis
depending on how things are going. Communication within this small team, as well
as with other employees on a wider scale is essential to dealing with any
crisis. Choosing people with different skills will give you a diverse team who
will be able to tackle a wide range of problems.
CONSIDER AN APPROACH THAT EVOLVES
When it comes to tackling those critical decisions you may need to adjust your
approach from one decision to the next, this is rarely a one solution fits all
type of situation As a project manager it is important to check in with your
team on a regular basis to ensure that they know they have your support at all
times.
MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON
Whilst you might only have a small team assisting with the crisis, it is
important to let the whole organisation know what is going on. Rumours can
spread easily within an organisation, and it is all too easy for people to panic
and assume the worst. You don’t need to mention all the details to everyone, but
letting them know there is an issue and that it is being worked on can go a long
way towards putting people’s fears to rest.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Once you have put the basic structures in place, got your small team together
and communicated with everyone, you need to think about the future. This might
mean thinking of ways to do things that you wouldn’t normally use.
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON
Sometimes even the best project manager can feel the strain of dealing with a
crisis. Understanding exactly what is going on all the time and how to deal with
the unforeseen issues that might arise is difficult. If you are feeling the
strain of the situation, then you may find a project manager course to help
brush up on your skills could really help.
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Project Reporting
Project reporting can be time-consuming, but with the right tools and methods it
doesn’t need to be. It doesn’t matter what project management tools you are
using, you need to make sure that you are using ones that have the ability to
report project data easily as well as being able to easily share the information
with all relevant parties.
It is essential to have access to accurate and up-to-date project reports so
that you can show the current project status, how a project is progressing and
offer a clear and up to date picture to all of the people who are involved. Here
are just a few reporting tips for any project.
FOCUS ON PRODUCING PROJECT DATA THAT IS HIGH QUALITY
Whatever project you are working on, regardless of the industry, you may have
people who are updating the project details and others looking for updates at
similar times. As a project manager it is essential that you make sure that
essential data is being entered correctly and as soon as possible by everyone.
Make sure that all your team members understand how to use whatever software you
have as effectively as possible, if they don’t know how to use it then they
won’t be able to update it properly and the quality of the data won’t be good
enough.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Every project is different, every project team is different and or course every
stakeholder is different, so you need to make sure that you are using the right
project reporting for your audience. For some audiences, this might mean using
simple reports, for others you might need to supply information in much more
detail.
So, make sure you know your audience and tailor your reporting accordingly,
using more flexible software that covers a range of options should make your
reporting much more manageable.
AUTOMATED REMINDERS
In an ideal world, everyone in your team would be making sure to check in
regularly and see what updates there were on the project and what things they
needed to do next. But this doesn’t always happen, and when it doesn’t, you need
to make sure that you have processes in place.
Automatic notifications and alerts may seem a bit basic, but they do work, and
people do take notice of them so make sure that you set them up. They will also
assist you in making sure that there is no information, no task that falls
through the cracks and is missed.
You can even set your system up so that at the end of the week each member of
the project team receives an update letting them know what has been achieved.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately the key to effective reporting is to choose a reporting system that
works for you and your team, ensure that everyone knows exactly how to use it to
get the most from it and that it is actually used for its purpose. This will
help take the hassle out of your reporting processes and ensure everyone
involved receives the right information at the right time.
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