Project Management Training
A project manager training at Zephyr Consulting focuses on both the soft and hard aspects of project management. The training is adapted to the reality of which the project manager is a part and is not limited by project standards, but rather based on “best practice” in project management.
Our Project Manager Training
Initially, we do not work with standard project manager training such as Prince 2, IPMA etc., but adapt the form and content to the reality the project manager is a part of. We don’t believe in “one size fits all”.
In particular, culture, project maturity and the mind-set have a decisive influence on whether projects succeed or not. Therefore, we prioritize a close dialogue with the company / organization for which we are doing the training. We have a strong focus on the belief that the investment should bring positive value for the business.
The Project Management Training gives each participant concrete and useful tools that ensure effective project management; these tools are easy to implement from day one.
The tools ensure that the participant as project manager is able to:
- Gain an overall understanding of the project work and the social factors that are crucial to success or failure.
- Create an overview that is necessary to prioritize efforts, optimize the use of resources and maintain the overview of progress, quality, well-being and safety.
- Prioritize efforts as shown in the figure on the right side
The approach to project management training is a mix of theory, practical exercises and assignments combined with “Playful Learning”. We use “Playful Learning” because it is often the difference between passive knowledge and value-adding behavioral change. Research shows that we as human beings learn more efficiently when we are actively involved and, at the same time, challenged in the application of new knowledge.
Framework for our Project Management Training:
- Foundation for the project (success criteria, roles & responsibilities, project planning & risks)
- Leadership role (self-management & team management)
- Communication (presentations, feedback, meetings & reporting)
- Execution (priority & focus)
- Personal efficiency
- Completion & handover
- Tools to drive innovation and learning in a project environment
- Exam (format agreed with individual customer)
- Online multiple choice test with feedback report
- Exam project based on own case and individual feedback
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Example of a tailormade project management training:
This is how we work
1. Clarification of needs and expectations
The process starts with an initial meeting with the purpose of clarifying what you want to have achieved by the time we’ve finished the work. This includes discussions about what you see as effective project management, the company’s culture and how you work with projects today (project models and project maturity, etc.). For us, it is important that you as a company get a solution that is worth the investment and can be felt and used, even after we have finished the task. Unless the lessons learned are subsequently put into the business, it is a waste of time and resources for everyone. Normally, we return with a proposal for solving the task within a week, after which we agree on the further process.
2. Agreement/course of action
When we have an agreement, we sit together and define:
- Purpose
- Success criteria
- Scope (modules, preparation and exam)
- Follow-up and feedback (usually we do follow-up after each session and in the middle of the process)
3. Evaluation
All courses conclude with an evaluation meeting.
The purpose of this is multi-faceted:
- To check if success criteria are met (we always measure before and after)
- To obtain feedback on our performance.
- To provide feedback from our side on any observations that may have relevance to the steering group/leadership
We believe in continuous improvement as a means of staying ahead.
Finally, we agree any follow-up activities.
