Dealing with individuals and teams. Creating better outcomes for all by learning what reactions might be expected, when they can be avoided and, when necessary, how to deal with them.

The needs of people in the temporary environment of a project are different to the needs of people working in the normal business environment. Some of the factors affecting them are:-

• The temporary nature of the work
• The pressure of deadlines
• New reporting arrangements
• High stress environments

Few people have all the necessary skills to solve complex 21st Century problems on their own. So projects need teams. Some teams are effective and some are not.

People skills for Project Managers is about recognising these needs and dealing with them. It includes understanding the dynamics of people and teams and using people skills effectively.

Project Managers are usually required to deliver sophisticated solutions to complex problems - involving a wide variety of stakeholders.

This is often in conditions of tight budgets, tight deadlines and high stress. Projects often involve teams that have not worked together before.

Unless the Project Manager can create effective teams, and build consensus, project success will be hard to achieve.

Many companies and trainers will teach generalised people skills. We are not aware of others in Australia who focus on the special needs of Project Managers

Change Management is

• Process, tools and techniques to manage the people side of changing systems, structures and behaviours.
• Achieving the required outcomes.
• Realising the change effectively within individuals, teams and organisations.
• A growing body of knowledge about the problems inherent in managing change and how to avoid or manage the issues.

Even small projects can require organisational change such as:-

• New behaviours
• New skills
• Different jobs, with different staff
• New lines of management
• Less staff

The APMG is the UK based organisation that administers the standards and qualifications for PRINCE2™ (a standard for project delivery) and ITIL® (a standard for service delivery). These are two internationally recognized standards.

In 2006, APMG developed the Principles of Change Management qualification around Making Sense of Change Management by Cameron and Green.

The assessment is a closed book one hour multiple choice exam.

Just as with ITIL® and PRINCE2™, organisations, course material and trainers are assessed and accredited by the APMG.

The Change Management accreditation is administered by the UK APMG who are the same people who administer PRINCE2™.

Successful change management and successful projects usually go hand in hand. One cannot happen without the other.

No.

To be a successful change manager or project manager, you need a good grasp on both disciplines. But it does not matter which you study first.

Occasionally, yes. Usually, no.

If it were that easy, it would be a lot simpler to change organisations.

Have you always done what you were told?

PRINCE2™ (PRojects IN Controlled Environments 2nd Version) is a method for running projects. It is adaptable to any size or type of project. It is widely used in over 50 countries and is accepted by many types and sizes of organisation.

More on PRINCE2™

It was originally developed from PROMPTII, a project management method created by Simpact Systems Ltd in 1975.

PRINCE took over from PROMTII in 1989 within UK Government projects. At this stage it only applied to IT projects.

PRINCE2™ took over from PRINCE in 1996 and from then on was suitable for all types of projects.

Basically the UK government.

Technically it’s the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) who own the methodology. The UK Association of Project Managers Group (APMG) administer it and they are represented in Australia by PRINCE Australia.

The only book that is essential to passing the Practitioner exam is the PRINCE2™ Manual (Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2™ - ISBN 0-11-330946-5).

This can be ordered from us.

Contact us on 03 9038 9236 or at enquiries@project-laneways.com.au

There are two levels of PRINCE2™ qualification generally available in Australia. They are:

• Foundation (based on a 1 hour multiple choice exam)
• Practitioner (from 1 Sep 2007, based on a 3 hour multiple choice exam)

In both cases, the pass mark is 50%. Project Laneways offers both qualifications.

No.

PRINCE2™ is suitable for all types of projects and is actively used for many types of projects e.g.

• policy development
• research projects
• marketing projects
• process design and implementation
• new services
• new products
• events

And, yes, it also works with many types of IT projects.

Our instructors have wide experience across many types of projects.

No.

PRINCE2™ is suitable for all sizes of project.

Our instructors have wide experience across both large and small projects and will advise you on how to tailor it to suit small projects.

No.

PRINCE2™ is suitable for all types of organisation. For instance, it is actively being used in

• Small companies
• Publicly listed corporations
• Global corporations
• The manufacturing sector
• The finance sector
• Telecommunications, publishing, media and service sectors
• The education sector
• The health sector

To name but a few.

Our instructors have a wide experience across many types of organisations and projects.

From 1st September, 2007, the PRINCE2™ Practitioner exam will change to a sophisticated form of multi-choice exam.

In the opinion of Project Laneways, this is an easier exam to take than the old style Practitioner exam. You still need a good and detailed understanding of PRINCE2™ but there is less exam technique required.

Sample exam papers are not available for general use.

As part of either the Foundation or Practitioner courses you will receive relevant sample exam packs, which include practice exams.

Project Laneways will send out confirmation of your Foundation exam result within a few days.

Certificate delivery is usually eight weeks after you have been notified of your result.

Result advice time for the Practitioner exam should be about two weeks.

Foundation Examination - The overall pass rate for Foundation examinations is 99%.

Practitioner Examination - The overall pass rate for Practitioner examinations is 75%.

Our trainers are very experienced as both trainers and project managers. You are almost certain to pass the exam on the first attempt.

In the unlikely event that you are unsuccessful on the first attempt in one of our public courses, we will offer you a free place on the next available public course after you receive your results.

Or, if you prefer......

We can arrange for up to half a day of personal coaching at your premises prior to joining the exam part of the next public course.

This is the Project Laneways exam guarantee

Please consult the overview and pricing page for the cost of our public courses.

If you are interested in organising a course at your premises or making a block booking, then please contact at enquiries@project-laneways.com.au or on
03 9038 9236.

No.

All our courses have been designed to cater for both experienced Project Managers and newcomers.

Our instructors are expert at methods of presenting that keep all levels engaged and able to follow the discussion.

If you need to cancel or postpone your course, we will endeavour to fill your place from our waiting list. Obviously, the more notice we get, the easier it is for us to do that.

If we can fill your place, then we will fully refund you or fully credit you for the new date.

If we cannot fill your place, then we may apply the following rules:-

• More than one week’s notice, full refund or apply the payment to a new date.
• More than two working days notice, 80% refund or 80% credit against the new date.
• Less than two working days notice, 50% refund or 50% credit against the new date.

Depends on the course.

We have courses that last anywhere from half a day to five days.

Please consult the overview and pricing page for details on each course.

Who will be my instructor?

Project Laneways is actively seeking additional trainers.

However, for the next few months, Dan Skelsey will be the instructor on all Project Laneways courses.

Unfortunately, Project Laneways at this time does not offer an option to study at home.

Many other companies do offer this type of course but they are often only suitable for people who:-

• Have a lot of project management experience
• Have already worked in a place that uses PRINCE2™

Project Laneways will shortly be offering weekend courses. Ring us on 9038 9236 to ask about the waiting list.