Project Management Course Module

 The Project Management Course Module

Project management is one of the essential processes of an organisation for the simple reason that it answers a lot of your questions and adds order to the company. With this, project management training is vital to ensure that you have the right skills and knowledge when it comes to managing a project.  Project management training can help you become a better person as you will have better sense of your time and resources.

Project management training carries with it several benefits for those that desire to learn the art and science of better management of projects and goals of the organisation.

So what are these benefits?

• Project management training will teach you the importance of time and setting of goals and objectives. You will be able to prioritise these goals as well assist you making great use of your time.
• You will know the remaining resources and needs of the company. This could be in the form of time, money or manpower. You can make use of project management training to help you determine how to estimate the resources that you will need in future projects and set realistic budgets.
• You will learn how to produce documents for review. Every step before, during and on completion of the project should be documented. This will ensure a solid record that you can refer to or verify during review. Project management training will provide you with the skills that you need in producing well documented project completion proofs.
• With project management training you can work better with information systems. Project management is not done manually – in this day and age! You can already make use of several applications and programs to keep track of the mile stones and progress of your projects. Project management training will show you how to work around them without creating much steeper learning curve, especially to those people who do not have great knowledge of computers or are not comfortable using them.

Many project managers learn lessons the hard way – this can cost the organisation dearly in wasted effort, cost, poor customer reputation, stress and failure to deliver the full benefits.

Professional development and training courses can fast track the development of the competencies required to deliver successful projects.

 

1. Introduction to Project Management

Defining “project management”
Exploring opportunities in the project management field
Developing project management skills
Categorising different types of projects
Understanding the difference between projects and programmes

2. Planning Your Project

Planning a project
Identifying and delivering on your client’s priorities
Managing stakeholders
Developing a project management plan
RACI Matrix
Preventing ‘scope creep’
Assessing the feasibility of a project
Identifying and managing risks

3. Implementing Your Project

Entering into a contract
Managing a project
Setting up a project database
Creating an effective work schedule
Monitoring a project
Conducting effective meetings
Managing change
Addressing problems

4. Project Management Techniques

Identifying organisational structures
Estimating costs and budgeting
Using critical path project management tools (WBS, Gantt chart, Project Network Diagram)
Establishing the critical path
Tracking project milestones
Using the programme evaluation and review technique (PERT tool)
Using process improvement tools (Fishbone, SIPOC)
Managing time
Controlling quality

5. Business and Financial Issues

Understanding the importance of a business case
Developing a business case
Identifying project costs
Calculating return on investment (ROI)
Calculating a payback period
Determining net present value (NPV)

6. The Project from Start to Finish

Identifying the life cycle of a project
Handing over a project
Closing a project
Reviewing a project

7. People in the Project

Assembling your project team
Planning resources for your project team
Managing your project team
Managing conflict within your team
Communicating effectively
Providing leadership and fostering teamwork

8. Your Career in Project Management

Progressing through different project management positions
Breaking into official project management
Creating your cover letter and curriculum vita
Networking
Interviewing
Advancing in your career: The next step after project management.

9. Course Duration

The courses are up to 9 months in length:

-         24 weeks of classroom studies and evaluations

-         2 monthsinternship

-         1 month of project and defense

 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this program, you prospective trainees must be holders of a GCE Advanced Level with at least 2subjets including Mathematics (a pass grade in Computer science will be an added advantage) or a Baccalaureat with a minimum score of 12/20 in mathematics.

SECRETARIAL STUDIES

 DESIGNING THE PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR SECRETARIAL STUDIES

 

Learning how the office and business environments work is beneficial for anyone looking to make it big one day. Secretaries get a lot of exposure to these worlds, since they are constantly involved in the inner workings. They get first hand and on-the-job experience, making it a very lucrative position to be in.

This Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) program, offered by HILAPS Institute, will cover most of the base knowledge as well as some extra skills and abilities you will need to succeed.

The course is up to 9 months in length:

-          24 weeks of classroom studies and evaluations

-          2 months internship

-          1 month of project and defense

Common secretarial tasks include:

1. Maintaining records and files
2. Keeping the office tidy
3. Answering phones
4. Taking messages
5. Typing letters
6. Welcoming clients
7. Maintaining websites
8. Managing petty cash
9. Making travel arrangements

 

Subjects

1. Introduction to Business English

2. Office Communication

3. Excellence in Service: Basic

4. Computer Practice

5. Business Etiquette

6. Organisational Skills

7. Introduction to Entrepreneurship

1. Introduction to Business English

1. Introduction to communication
2. Non-verbal communication
3. Business writing
4. Speaking, listening and reading skills
5. Meetings
6. Presentations
7. Work readiness

 

2. Office Communication

1. Definitions
2. Making sense of the definitions
3. Check your understanding
4. Different types of information that a business person can impart and receive
5. Essential communication skills for a secretary
6. Quick definition: Channel of communication
7. Telephone: Origin and meaning
8. What can we use telephones to do (in everyday life)?
9. The telephone in the workplace
10. Why and how telephones are used in the workplace
11. Dos and don’ts of telephone use

 

3.Excellence in Service: Basic

1. Customer service fundamentals
2. Customer service skills
3. Customer management
4. Customer communication

 

4. Computer Practice

1. Introduction to computers
2. Hardware and software
3. Keyboard proficiency
4. Storage devices
5. Operating System: Windows 7
6. Word Processing: Microsoft Word 2010
7. Desktop Publishing: Microsoft Publisher
8. Microsoft Excel: Introduction
9. Microsoft Excel: Manipulating functions
10. Microsoft Excel: Set display of the worksheet
11. Microsoft Excel: Formulae
12. Microsoft Excel: Charts and graphs

 

5. Business Etiquette

1. Office protocol
2. Professional conduct
3. Communication in the workplace
4. Etiquette in communication
5. Business functions
6. Travelling for business

                                                                                                                                        

6. Organizational Skills

1. Information management
2. Managing incoming information
3. Managing outgoing information
4. Time management
5. Organizing time
6. Coordinating time with others
7. Team time management

 

7. Introduction to Entrepreneurship

        i.            What is entrepreneurship?

      ii.            Characteristics of an entrepreneur

    iii.            Why study Entrepreneurship

    iv.            Creation of Enterprise

 

Instruction Methodology:

-          Lectures

-          Tutorials

-          Workshops

-          Professional Immersion (Internship)

Assessments

-          Assignments

-          Presentations

-          Tests

-          End of Semester exams

-          Internship Report

Trainees will have to complete the recommended assignments, test and exams.

The assignments are designed to help through learning to make sure that they completely understand all the topics covered and that they can apply this to their working environment.

Trainees will also be expected to come up with a business project which they will defend at the end of their training.

GMAT Preparation

 GMAT Preparation

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is created and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Admissions officers use the GMAT to measure academic ability. In fact, ETS data has shown that GMAT scores are consistently good, though imperfect, predictors of academic success in the first year of business school. GMAT scores are also used by admissions committees as a useful guide in comparing the credentials of candidates from widely varying backgrounds.

Standardized = Predictable

The exam itself measures general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. It does not test business competence nor specific subject knowledge. The GMAT is a standardized test. Standardized tests by definition are predictable. Knowing the format and structure of the exam and applying certain strategies to address them can significantly increase score levels. In short, targeted preparation is the key to success on the GMAT.

Taking the Test

There are many test locations and you are advised to check the GMAT website for more information about locations of testing and how to book a test appointment, you can find all that information at http://www.gmac.com/gmac/thegmat/

Format

The GMAT consists of three sections, each providing a sub-score that contributes to your overall score:

1.      Analytical Writing Assessment

2.    Quantitative

3.    Verbal

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
The analytical writing assessment consists of two 30-minute typewritten essays. Topics tested include: Analysis of an argument and analysis of an issue

Quantitative
This section will take 75 minutes, and has a maximum of 37 multiple-choice questions. Questions includes problem solving and data sufficiency, on topics such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.

Verbal
The verbal section takes 75 minutes and has a maximum of 41 multiple-choice questions. Question types include: Reading comprehension, sentence correction, and critical reasoning on topics such as speed reading, grammar, and analytical reasoning

The GMAT CAT

How does a computer adaptive test work? The Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) is more than just a computerized version of a paper-and-pencil test. The GMAT CAT is called "adaptive" because the computer assigns questions based on your responses to previous questions. So, if you get the first question right, the second question should be a little harder and if you get the first question wrong, the second question should be a little easier, and so on. Harder questions generate higher scores and easier questions lower scores. The earlier questions of a GMAT CAT section are crucial in determining your baseline score, so invest the necessary time to try and answer these questions correctly. You must, however, pace yourself so that you have time to mark an answer for every question in the section.

GMAT Tips

In the first half of the Quantitative and Verbal Sections:

1.      Double-check your work to catch any sloppy mistakes.

2.    If you get the first few right, expect a very tough question early on.

3.    Don't worry if you can't answer an early question (even the first one).

4.    Don't over invest. Some questions yield to brute force, some don't.

In the second half of the Quantitative and Verbal Sections:

1.      You should feel challenged.

2.    Strategic guessing is ultra-important. Be willing to cut your losses.

3.    Take quick stabs whenever a question looks too time-consuming.

4.    Manage your time so you don't have to guess randomly on the last 10-15 questions.

5.     Missing any one question won't hurt your score (much), but missing a string of questions will.

6.    Assume the last questions are scored.

7.     You will be penalized heavily for not finishing the section.

Scoring on the GMAT

You will receive four scores on the GMAT:

1.      An overall score, ranging from 200 to 800.

2.    A math sub-score, ranging from 0 to 60.

3.    A verbal sub-score, ranging from 0 to 60.

4.    A score for the Analytical Writing Assessment, ranging from 0 to 6.

Your GMAT score is valid for five years.

Percentile Rank

Each of the aforementioned scores are accompanied by a percentile rank. The percentile rank highlights what proportion of test takers scored lower than you on the test. The higher the percentile rank, the better you did. For example, if you received a percentile rank of 56, you did better than 56 percent of test takers. This number tells business schools exactly where you fell with respect to other candidates who took the GMAT.

The Essay

Each essay is given a separate grade on a 0-6 scale by two different graders - a human and a computer named the "e-rater.". These grades are assigned holistically, taking into account all aspects of content, writing style, and grammar.

If the two grades for an essay agree, that score will be assigned. If the two scores are markedly different, then a third scorer, a person, will read the essay to determine its grade. In addition, business schools may receive copies of your typewritten essays.