"Hands On" Project Management: The Learn by Doing Approach

Learn to manage project scope by distinguishing product scope from project scope, documenting it in a scope of work and WBS, and controlling changes to prevent scope creep.

Explore scope management and tradeoff analysis with the scenario builder to plan projects, map stakeholders' needs, assess system requirements, and compare in-house versus subcontractor modes within a work breakdown structure.

Open the assigned scenario, create a feasible project plan, and advance the simulation time until project completion. Manage changes by evaluating consequences on system requirements, duration, and cost.

Explore deterministic and stochastic project scheduling, using activity on nodes network models, Gantt charts, CPM, and Monte Carlo simulations to manage time, uncertainty, and risk.

Walk through PTB project scheduling: define scope, target date 22, and penalties or bonuses. Explore tasks, durations, Gantt charts, and the critical path for planning and adjustment.

Simulate a radar development project to explore scheduling tradeoffs between time and scope, running scenarios: maximize range, then finish early, to apply unit 2 concepts in a hands-on, learn-by-doing exercise.

Explore how project resources are managed to prevent delays, covering resource types, renewable and depleting resources, lead times, and the baseline schedule with corrective actions.

Explore resource management with the PTB simulator, learning to assign and release resources, manage buffers, and adjust task modes to crash schedules and reduce project duration.

Plan the project and follow through its execution by using duration compression to finish early, weigh execution modes and resource tradeoffs, and respect the defined project scope.

Explore project cost management by classifying direct, overhead, fixed, and residual risk costs, manage cash flow with a detailed budget, and optimize scheduling to minimize total cost and maximize profit.

Master cost management in an electrical transformation plant project by optimizing cash flow, income from milestones and early finish, penalties, fixed and resource costs, and planning with the Gantt view.

Create a budget-conscious project plan by delaying non-critical expensive tasks and fast-tracking milestones to secure income. Optimize resources to avoid idle costs and balance budget with scheduling constraints.

Monitor and control projects by detecting deviations from baselines, applying root cause analysis, and triggering corrective actions using Gantt charts, reports, and earned value analysis.

Walk through a unit 6 project control scenario, applying baseline to monitor performance via gantt chart and resource usage views, and adjust plans with task mode changes and rescheduling.

Open the unit six lcn scenario and manage the project by meeting budget, time, and quality constraints; continuously monitor and control and take corrective action when needed.

Explore how to identify, analyze, map, and manage project risks using tools and techniques, evaluating probability and impact, and applying mitigation, monitoring, and control across planning and execution.

Explore a hands-on project risk scenario in the PTB, analyzing resource availability and task duration risks to protect schedule, cash flow, and guide risk mitigation decisions.

Apply the hands-on project management approach to the unit 7 assignment by managing risks and balancing quality, schedule, and budget to successfully complete the project.

Explore lean project management by translating the voice of the customer into measurable value, minimizing waste, and comparing project plans on an efficient frontier using PTB indicators.

Explore lean project management in practice through a radar system scenario, create a default plan, assess duration and cost constraints, and optimize by crashing critical activities to meet targets.

Open the scenario e-learning exercises unit 8 and devise three efficient plans that meet budget, time, and quality constraints while maximizing value and minimizing waste.