Should Parallel Project Training offer Microsoft Project Training alongside our project management courses?

When delivering project management training courses people are normally very interested to understand how they can use Microsoft project to support their planning. However using Microsoft project is not part of n accredited project management course. In particular they are interesting how they can practically apply Microsoft Project, what are the hits and tips from an experienced project manager. In particulate

1. What are the best default settings for Microsoft Project?
2. How can I get resources curves from the tool?
3. What are the best ways of communicating using Microsoft project?
4. How can I use Microsoft Project to control the project budget?

However given the level of interest then we are considering running a Microsoft Project Training course to complement our existing programme. Would this be of interest to you, please let us know by commenting below.

The APM Practitioner Qualification provides the next natural step for project managers who have completed their foundation level APMP qualification.

Parallel Project Training has today launched the APM PQ qualification, working in collaboration with Provek. The APMP Practitioner Qualification assesses a project manager’s ability to adopt and apply the behaviours of effective project management as described in the APM Body of Knowledge. These include the ability to demonstrate 29 of which six are critical including:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of project context and the overall business case
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive application of project management planning
3. Apply a risk management process competently to the project
4. Optimise project plans to respond to a major change
5. Demonstrate an ability to monitor project progress and take suitable controlling action
6. Work effectively as a team member

The assessment is completed over three days on the basis of a mixture of individual work including inbox exercises and short written essays, group work (observed) and interviews as all candidates will be interviewed on an individual basis.

Paul Naybour Business Development Director for Parallel Project Training, said “We are delighted to be able to offer project mangers the next step to professional project management, the APM Practitioner Qualification acts as a bridge between the APMP and the new Registered Project Professional standard. We look forward to supporting project managers develop the capability to deliver the most complex projects”

The first event is planned for March 2010 in Bristol for follow this link full details of our APM Practitioner Course

Due to popular demand we have launched more APMP project management course dates in London. For full details of  London APMP project managment training courses visit www.parallelprojecttraining.com for full deatils

Distance learning from Parallel Project Training is a new and extremely cost effective way to study for the APMP qualification from the association for project management. You are provided with fantastic course materials based on the Parallel Learning System which include a

1. Printed Study Guide
2. On-line e-learning
3. A moderated on-line exam prep forum

Plus the option of a short one day exam prep workshop. Parallel Project Training are always there to provide support as required.

What is it like to study the APMP by distance learning?

Well Michael Hides from Arras People has been giving the system a test drive and he said

Paul did a good job of providing tips and hints regarding the exam without trying to cram in too much and by the time of the exam I was feeling more confident.

You can read his full report here APMP day of reckoning

“Well done Mick and fingers crossed for the APMP exam result”.

To widen its range of product offering Parallel Project Training has today launched the APM Introductory Certificate in project management. This course is ideally suited to those new to project management who want to understand the core behaviours, processes and tools of project management. Delivered over two days this course is supported by high quality pre-course material including podcasts and mobile e-learning. The course is available both as part of our public programme and for in-house corporate clients.

The course covers the following topics.

1. Project Management in Context;
2.  Planning and Strategy;
3.  Executing the Strategy
4. Project Management Techniques;
5. Business and Commercial;
6. Organisation and Governance;  

For more information on the APM introductory Certificate in Project Management visit www.parallelprojecttraining.com

Our learning material for this course includes mobile learning for you use before you start the course

Successfully delivering projects in an increasingly competitive environment is a real challenge. At minimum a clear definition of the scope, clearly defined resources, strong commercial management, disciplined change control, strong leadership and first class client management are required. In addressing these, project managers must meet the needs of two masters; the client and consultancy business.

Balancing these different, and often conflicting needs, is a key theme of this session.

This session is distilled from training provided to Halcrow, Scott Wilson and Parsons Brinckerhoff, Network Rail, Transport for London and many others.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course delegates will be able to:

1. Clearly describe the importance of project managers’ role to the profitability and satisfaction of client needs
2. Explain why and how to manage consulting project throughout the life cycle. Selling, Starting, Delivering and Closing. Specifically this will include effective implementation of the following project control processes
   1. Scope management and planning.
   2. Project management planning and scheduling.
   3. Risk management.
   4. Cost management including planning and forecasting using earned value.
   5. Control of changes.
   6. Issue management and communications.
   7. Manage a contract
3. Demonstrate strategies for managing the client relationship and expectations within the constraints of a contract.

Duration

This course is 2 hours in duration.

Certification training is available in addition to this course as described above.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at anyone who is new to or planning to move in the engineering consulting project management.

Biography

Paul Naybour is passionate about the use of project management in engineering projects to engineering projects. He has a wealth of experience helping engineering consultancies to improve project management and has worked on both sides of the fence. He first love is Nuclear Power Stains and ne may end up taking a real jobs soon. For now he is Business Development Director at Parallel Project Training, co-author of “Your Journey to Professional Project Management, How to Pass the APMP a study guide” and host of the free APM Project Management Podcast channel on iTunes which has over 7000 download since its launch in January 2010

Down load slides here Essentials of Project Management for Consulting Engineers

Project Management Clinical Trials Course Overview

Clinical research and development projects have some unique challenges both in terms of project scoping and risk. Much of the success of the project is outside the direct influence of the project manager. Critical success factors such as patient recruitment and retention rates are difficult to estimate and predict. Nevertheless while these factors cannot be controlled, they can be influenced and managed by a structured and collaborative approach to project management. This project management course, which is based on the APM body of Knowledge, is designed specifically for the needs of project managers in the clinical trials sector. Delivered by training consultant with significant hand-on experience in the sector it will address may of the key issues associated with the application of project management to these projects including:

• How to develop a clear definition of the project success factors.
• How to clearly define the project scope.
• How to plan in the face of significant uncertainty.
• How to effectively manage project risk.
• How to use earned value methods to provide meaningful progress reports.

Full details at project management of clinical trials

Do you want to carry out formal risk management?

This risk management practitioners course builds on the knowledge gained in our risk management foundation. This event leads to the APM’s Risk Management Level 2 Certificate, which is designed to determine an individual’s knowledge and understanding as well as capability in project risk management, sufficient to allow an individual to undertake formal project risk management.

APM Risk Certificate Level 2 Details:

Category Open APM Project Management Training Courses

Where: Manchester – Manchester

Date: 01.07.2010 -02.07.2010

Time: 09:00 -17:00

For More Details

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our first 5-day APMP in London on the 17th May. The pre-study material for this course includes a copy of our study guide, access to our e-learning, podcasts and pre-course forum support. Book now for 20% early bird discount at APMP Project Management Training London