Project Management for the Business Analyst

Abstract

This 2-day course is designed to give Business Analysts the essential tools they need for three purposes: to better plan and control business analysis work; to better integrate their role and work efforts into a project delivery environment; and to be able to effectively manage projects that do not have a project manager. It covers the project management framework from initiating and planning through to closing. This course uses examples from business analysis practices to allow you to become better at planning and managing requirements definition engagements.

This course conforms to the internationally recognized standards of the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is based on BABOK® and PMBOK® Guide. Participants learn PMI terminology and standards that will aid project communication and continuous learning efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will gain practical skills to:

  • Identify and avoid common causes of project failure.
  • Identify options for structuring a project team.
  • Identify, establish, and analyze stakeholders and their needs
  • Create an effective and actionable scope statement.
  • Identify key areas of project risk, assess their impact, and identify strategies for managing risks.
  • Analyze project scope by breaking it into discrete manageable and measurable components.
  • Model the flow and timing of a project.
  • Identify “critical path” high priority tasks.
  • Assess resource requirements, develop a budget.
  • Learn methods for schedule compression.
  • Used Earned Value to monitor and communicate project status and identified the need for corrective measures when necessary.
  • Manage issues and change requests.
  • Improve communication between stakeholders.
  • Properly close-out a project.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The Project Management for the Business Analyst is appropriate for individuals who:

  • Want to become more effective Business Analysts.
  • Are Business Analysts or team members who want to pursue a career in project management.

 

PREREQUISITE

It is strongly recommended that you take Comprehensive Business Analysis Part 1: Planning, Monitoring & Communication.

 

MATERIALS

You will receive a course binder containing copies of presentation slides, case studies, exercises, and suggested solutions.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Introduction

  • Reasons for project failures

 

Project Management Framework–Best Practice
  • Project management methodologies
  • PM in different environments

 

Establishing a Project Team
  • Roles

 

Developing Scope Statement
  • Determine and document stakeholders
  • Identify and document the scope
  • Identify key project risk areas

 

Establishing Project Activities
  • Why use a WBS approach
  • Elements of an effective WBS
  • Project activity dependencies

 

Producing Project Schedule

  • Determine project timing
  • Produce project schedule
  • Set project baseline

 

Executing and Monitoring Project Schedule
  • Identify and avoid resource conflicts
  • Issue log and management
  • Change requests and management
  • Project status and updating
  • Options for communication
  • Project update meetings and frequency of updates
  • Asking the “right questions”
  • Reporting project status at the correct intervals and levels of detail for different audiences
  • Quality management

 

Closing Projects
  • Project acceptance criteria
  • Project sign-off

 

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