Basics of Project Planning

🎓 Course Title: Basics of Project Planning

🚀 Course Headline: Master the Fundamentals of Effective Project Management! 🛠️

Course Description:

Welcome to the revised and updated version of our "Basics of Project Planning" course for 2019, where we dive into the core principles and practices that form the bedrock of successful project execution. This course is meticulously designed for individuals who are new to the world of projects, yet it's rich enough in content to reaffirm the fundamentals for seasoned project professionals looking to sharpen their skills.

📚 Key Concepts Covered:

• Gantt Charts: Visualize project schedules and deadlines.
• Dependencies: Understand how tasks are interconnected and impact each other.
• Baselines: Establish benchmarks for your project's progress.
• Progress Tracking: Monitor your project's progress against the plan.
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Organize the work in manageable sections.
• Top Down Planning: Approach planning by defining major deliverables.
• Critical Path Analysis: Identify which tasks critically affect the project timeline.

🖥️ Hands-On Learning with Microsoft Project:

Throughout the course, we'll use Microsoft Project as our tool to bring these concepts to life. Although having MS Project installed is not mandatory, it will greatly enhance your learning experience. We'll guide you through each concept, using real-world examples to illustrate how to apply them effectively within MS Project or similar planning tools.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to Project Planning:

   • Understanding the importance of project plans and their role in communication.

2. Gantt Charts Explained:

   • Exploring Henry Gantt's original vision and how modern planning maintains its relevance.

3. Dependencies and Task Interconnections:

   • Learning how to represent the relationships between tasks and their effects on your project timeline.

4. Setting Baselines:

   • Establishing benchmarks for performance measurement, both for time and cost.

5. Tracking Progress:

   • Discovering techniques to monitor and measure the progress of your project against its baseline.

6. Building Your Work Breakdown Structure:

   • Deconstructing large tasks into smaller, more manageable components.

7. Top Down Planning Techniques:

   • Understanding how to approach planning from a high-level perspective, focusing on end products and milestones.

8. Critical Path Analysis:

   • Identifying the sequence of critical tasks that directly affect your project schedule.

9. Practical Application with Example Projects:

   • Applying what you've learned to build a simple example project plan, including resource allocation and cost estimation.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in project planning that can be built upon for more advanced study in project management. You'll leave with the tools and knowledge necessary to create, implement, and track plans within your own projects, ensuring clarity, efficiency, and effectiveness every step of the way.

🔍 Who Should Take This Course?

• Project Managers or aspiring PMs
• Team leaders responsible for project coordination
• Individuals interested in learning the basics of project planning
• Anyone looking to enhance their project management skills with practical, hands-on learning experiences.

Sign up today and embark on your journey to becoming a proficient project planner! 🌟