Project Schedule Control (PMBOK 2000)

Overview/Description
 Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to see the future? Some obstacles might be avoided! Unfortunately, for most, this is just wishful thinking. Instead, they must depend on good project management practices to see them through to a successful project completion. Good project management involves considering a number of aspects. Project schedule development is one of the core planning processes involved in overall project plan development. Discrepancies between the project's planned and actual performance are inevitable. No matter how proficient a project manager is, it is almost certain that the project will not go according to the plan. Therefore, in order to prevent total chaos from occurring, a process for continual control and monitoring must be implemented from the outset of the project. This system will not only measure current performance status but it can also be used to forecast potential problems. How variances are regulated can mean the difference between the success and failure of the project. In this course, you will learn the major reasons for implementing control processes as well as the steps taken to ensure a successful outcome. You will be introduced to factors that influence schedule changes and learn how to control and modify these factors. You will also learn how to manage changes with minimal disruption to your project. Remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! This course is aligned with "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK ® Guide) 2000 Edition, published by the Project Management Institute (PMI ®).

Target Audience
 This series is targeted specifically for project managers, project team members, functional managers with employees assigned to project teams, project stakeholders, any team manager or member interested in project management, executives committed to their organization's growth, managers required to take on new challenges, and top managers with vision.

Expected Duration
3.0 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Inputs to Schedule Control

  • recognize the benefits of implementing a schedule control process
  • identify the various methods of displaying project schedule data, given examples.
  • determine the critical path, given a chart or schedule.
  • distinguish between the various performance reporting formats used in the examples presented.
  • identify examples of performance report methods.
  • distinguish between the various methods of requesting change, presented with a business-based scenario.
  • determine the most effective method for managing a schedule variance, then determine the appropriate step to take, given a schedule management plan.

    • Tools and Techniques for Schedule Control

  • recognize the importance of utilizing the tools and techniques for schedule control.
  • employ the steps involved in implementing a schedule change control system.
  • match performance measurement techniques to their specific uses.
  • decide on the best computerized tool to use for a given situation.
  • calculate the cost and schedule variance to determine the best performing activity in a given project.

    • Outputs from Schedule Control

  • identify the importance of the outputs from schedule control.
  • determine whether a schedule update is necessary for a given scenario.
  • employ the most appropriate form of corrective action for schedule control, when presented with a business-based scenario.
  • apply the appropriate procedures for lessons learned, in a given scenario.

    • Case Studies

  • recognize the importance of the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs from schedule control.
  • apply the best practices of using inputs, and tools and techniques of schedule control.
  • apply the best practices for proper schedule control process implementation.

    • Course Number: PROJ0444