View Important Policies and System Requirements for this course.

Instructor:  Stuart G. Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., F.NSPE, Dist.M.ASCE

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

Purpose and Background

Someone wisely said “P6 : Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.”

In the context of project management, the preceding “words of wisdom” point to the need for a project plan (PP). Preparation of a PP includes the process by which members of the project team, led by the project manager, collaboratively and carefully think through their project before they start their project. The client and other stakeholders may be involved. The project is created mentally before it is created physically. That makes all the difference in terms of meeting schedules, budget and client requirements. Bottom line: Think through then do.

Presented in this webinar is a practical approach for preparing and then using a Project Plan (PP). Participants receive a detailed handout on which the webinar will draw. The handout includes references to articles, books, e-news-letters, websites and other self-study materials.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize three “reasons” for not preparing a project plan
• List 20 possible elements of a project plan
• Identify the three principal uses of the project plan
• Know seven ways to embed project plans

Webinar Benefits

• Improve project performance, including profitability
• Minimize uncompensated scope creep
• Reduce risks
• Enhance client and stakeholder relations
• Groom project managers via positive example

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

Because projects occur in the public, private, academic, and volunteer sectors, this webinar is intended for anyone involved in projects subject to the typically demanding scope, schedule, and budget requirements. The suggested approach applies to all types of projects, not just contract projects involving a client and a professional services firm. This webinar is primarily for project managers, because they must lead the preparation and use of PPs.

This webinar also speaks to members of project teams who should expect to have input to and be guided by a PP. Finally, this webinar will help aspiring project managers will learn about an important tool.

Webinar Outline

• Do our project twice: The smart way not the dumb way
• Two assumptions
• “Reasons” for not preparing a PP
• The surprising lack of PPs
• Need for organizational policies
• Turning worrying into an asset
• Process: How to prepare a PP
• Create backward and use forward
• 10 essential and 10 optional PP elements
• Maintaining and using a PP
• Case studies
• Making PPs “stick”
• Thoughts for clients/owners
• Resources for additional study

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]