Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Master the process of collecting requirements, defining scope, and creating a robust **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)**.
• Develop accurate and realistic project schedules using techniques like **Critical Path Method (CPM)**.
• Apply advanced cost estimation techniques (e.g., bottom-up, parametric) and establish a definitive cost baseline.
• Utilize **Earned Value Management (EVM)** formulas to precisely track project performance (SPI, CPI, EAC, ETC).
• Implement effective change control processes to rigorously manage and prevent **Scope Creep**.
• Apply schedule compression techniques (e.g., fast tracking, crashing) while analyzing associated risks.
• Develop clear, quantitative metrics and performance reports for stakeholders based on the triple constraint.
• Integrate scope, schedule, and cost baselines to create a unified performance measurement baseline.

• Project Managers and Project Leaders
• Project Control Officers (PCOs) and Project Schedulers
• Financial and Budget Analysts supporting project execution
• Team Leads responsible for task and resource estimation
• PMO Staff focused on standardization and reporting

• Group Workshop: Developing a WBS and Creating a Network Diagram for Critical Path Calculation
• Individual Exercises: Calculating EVM Metrics (CPI, SPI, EAC, ETC) from provided data sets
• Case Studies: Analyzing a project that suffered from scope creep and budget overruns
• Role-Playing: Leading an Integrated Change Control Board (CCB) meeting
• Discussions: Strategies for effectively communicating EVM results to non-financial stakeholders

Unit 1: Defining and Controlling Project Scope

• Techniques for collecting and documenting detailed project requirements (interviews, focus groups).
• The process of formally defining the **Project Scope Statement** and establishing boundaries.
• Mastering the creation of a hierarchical **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)** and WBS Dictionary.
• Implementing a strict **Scope Change Control** process to manage change requests.
• Strategies for preventing and managing **Scope Creep** throughout the project life cycle.

Unit 2: Schedule Development and Management

Time and Critical Path
• Activity definition, sequencing, and the use of the Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM).
• Mastering activity duration estimation techniques (Three-Point Estimation, Analogous, Parametric).
• Applying the **Critical Path Method (CPM)** to determine the longest path and calculate float.
• Schedule compression techniques: **Crashing and Fast Tracking** and their cost/risk trade-offs.
• Using Gantt charts, network diagrams, and schedule baselines for monitoring.

Unit 3: Cost Estimation and Budgeting

Financial Baseline
• Advanced cost estimation techniques: bottom-up, parametric, and analogous estimating.
• Differentiating between contingency reserves and management reserves.
• The process of cost aggregation and establishing the **Cost Performance Baseline**.
• Understanding life cycle costing and its importance in decision-making.
• Techniques for resource planning and estimating resource costs.

Unit 4: Earned Value Management (EVM)

Performance Measurement and Forecasting
• Mastering the three key EVM data points: **Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), and Actual Cost (AC)**.
• Calculating and interpreting the key EVM variances and indexes (CV, SV, CPI, SPI).
• Using EVM to forecast project completion (EAC, ETC) and developing a reliable forecast.
• Techniques for integrating the scope, schedule, and cost baselines for EVM analysis.
• Developing effective EVM reports and communicating performance to stakeholders.

Unit 5: Integration and Control

Holistic Triple Constraint Management
• Analyzing the trade-offs between scope, schedule, and cost when a change is proposed.
• Implementing an integrated change control process that addresses all baselines.
• Techniques for using project management software to monitor and report on the triple constraint.
• Developing a robust **Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)**.
• Strategies for continuous control and optimization of the project baselines.