Presentations Available:
Project Management for Any Organization
Below are some professional development sessions which Michael Greer could present for your organization. In most cases, particularly if yours is a non-profit professional group, the costs will be limited to Greer's out-of-pocket expenses only. For clarification, contact Michael Greer at greers_pm@yahoo.com
Presentations listed here include:
Project Management Vision: Key Principles for PM Success
Presentation Type: Professional Development Session
Duration: 1 - 1 1/2 hours
Audience: Supervisors of new project managers, Training and HRD professionals, performance technologists (PTs), and today's "instant" project managers
When Available: On request
Synopsis: There has been much written (some by the presenter!) about the essential skills and practices of successful project managers. The PM literature provides detailed prescriptions for project managers working in every major industry. But beneath all the flow charts and guidelines and formulas is a set of core principles that make up a vision of effective project management. In this session, the presenter will briefly provide definitions of basic PM terms and theory, quickly review some essential PM skills and practices, then guide participants through some exercises which employ the metaphors of the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion to help them discover Key Principles for PM Success which lie within us all. [This highly rated session was first presented as part of the Masters Series for the annual ISPI Conference and Expo.]
Objectives: After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
 | List and define some basic PM terms and principles. |
| Describe the five essential project management processes and how they are applied to the Generic Project Life Cycle. |
| List some critical strategies, principles, and techniques for assuring project success. |
| List some passions and convictions project managers must hold to be successful. |
| List some daring acts of courage project managers must perform to assure project success. |
Handouts: Attendees receive a two page list of definitions of basic PM terms and principles, Greer's "Summary of Key Project Manager Actions & Results," a copy of Greer's "14 Key Principles for PM Success," and copies of key overhead transparencies.
Today's Project Management Software: It's Easier Than You Think!
Presentation Type: Professional Development Session
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
Audience: Professionals with little or no experience using PM software
When Available: On request
Synopsis: Been wondering what project management (PM) software could do for you, but haven't had time to check it out? Have you looked at PM packages only to be put off by their apparent complexity? Or worse, do you already have PM software but can't figure out how to get started using it? This presentation is designed to answer your questions about this powerful class of software and provide an easy way to begin using it.
Objectives: After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
| Describe the five essential project management processes and how they are applied to the Generic Project Life Cycle. |
| Briefly describe the evolution of today's project management software and list some of the most powerful ease-of-use features. |
| State eight benefits of using project management software. |
| Use a detailed job aid designed to help you get organized, get task-focused, and get started using any project management software. |
Handouts: Attendees receive Greer's job aid "Getting Started with Project Management Software" and copies of key overhead transparencies.
Essential Skills for Today's "Instant" Project Managers
Presentation Type: Professional Development Session
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
Audience: Supervisors of new project managers, Training and HRD professionals, performance technologists (PTs), and today's "instant" project managers
When Available: On request
Synopsis: Today's organizations are becoming more lean, eliminating middle managers and organizing task specialists into ad-hoc teams to complete specific projects. These teams are usually led by one of the team's task specialists who excels at his or her specialty, but does not necessarily have management experience. Typically, these leaders are contributing members of the project team, burdened with a similar work load as other team members, while performing project management chores as an add-on duty. These "instant project managers" need help. They need quick and simple training, they need coaching, and they need on-the-job performance support. In this session, you will take the first step toward providing support for your "instant" project managers. Through presentation, discussion, and hands-on activity you will learn some project management basics and key characteristics of project management training. In addition, you will conduct your own "quick and dirty" analysis of the skills, knowledge, and performance support your "instant" project managers need.
- Note: This presentation relates to project management as it may be applied to any field. By any field, we mean that the projects to be managed may produce results as diverse as a new house, a marketing plan, the moving of an office from one place to another, roll-out of a new product -- anything.
Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to:
| Describe the results of an informal survey regarding project management training requirements and, given some of the survey questions, compare their responses with those of the respondents and the other attendees of the session. |
| Describe the Project Management Institute's PMBOK (project management body of knowledge) and its role in standardizing project management terms and concepts. |
| Define and distinguish among some basic project management terms and concepts, including the essential PM processes and a Generic Project Life Cycle that can be applied to any type of project, in any industry. |
| Describe 20 generic job performance skills that the new "instant project managers" need to enable them to manage projects quickly, effectively, and on a part-time basis. |
| Using a worksheet, analyze the generic list of PM performance skills to identify tools, training, or other performance support needed by their organization's "instant" project managers. |
Handouts: Attendees receive Greer's 20 Key Project Manager Actions and Results, as well as copies of relevant overheads from the presentation, case study materials, and other worksheets
Project Management Essentials for Today's "Instant" Project Managers: A Hands-on Session for Trainers & PT Professionals
Presentation Type: Professional Workshop
Duration: 1 Day
Audience: Training and HRD professionals, as well as performance technologists (PTs)
When Available: On request
Synopsis: Today's leaner, downsized organizations have eliminated middle managers and organized task specialists into ad-hoc teams to complete projects. These specialists seldom have project management (PM) experience, yet they must perform PM chores while making contributions in their task specialties. The result is that these new "instant" project managers are essentially directing their organizations' most important initiatives with minimum management training or experience.
This session will share the presenter's research regarding PM skill requirements and help participants identify essential skills needed by their organization's "instant" project managers. It will also provide trainers and performance technologists with a framework necessary to evaluate their organizations' performance support needs related to PM. In addition, it will provide participants with direct, hands-on experience in completing the main components of a project plan by using a set of systematic, step-by-step tools. Finally, it will provide participants the opportunity to visualize how they might extend this project plan and then execute, control, and close out the project's activities using the tools provided.
[Note: In the hands-on portion of the workshop, participants will be provided a case study scenario. However, as an option, participants are encouraged to bring their own notes, preliminary plans, and other background information related to a project they are planning. Those who do so will be able to work on and enhance this plan in place of the case study.]
Objectives:
Part I: Essential Skills for New Project Managers (about 1 hour)
After attending this part of the session, participants will be able to:
| Describe the results of an informal survey regarding project management training requirements and, given some of the survey questions, compare their responses with those of the respondents and the other attendees of the session. |
| Describe the Project Management Institute's PMBOK (project management body of knowledge) and its role in standardizing project management terms and concepts. |
| Define and distinguish among some basic project management terms and concepts, including the essential PM processes and a Generic Project Life Cycle that can be applied to any type of project, in any industry. |
| Describe 20 generic job performance skills that the new "instant project managers" need to enable them to manage projects quickly, effectively, and on a part-time basis. |
| Using a worksheet, analyze the generic list of PM performance skills to identify tools, training, or other performance support needed by their organization's "instant" project managers. |
Part II: A Context for Project Management in Your Organization (about 1 hour)
After attending this part of the session, participants will be able to:
| Explain how different organization structures can support or impede project management efforts. |
| Describe some of the socioeconomic influences that affect projects. |
| Explain the benefits of organizing project activities into phases. |
| Explain the relationship between the five project management processes and the project life cycle. |
| Analyze their organizations' typical project life cycles and consider improvements. |
Part III: Hands-on Project Planning with The Project Manager's Partner (about 4 hours)
Given a case study project* and the Action Items (worksheets, job aids, etc.) from The Project Manager's Partner, participants will be able to:
| Describe how The Project Manager's Partner can be used to support key project manager actions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Describe how project managers in their organizations typically demonstrate project need and feasibility and obtain project authorization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Describe project scope for the case study project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Define and sequence project activities for the case study project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimate durations for activities and resources required for the case study project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Develop a project schedule for the case study project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimate costs for the case study project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Explain how they would use The Project
Manager's Partner to
complete some of the following activities (as applicable
in their particular organizations):
|
- * As an option, participants will be invited to bring notes or rough ideas related to an actual project they must plan. They may perform the class activities using this project, instead of the case study. In this way, they will return home with a solid project plan that has been developed with the help of the presenter.
Handouts, Etc.: Attendees receive Greer's job-aid filled text The Project Manager's Partner, as well as copies of relevant overheads from the presentation, case study materials, and other worksheets.