Course description

Projects are complex temporary endeavors; however, a schedule model that contains logically related work allows the project to be simplified into manageable phases or groupings of activities. These phases or groupings allow management to optimize the trade-offs between scope, cost, and schedule. 
Project performance is reported and monitored when progress against these activities and milestones is recorded within the schedule model. 
As progress is recorded on a project, the remaining effort as defined in the approved baseline, requires reassessment. 
The execution of a project often proceeds differently than the initial plan and baseline. In a typical project environment, it becomes necessary to refine the schedule model because of a) incomplete or inadequate planning, b) further decomposition of the project scope, c) significant project changes, d) organizational changes, e) environmental changes. This iterative evolution is required to predict, recognize, and address those evolving factors and issues that could potentially affect project performance. 
Schedules are a fundamental element of project management yet half of all projects — 50 percent — are not completed within the initially scheduled timeframe according to PMI’s 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. 
Projects and teams today are increasingly global and virtual, and project schedules are key to managing activities, resources, dependencies and ultimately, project outcomes. The PMI-SP® will recognize your knowledge and skill to drive the improved management of project schedules.

Course Approach: 
This course is highly interactive aiming to share knowledge and experience that will bolster the scheduling knowledge and in turn, boost participants’ scheduling skills. A wealth of material, videos, exercises, case studies, Q&A, a mock exam, and demonstrative examples will equip participants with the necessary knowledge to excel in their scheduling roles and pass the PMI-SP® exam.

Exam Structure:

  • The PSP examination consists of four parts
    • Part I: Is Basic Knowledge and questions the basics of planning and scheduling. ***It consists of MCQ concerning the basics of planning and scheduling. (40 questions)
    • Part II: Is real-time Communications Exercise and requires the candidate to draft the equivalent of a one-page typewritten memorandum to simulate reporting on planning and scheduling
    • Analysis to the project manager, explaining the issues and proposing a solution regarding a given problem.
    • Part III: Is a Practical Exercise and entails answering a series of questions concerning various aspects of a single problem.
    • Part IV: Is a Planning and Scheduling Applications and questions planning and scheduling scenarios.
  • Exam Duration: 5 HOURS –120 QUESTIONS

Audience

  • Project Managers, Program Managers.
  • Planners and Engineers how are or will be involved in planning and managing projects where schedule.
  • Cost and Performance of projects must meet rigid requirements in the areas of engineering productions.
  • Data Processing.
  • Research and Development.
  • Construction.
  • Corporate planning, finance and Marketing.

Prerequisites

The following are pre-requisites to take the PMI-PBA exam, but not a must to take the course: 

  • Secondary degree
  • 36 months of project scheduling experience within the last 5 years 

OR 

  • Four-year degree 
  • 24 months of project scheduling experience within the last 5 years 

Knowledge of the PMBOK® 6th edition is preferable. 

Course content

  • Introduction to Scheduling and PMI
  • Introduction to scheduling
  • Introduction to Project management institute
  • Introduction to the Project management body of knowledge 6th® and 7th® editions
  • Introduction to THE PRACTICE STANDARD FOR SCHEDULING THIRD EDITION®
  • Introduction to the PMI-SP® exam format, requirements, and domains
  • Understanding project management fundamentals 
  • Identify Project Management Basics 
  • Examine Organizational Influences on Project Management 
  • Examine the Project Management Context 
  • Identifying project management processes 
  • Examine the Project Life Cycle 
  • Recognize Process Groups 
  • Describing project initiation 
  • Describe Project Selection Methods and Processes 
  • Create a Project SOW 
  • Create a Project Charter 
  • Describe the Elements of a Project Management Plan 
  • Create a Scope Statement 
  • Identify Enterprise Environmental Factors 
  • Exercise: Build a project scope statement
  • Preparing to build a schedule 
  • Identify Scheduling Process Fundamentals 
  • Examine Schedule Inputs 
  • Explore WBS Creation 
  • Perform a WBS Quality Check 
  • Exercise: Introduction to Primavera P6
  • Exercise: Using P6 to build a project WBS
  • Defining activities
  • Explore Activity Definition
  • Create a Milestone List
  • Create an Activity List
  • Identify Activity Attributes
  • Exercise: Define and enter project activities in P6
  • Sequencing activities 
  • Describe the Process of Sequencing Project Activities 
  • Determine Activity Dependencies and Relationships 
  • Apply Lag and Lead in Activity Sequence 
  • Create a Schedule Network Diagram 
  • Exercise: Sequence project activities in P6
  • Estimating activity resources 
  • Identify Activity Resources 
  • Determine Activity Resource Requirements 
  • Create a Resource Breakdown Structure 
  • Exercise: Define and enter project resources in P6
  • Estimating activity duration 
  • Identify Activity Duration 
  • Determine Activity Duration 
  • Exercise: Estimate and enter duration estimates in P6
  • Developing a schedule 
  • Describe the Process of Developing a Project Schedule 
  • Draft a Project Schedule 
  • Identify the Critical Path 
  • Optimize the Project Schedule 
  • Establish a Schedule Baseline 
  • Create Schedule Data 
  • Exercise: Finalize and baseline project schedule in P6
  • Monitoring and controlling schedules 
  • Explore the Control Schedule Process 
  • Utilize an Integrated Change Control System 
  • Communicate the Project Status 
  • Monitor the Schedule 
  • Calculate Schedule Efficiency 
  • Exercise: Using P6 for schedule control
  • Managing risks and behavior in scheduling 
  • Define the Concept of Risk 
  • Overcome Risks in Scheduling 
  • Describe Human Behavior in Project Scheduling 
  • Exercise: Introducing risk management in P6
  • Cost and Earned Value 
  • Project cost management 
  • Estimating 
  • Earned Value 
  • Exercise: EVM in P6
  • Communication & stakeholders 
  • Communication Theory 
  • Stakeholders 
  • Exercise: Build a communication plan and integrate it to the P6 project schedule
  • Advanced Scheduling 
  • Schedule Assessment 
  • Schedule Components 
  • Exercise: Assess our own schedules and learn the improvement opportunities
  • Revision 
  • Practice Mock Exam 
  • Final Thoughts and Further Readings 

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