TSE017 Project Communications Management

The Practical Approach to Communications

Course Description

It’s said that in real estate the three most important things are location, location, location.  In projects, the three most important things are communications, communications and communications.  It’s that simple.  Communications is THE most important element to successful project management!

Have you ever been surprised while on a project?  Was it good?  This workshop teaches participants strategies and tactics needed to ensure successful communications and minimize surprises even when the team is virtual.  Every project stakeholder at every level, must understand how communications affect the project as a whole. 

The course is designed to follow the Communications Management Knowledge Area of the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) in a very practical way.  It certainly prepares participants for effective on-the-job communication, while providing the added benefit of following the PMI® way.  Upon client request, the workshop will be taught as a PMP Preparation session to assist team members wanting PMP/CAPM Certification. Those involved with PMI and the Project Management Professional or Professional in Business Analysis – PMP or PBA programs are awarded 8 PDUs or “Contact hours”.  Our Global R.E.P. number is 1270.

Upon completion of this workshop, each participant will be able to:

Instructional methods for this one-day module are lecture, discussion, exercises, simulations, role-plays and workshops.  Upon request, references to and inclusion of the PMI® PMBOK 5th Edition are included and applied to real-world situations. Session also has participant discussions and feedback of on going project situations.

Course Outline

  1. Introduction and Course Objectives
    1. The “Reality Check”
    2. Have you ever been surprised while on a project? (Was it good?)
  2. Communications Skills
    1. Communication Skills vs. Project Communications
    2. The Communication Model
      1. Encode/Decode
      2. Sender/Receiver
      3. Message
      4. Medium
      5. Noise
    3. Email
      1. Subject Line
      2. CC and BCC
      3. Body of the Email
      4. Attachments
      5. Response
    4. Presentation Techniques
      1. Preparation
      2. Agenda
      3. Know Your Audience
      4. Design of Visual Aids
      5. Body Language
    5. Meeting Management Techniques
      1. Why Meetings Matter
      2. Five Principles of a Good Meeting
      3. I see you! / I don’t see you!
  3. Identify Stakeholders
    1. Project Charter
      1. Sponsors
      2. Customers
      3. Team Members
      4. Groups
      5. Departments
      6. Other Affected Parties
    2. Procurement Documents
    3. Environment Factors
    4. Process Assets
    5. Stakeholder Analysis
      1. Identify All Possible Stakeholders
      2. Identify Potential Impact
      3. Assess Reaction
    6. Expert Judgment
    7. Stakeholder Register
  4. Plan Communications
    1. Developing Your Stakeholder Communications Strategy
      1. Sponsors
      2. Customers
      3. Support Groups/Vendors
      4. Team Members
    2. Communication Requirements Analysis
    3. Communications Technology
    4. Project Communications Plan
    5. The Communication Plan Attributes
  5. Distribute Information
    1. Project Management Plan
    2. Performance Reports
    3. Communication Methods
    4. Information Distribution Tools
    5. The Lessons Learned Process
      1. Identifying Successes and Failures
      2. Improving Future Performance
      3. Technical, Managerial and Process
    6. Lessons Learned Documentation
      1. Knowledge Base
      2. Knowledge Management System
      3. Updated Corporate Policies, Procedures and Processes
      4. Improved Business Skills
      5. Updates to the Risk Management Plan
    7. Benefits
  6. Managing Stakeholder Expectations
    1. Communication Methods
      1. Face to Face
      2. Meetings
      3. Telephone
      4. Video
      5. Web
      6. Email
      7. Texts/IMs – Really?
    2. Issue Logs
    3. Updates
      1. Lessons Learned
      2. Project Management Plan
  7. Report Performance
    1. Baseline Data
    2. Reporting Information
      1. Scope
      2. Schedule
      3. Cost
      4. Quality
    3. Work Performance Information
    4. Effective Meeting Minutes
    5. Status of Deliverables
    6. Performance Measurements
    7. Forecasted Completion
    8. Quality Control Measurements
    9. Approved Change Requests
    10. Status Review Meetings
    11. Time Reporting/Cost Reporting
    12. Earned Value Analysis
    13. Recommended Corrective Actions
  8. Conclusion and Critique
    1. Review Major Topics/Issues
    2. UPON REQUEST Additional:
      1. PMP Examination Preparation
      2. Specific PMBOK Issues
      3. Sample Questions and Answers
    3. PMI® as a Resource
    4. Participants Critique Workshop
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