SANS MGT525: IT Project Management, Effective Communication, and PMP® Exam Prep is offered by The SANS Institute, a PMI® Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). R.E.P.s provide the training necessary to earn and maintain the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and other professional credentials. PMP is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.
This course has been recently updated to fully prepare you for the 2018 PMP® exam changes. During this class you will learn how to improve your project planning methodology and project task scheduling to get the most out of your critical IT resources. We will utilize project case studies that highlight information technology services as deliverables. MGT525 follows the basic project management structure from the PMBOK® Guide - Sixth Edition and also provides specific techniques for success with information assurance initiatives. Throughout the week, we will cover all aspects of IT project management from initiating and planning projects through managing cost, time, and quality while your project is active, to completing, closing, and documenting as your project finishes. A copy of the PMBOK®Guide - Sixth Edition is provided to all participants. You can reference the PMBOK® Guide and use your course material along with the knowledge you gain in class to prepare for the 2018 updated Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam and the GIAC Certified Project Manager Exam.
The project management process is broken down into core process groups that can be applied across multiple areas of any project, in any industry. Although our primary focus is the application to the InfoSec industry, our approach is transferable to any projects that create and maintain services as well as general product development. We cover in-depth how cost, time, quality, and risks affect the services we provide to others. We will also address practical human resource management as well as effective communication and conflict resolution. You will learn specific tools to bridge the communications gap between managers and technical staff.
PMP and PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Course Syllabus
MGT525.1: Project Management Structure and Framework
Overview
This course offers insight and specific techniques that both beginner and experienced project managers can utilize. The structure and framework section lays out the basic architecture and organization of project management. We will cover the common project management group processes, the difference between projects and operations, project life cycles and managing project stakeholders.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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MGT525.2: Project Charter and Scope Management
Overview
During day two, we cover project charter and scope management. We will go over techniques used to develop the project charter and formally initiate a project. The Scope portion defines the important input parameters of project management and gives you the tools to ensure that from the onset your project is well defined. We cover tools and techniques that will help you define your project's deliverables and develop milestones to gauge performance and manage change requests.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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MGT525.3: Schedule and Cost Management
Overview
Our third day details the schedule and cost aspects of managing a project. We will cover the importance of correctly defining project activities, project activity sequence and resource constraints. We will use milestones to set project timelines and task dependencies along with learning methods of resource allocation and scheduling. We introduce the difference between resource and product related costs and go into detail on estimating, budgeting and controlling costs. You will learn techniques for estimating project cost and rates as well as budgeting and the process for developing a project cost baseline.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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MGT525.4: Communications and Project Resources
Overview
During day four, we move into project and human resource management and building effective communications skills. People are the most valuable asset of any project and we cover methods for identifying, acquiring, developing and managing your project team. Performance appraisal tools are offered as well as conflict management techniques. You will learn management methods to help keep people motivated and provide great leadership. The effective communication portion of the day covers identifying and developing key interpersonal skills. We cover organizational communication, the different levels of communication as well as describing common communication barriers and tools to overcome these barriers.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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MGT525.5: Quality and Risk Management
Overview
Day five focuses on Quality and Risk. You will become familiar with quality planning, quality assurance and quality control methodologies as well as learning the cost of quality concept and its parameters. We define quality metrics and cover tools for establishing and benchmarking quality control programs. We go into quality assurance and auditing as well as using and understanding quality control charts. The Risk section goes over known vs. unknown risks and how to identify, assess and categorize risk. We use quantitative risk analysis and modeling techniques so that you can fully understand how specific risks affect your project. You will learn ways to plan for and mitigate risk by reducing your exposure as well as being able to take advantage of risks that could have a positive effect on your project.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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MGT525.6: Procurement, Stakeholder Management, and Project Integration
Overview
We close out the week with the procurement aspects of project management, stakeholder management and then integrate all of the concepts presented into a solid, broad reaching approach. We cover different types of contracts and then the make-versus-buy decision process. We go over ways to initiate strong request for quotations (RFQ) and develop evaluation criteria, then qualify and select the best partners for your project. Stakeholder communication and management strategies are reinforced. The final session integrates everything we have learned by bringing all the topics together with the common process groups. Using detailed project management methodology, we learn how to finalize the project management plan and then execute and monitor the progress of your project to ensure success.
CPE/CMU Credits: 6
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