Dear Colleagues,

Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), Microsoft RA and Ministry of Economy of RA are pleased to invite you to participate in the training program entitled “PM Essentials using Microsoft Project 2007”.

The training will be conducted at the premises of EIF by the following address: Hovsep Emin str. 123 (first entrance of Russian /Slavonic University), room 101.
The course will be delivered by Mr. Albert Poghosyan, founder and president of Armenian Project Management.

Course will be held from November 6 to November 19, 2009 in two main phases:
 - 2 days in-class training: Nov 6-7 (8 hours per day), 9:00am to 18:00pm.
 - 10 days on-line training through e-Learning tools (Nov 9-19)
Course is provided free of charge.

There will be two coffee breaks at 11:00-11:30 and 15:30-16:00 including  lunch from 13:00 to 14:00. Coffee, tea and lunch will be served in EIF cafeteria.
Materials will be provided in English and Armenian. Discussions will be in Armenian.
Students will receive a Certificate of Course Completion based on their attendance level and eLearning participation.

About the course

PM Essentials using Microsoft® Project

Course ID: PM39994
Course Length: 12 Days (2 days in-class, 10 days on-line)

COURSE OUTLINE:

The foundation of what you need to know to manage projects is presented in this unique course that integrates project management theory and practice. Participants gain a broad overview of project management basic concepts and practices during PM Essentials while at the same time applying their knowledge using Microsoft Project 2007 as a project management tool. The course covers the basic concepts using the five essential project management processes, defining requirements, schedules, risk management, and change control as well as learning the capabilities of Microsoft Project 2007. Participants the opportunity to apply best practices, including the application of Microsoft Project 2007, through the use of short case studies, practical exercises, class discussions, and lectures.

METHODOLOGY:

APMA’s Training courses methodology uses accelerated learning methods to deliver vast amounts of information in the shortest possible time. We adopted new approach for system teaching. We have got some simple principles implemented so the training can be easy, effective and efficient for maximum flexibility combining in:

Pre-reading: Each participant will get training pack in Armenian and English to be able to read whole theory in advance. This method will help everyone to be in same level of theory to be able to go for more practical training in classroom.

Classroom: At classroom only actual practical knowledge and Armenian reality cases will be discussed and reviewed. An important activity for students will be presentation of their own experiences of problem solving and project management decision making.

eLearning: Training materials will be available in an eLearning system and all students will have full access to it. Recommended literature will be provided to the students in digital version. Additionally, all students will get templates and forms for practical management of projects developed by Project Management Institutes. We use Armenian Distance Learning Network: www.e-courses.am

Mentoring: The trainer will customize more theory and practical knowledge on eLearning system and during this time each student will be personally mentored to look after learning process online. We will help you to focus on topics and be more motivated to learn.

Assessment: After training fully completion each student have to pass assessment on personal development and usage of knowledge. This will potentially help participants to know which way to grow and corporate to know what is required to provide in future for each person.

KEY OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define the elements of an effective project charter
• Demonstrate the capabilities of Microsoft Project 2007 
• Identify and develop all the elements of a team charter 
• Identify the elements of the triple constraint
• Develop a project using the Work Breakdown Structure
• Define and use different types of estimates
• Determine strategies for handling change requests
  
  • Identify, quantify, and manage risk
  • Develop, monitor and control schedules
• Apply Microsoft Project 2007 concepts in a practical case study situation
• Explain the importance of a project closeout process

SYLLABUS OUTLINE:

The Project Management Environment

• Define a project, project management, and a program
• Explain project management methodology and its application
• Identify processes and phases 
• Perform a stakeholder analysis 
• Demonstrate MSP 2007 project guide and project information dialog information 
• Demonstrate MSP 2007 views, wizards, and calendars

Kicking off the Project

• Define elements of a project charter
• Explain the stages of team development 
• Identify elements of a kick-off meeting 
• Identify elements of a project workbook 
• Use MSP 2007 templates to enter new tasks and durations

Defining the Project Scope

• Determine requirements
• Define project scope 
• Explain Triple Constraint and use a Priority Matrix

Developing the Work Breakdown Structure

• Define the WBS objectives and terminology
• Decompose the project activities to manageable work packages 
• Use outlining in MSP 2007 
• Demote and promote tasks and customize the WBS in MSP 2007

Defining Estimates for Project Activities

• Develop quality estimates
• Define estimating terminology 
• Describe methods to accurately estimate project costs 
• Calculate top down and bottom up estimates 
• Describe methods to validate project estimates 
• Demonstrate how to assign and replace resources in MSP 2007 
• Distinguish fixed work, fixed units, and fixed durations in MSP 2007

Understanding Project Risk

• Identify the three components of risk
• Identify and applying the risk management process 
• Determine the value of risk management 
• Add notes to tasks in MSP 2007

Developing the Project Schedule

• Define schedule terminology
• Identify types of schedule views
• Determine relationships, lags, and loops 
• Explain scheduling approaches and tools-Gantt charts and network analysis 
• Identify the critical path 
• Establish dependencies, predecessors, and linking in MSP 2007 
• Save and clear a baseline in MSP 2007

Managing Change

• Establish the baseline with the customer and other stakeholders
• Describe elements of a good control process 
• Change control process 
• Change control board 
• Change request form 
• Change control log 
• Describe methods to communicate the process and results to stakeholders

Managing and Controlling Outcomes

• Define the project manager's role in project tracking
• Describe the technical and human aspects of monitoring and controlling 
• Describe the decision making process 
• Identify types of project reviews 
• Identify the purpose of status meetings 
• Describe tools to help monitor and control 
• Determine methods to appropriately manage conflict on the project 
• Demonstrate how to track progress using MSP 2007

Closing the Project

• Describe the benefits of the closing process
• Describe the process of implementing closeout activities

ABOUT TRAINER:
Albert Poghosyan (www.poghosyan.org)
Albert Poghosyan is the founder and president of Armenian Project Management Association. Throughout his career in I.T., including an experience in eCommerce technologies; he has been fascinated by management and, more recently, specialized in Project Management. As a topical subject, Albert spends a large proportion of his time researching the project management standards including PRINCE2 from British Office of Commerce and Project Management Institute standards.

Attached also is the Application Form to be completed by interested persons and sent to us by the following
address info@eif.am no later than November 2, 2009.
NUMBER OF PLACES IS LIMITED and the candidates will be selected based on their application forms, so please complete them thoroughly. Selected applicants will be notified additionally.

Application Form