The Project Management Activity Pack

1. An introduction to project management
What\'s involved in managing a project?
Enable your participants to distinguish what is
meant by the term project and identify some of
its key features.The session acts as an icebreaking
activity on a learning event that gives
the participants an opportunity to rate their
current competence as project managers.
2. The role of the project manager
What skills do I need to display during the phases
of a typical project?
This activity introduces participants to three
key strands of activity – the ‘content’,
‘structure’ and ‘processes’ – that must be
managed concurrently in order to maximise
the success of any project.
3. Define the end product
How do I clarify where the project is going and
why I want to get there?
An activity which introduces participants to the
need to develop a project statement that
clearly defines the goals of the project.
Furthermore, it enables them to develop the
skills of writing effective goals and completing a
SWOT analysis of the project.

4. The power of planning – part one
How do I start the journey to success?
Participants are introduced to the benefits they
will accrue from planning their projects.The
activity gives them an opportunity to learn and
develop the skills associated with two planning
techniques – Fishbone Analysis and Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS).
5. The power of planning – part two
How do I work out who does what and when?
This session continues the introduction to the
planning process. It aims to develop the
participants’ skills in presenting planning
information in a visual form that is clear and
useful.The technique of drawing up a
Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) –
a device for showing who is responsible for
what activity identified in the WBS – and how
to construct a Gantt chart are also introduced.
6. Critical Path Analysis
How do I plan and schedule more complex
projects?
Participants are shown a popular technique
(Critical Path Analysis) for managing projects,
enabling them to identify the length of time the
critical project activities will take and the
impact that any delays in delivering these
activities will have for successfully completing
the project as a whole.
7. Managing risk
How do I identify and manage potential risks to
my project\'s success?
An action which improves participants’ project
management skills and their ability to identify,
assess, action plan and control risks throughout
their projects that may have a significant impact
in delivering the project objectives on time and
budget.

8. Managing money
How do I work out and control the project\'s
budget?
This introduces participants to some of the key
concepts and techniques needed to successfully
manage a project budget.
9. Making a project presentation
How can I persuade others to back my project
proposal?
Participants are shown the techniques and skills
required to make an effective presentation
whose objective is to gain commitment to
support a proposed project.
10. Selecting the right person for your
project team
How do I choose the best person for the project?
Effective selection relies on using a customised
person specification for each job on the project
team.This activity provides clear guidelines
which will enable the participants to write a
person specification and test its effectiveness in
a recruitment interview.
11. Developing your project team
How do I encourage an effective project team
spirit?
The session enables participants to recognise
and practise the ingredients required for
effective teamwork.They then develop an
action plan to strengthen the performance of
their own work teams.
12. Project leadership style
How do I develop an effective project leadership
style?
An activity which helps to make participants
aware of the key differences between
management and leadership. As well as
introducing them to the essential ingredients
for developing an effective leadership style, it
gives them the opportunity to rate their
current levels of leadership and to identify ways
they can build on and develop these qualities.

13. Motivating your project team
How can I get my project team to work hard and
effectively?
It is important that participants understand
what is involved in motivating individuals in a
project team.This activity helps them establish
what methods they are currently using at work
and assists them in developing action plans to
increase future motivation and job satisfaction.
14. Oral communication skills
How can I communicate effectively with others
involved in the project?
Participants are introduced to the essential
skills they need to carry out effective face-toface
project management discussions.The
session gives them the opportunity to practise
and develop those skills.
15. Writing project reports
How can I express myself clearly when writing?
An essential skill is expressing oneself clearly
when writing project reports.The ground rules
explored here are common for all types of
writing, and similar structures will apply for
other types of report.
16. Managing performance
How can I ensure that my project team members
are working effectively?
Participants are introduced to a five-stage
process which will ensure that their project
staff perform the essential activities to an
agreed standard.The session ends with a
consolidation exercise during which each
participant prepares an action plan aimed at
developing their expertise in managing
performance.

17. Managing conflict
How do I constructively confront a poor performer?
A vital skill for line managers. Participants are
shown the strategy and style necessary to run
a discussion with a job holder who is not
performing to the required standard.Three
main types of behaviour and four predominant
styles for handling conflict are discussed.The
benefits of an assertive style are identified.They
are then given the opportunity to try out the
approach and style in a series of mini role-play
exercises using real work-based incidents they
have experienced.
18. Negotiation skills
How can I achieve a win–win outcome to my
negotiations?
Particular skills and techniques are required to
negotiate successfully. The session gives
participants an opportunity to try out and
develop their skills in this area. It introduces
The expectation test and the type of
information needed to complete it.
19. Time management
How do I plan my day and then work my plan?
This activity encourages participants to
appreciate the importance of managing time as
a resource for project managers. It introduces
them to some of the techniques associated
with effective time management, giving them
the opportunity to develop these in a project
setting.

20. Managing project meetings
How do I ensure that my project meetings are
productive?
This session is concerned with what managers
can do to improve both the structure and
process of their meetings in order to make
them more effective. It provides an opportunity
to try out key points by participating in two
linked exercises: the first being a preparatory
meeting for the second – a full meeting.
The activity ends with a review of the exercise
which allows the key learning points to be
surfaced and turned into an action plan for
each participant’s continued development at
work.
21. Problem solving
How do I resolve the problems which arise when
I implement my project plan?
Here participants are introduced to a
systematic approach to problem solving.They
identify how they currently approach problem
solving at work and compare this with the
Systematic Approach to Problem Solving, a
well-established seven-step approach.The
session gives them an opportunity to practice
the skills involved in using the approach on a
real work-based problem.
22. Continuing Professional Development
How can I continue to develop my project
management skills after this event?
This session enables the participants to rate
their progress in developing the competencies
needed to be effective project managers.They
generate ideas for a number of opportunities
they could use to develop their skills, before
finally putting together an action plan for
turning their ideas into practical action when
they return to work.