Project Management Training Program

Illinois State University (ISU) is offering certificate training in the principles and processes of project management in a unique virtual/blended format. People who need a better way to manage projects or who are new to the field of project management will find practical, fundamental skills in managing budgets; meeting deadlines; coordinating diverse groups of people and tasks; solving problems; and achieving results. Project Management Certificate Modules cannot be taken independently. Pricing reflects the cost of the entire certificate program, including all course materials.

Next Session Dates: August 28, 2008 - December 4, 2008
Price: $2,175 (book included)


For Additional Information: Call Dick at (309) 438-8697
Certificate: Participants receive a Certificate of Completion from Illinois State University
Format:

The course consists of 24 hours of lectures (8 lectures, 3 hours each) and 36 hours of online exercises (4.5 hours of exercises per lecture). You can participate in any of three ways:

1) Attend class via a live video broadcast from a Polycom video conferencing center near you

2) Attend class physically at Illinois State’s classroom

3) View and review the broadcasted class videos on-line (perfect for traveling and busy adults).


Required: Participants are required to have an actual project from work to use for the on-line exercises.
SCHEDULE

Meeting 1: Overview Thu Aug 28, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Ron Meier
An overview of the Project Management Processes (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Controlling, and Close-Out) and the Project Management Knowledge Areas (Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Risk, Quality, Procurement, HR/Staffing, and Communications) will be reviewed.

Meeting 2: Project Planning Thu Sept 11, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Ron Meier
Participants will learn to utilize the tools of Hoshin Planning to develop the project plan: affinity analysis (activity generation and sequencing), interrelationship diagraphs (prioritizing work packages). In addition, the topics of developing divergent and convergent thinking among the project team members will be covered.

Meeting 3: Schedule Management Thu Sept 25, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Rick Boser
Participants will learn about the development of the schedule management plan, which includes network diagramming, dependencies, critical path method, slack/float calculations, estimating, and earned value analysis.

Meeting 4: Scope Management Thu Oct 9, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Ron Meier
The instructor will present the development of the Scope Management Plan with techniques to initiate and plan a project: SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), and environmental analysis (Social/Cultural, Political, Technological, Legal, and Economics).

Meeting 5: Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources Planning Thu Oct 23, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Matt Westendorf
Students learn administrative and behavioral management practices to define roles, responsibilities, and accountability among all project stakeholders. Development of the resource breakdown structure, resource planning, and resource allocations will be covered.

Meeting 6: Cost Management Thu Nov 6, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Rick Boser
Participants will learn about the development of the budget management plan, which includes resource planning, cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control. Participants will complete an cost management plan.

Meeting 7: Communication Planning November 20, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Matt Westendorf
In this session, the participants will discuss methods for developing a communication plan (communications matrix, information distribution, communication models, communication methods, controlling communications).

Meeting 8: Risk Identification and Assessment Thu Dec 4, 2008, 6 pm to 9 pm - Dr. Ron Meier
Overview of the tools and techniques to identify and assess enterprise-wide, program/portfolio, project, and process related risks will be conducted. Participants will learn about the development and selection of the risk management strategies including prevention and contingency plans.





Ron Meier is a professor in the Department of Technology at Illinois State University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1988. He has 30 years of teaching experience with the last 24 at the University level. Ron has co-authored five books, authored 60+ refereed manuscripts and delivered in excess of 75 national and regional presentations. He has received $11, 000,000 from governmental agencies and business/industry to support his research, training, and consulting endeavors. Ron is currently the Vice Chair of e-Based Initiatives for the Quality Management Division of the American Society for Quality. Additionally, he chairs the Integration of Quality, Project, and Risk Management Technical Committee for the Quality Management Division.


Matt Westendorf has a Master of Science degree in Technology Management emphasizing Project Management. He has developed schedules for small to large scale projects, managed project schedules with the use of Primavera Project Management, Primavera TeamPlay and myPrimavera. Besides managing project schedules, Matt has taught a variety of Project Management related classes and has been a Project Leader for IT projects.





Richard Boser is the Chairperson of the Department of Technology at Illinois State University and Professor of Construction Management. He received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1991 and has over 30 years experience in the construction industry as a practitioner and educator. Richard regularly teaches courses in construction materials and methods as well as project management. His active record of service to professional organizations includes leadership positions with the American Council for Construction Education and the Associate Schools of Construction. Richard is a member of the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) and the Project Management Institute (PMI). He earned the Certified Professional Constructor designation from the AIC in 1999 and is an instructor for the ISU Project Management Training Group. Scholarly accomplishments since 1991 include 19 peer reviewed publications, 40 plus professional presentations, and nine funded grants. Recent research activities have focused on recycling of construction waste and risk assessment of innovative construction materials.