Advanced PMBOK Practices for Project Managers

The “Advanced PMBOK Practices for Project Managers” course equips participants with the skills needed to tackle complex, large-scale projects and integrate advanced PMBOK practices effectively. By exploring integration, risk management, stakeholder communication, and advanced leadership techniques, this course prepares professionals to navigate the complexities of modern project management and drive organizational success.

Introduction:
The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a globally recognized standard that outlines best practices, guidelines, and processes for managing projects effectively. The “Advanced PMBOK Practices for Project Managers” course is designed for seasoned project managers who wish to deepen their understanding of advanced PMBOK concepts and apply them in complex projects. This course goes beyond the basics, focusing on the integration of PMBOK’s knowledge areas and processes in real-world scenarios, equipping participants with advanced techniques and strategies to manage high-stakes, large-scale projects.

Targeted Groups:

• Experienced Project Managers
• Senior Project Managers
• Program Managers
• Portfolio Managers
• Project Coordinators
• Professionals who aim to refine their project management skills using advanced PMBOK principles

Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Deeply understand the PMBOK Guide’s knowledge areas and processes, particularly in complex and large-scale projects.
• Implement advanced techniques for project integration, scope, time, cost, and quality management.
• Manage risks and uncertainties using sophisticated risk management strategies.
• Enhance project stakeholder management by improving communication, engagement, and expectations.
• Lead teams and stakeholders through the complexities of large projects, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Use earned value management (EVM) and other advanced tools to measure project performance and take corrective actions.
• Integrate agile and hybrid project management approaches with PMBOK practices for flexible and adaptive project delivery.

Targeted Competencies:

• Advanced Project Integration Management
• Strategic Project Leadership
• Complex Project Planning and Control
• Risk Management in Uncertain Environments
• Stakeholder and Communication Management
• Agile and Hybrid Project Management Techniques
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Quality Assurance and Control
• Project Team Leadership and Motivation
• Advanced Project Scheduling and Budgeting

Course Content:

Unit 1: Advanced Project Integration Management

• Project Integration at the Strategic Level:
  • Aligning project objectives with organizational strategy
  • Managing interdependencies and dependencies between multiple projects or programs
  • Advanced techniques for managing project portfolio integration
• Comprehensive Project Charter and Scope Management:
  • Creating and refining project charters for large-scale, multi-faceted projects
  • Defining complex project scope and managing scope creep
  • Developing a project management plan and integrating all knowledge areas
• Project Change Control:
  • Managing and controlling change requests effectively in a dynamic project environment
  • Advanced techniques for managing scope, schedule, and cost changes
  • Change control boards and decision-making processes in large projects

Unit 2: Advanced Scope, Time, and Cost Management

• Complex Scope Definition and Breakdown:
  • Breaking down large projects into manageable components using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  • Managing multiple workstreams and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
• Advanced Scheduling Techniques:
  • Using Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) for large projects
  • Managing multiple project timelines and dependencies
  • Resource leveling and optimization techniques for complex schedules
• Cost Estimation and Control:
  • Using advanced techniques for cost estimating, budgeting, and forecasting
  • Implementing Earned Value Management (EVM) for comprehensive project tracking
  • Advanced cost control measures to manage and mitigate financial risks in large projects

Unit 3: Advanced Risk Management Techniques

• Risk Identification and Quantification:
  • Identifying risks in large, multi-disciplinary projects using advanced methods (e.g., Delphi technique, Monte Carlo simulation)
  • Qualitative vs. quantitative risk analysis and its application in complex environments
• Risk Response Planning:
  • Developing comprehensive risk response strategies, including mitigation, acceptance, transfer, and avoidance
  • Risk response strategies for multiple simultaneous risks in large projects
• Risk Monitoring and Control:
  • Setting up sophisticated risk monitoring systems and using risk indicators
  • Applying advanced techniques to update the risk register, such as Bayesian networks
• Managing Project Uncertainty:
  • Advanced techniques for managing uncertainty and ensuring project resilience

Unit 4: Advanced Stakeholder and Communication Management

• Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis:
  • Identifying and analyzing complex stakeholder environments using advanced tools (e.g., stakeholder impact assessments)
  • Managing conflicting stakeholder interests and expectations
• Advanced Communication Strategies:
  • Developing targeted communication plans for diverse stakeholders
  • Implementing communication strategies for global or cross-functional teams
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influence:
  • Leveraging influence tactics and building effective relationships with key stakeholders
  • Engaging stakeholders in decision-making and conflict resolution
• Managing Cultural Diversity in Stakeholder Communication:
  • Adapting communication styles for cross-cultural projects
  • Understanding cultural barriers to communication and employing strategies to overcome them

Unit 5: Quality Management and Control Techniques

• Advanced Quality Assurance:
  • Implementing quality management systems (QMS) across large projects
  • Using Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), and Lean for quality improvements
• Advanced Control Methods for Large Projects:
  • Advanced control charts and statistical methods for quality monitoring
  • Handling large-scale deviations and ensuring process consistency
• Continuous Improvement in Project Quality:
  • Incorporating Kaizen and PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles for continuous improvement
  • Managing quality at the team and organizational level

Unit 6: Agile and Hybrid Project Management Techniques

• Agile Project Management Principles and Integration with PMBOK:
  • Understanding Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean) and how they integrate with traditional PMBOK practices
  • Identifying the right scenarios for Agile adoption within a PMBOK framework
• Hybrid Project Management Models:
  • Using hybrid models for projects requiring both flexibility and control
  • Managing projects that transition between traditional and Agile approaches
• Scaling Agile for Large Projects:
  • Advanced frameworks for scaling Agile methodologies, such as SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) and LeSS (Large Scale Scrum)
  • Managing multiple Agile teams and large Agile initiatives within PMBOK processes

Unit 7: Leadership and Team Management for Complex Projects

• Advanced Project Leadership:
  • Leading diverse and cross-functional teams across multiple projects
  • Developing leadership skills for managing large-scale, high-complexity projects
• Motivating Project Teams:
  • Techniques for team building and maintaining high performance across project phases
  • Advanced team dynamics and conflict resolution strategies
• Crisis Management and Decision-Making:
  • Leading projects through unexpected challenges and crises
  • Advanced decision-making techniques for managing large, complex projects
• Coaching and Mentoring Project Teams:
  • Using coaching and mentoring to support team growth and development
  • Ensuring team readiness for complex project demands

Unit 8: Project Closure and Performance Measurement

• Closing Large-Scale Projects:
  • Ensuring project closure and handover in large projects
  • Managing post-project review meetings and lessons learned
• Measuring Project Success:
  • Advanced project performance metrics, including Earned Value Management (EVM) and other performance indicators
  • Establishing long-term value through project outcomes and benefits realization