Class Title: Improve How You Manage Projects

Date:  2/2/2015

Organization: CNY ASTD

Presenters: Karen DeJarnette (TEDCenter), Dr. Chuck Spuches (SUNY ESF)

 
Note: These are just my notes from the course. This is in no way an exhaustive review of the class or even a complete reflection of the material covered. This simply reflects the things I found most interesting or novel. 
 
Facilitation Note:
Attendees were asked to rate their project management skills on a scale of 1-10 and write that number on a note card which was handed in. The first presenter engaged the group while the second created a graph based on the attendees responses. They had predrawn the axises and used dot sticked for the data points.
 
Project Management (PM) Metrics:
Time
Scope
Cost
 
80/20 Principal applies to PM
 
Process Groups:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing
 
Potential client statement:
System is broken. Can you fix it?
 
Defining the projects:
  1. System is broken. (How is it broken?)
  2. Can you fix it?
 
Reference Document: Rita’s Process Chart by Rita Mulcahy
 
What are your deliverables? Who signs off on those?
Dr. Chuck’s 2 Interview Questions:
How do you deal with ambiguity? 
How do you deal with changing priorities?
 
Developing buy in = communication + managed expectations
Each party has a different perspective
Different assumptions, different solutions