Project Management Training in Pittsburgh

The virtues of project management

The true benefits of project management are so vast that I could write an entire article just on that topic (watch our website for articles on the benefits of project management).  Many companies see project management as a prime contributor to their product quality and their ability to deliver the right product on time and within budget.  Customers demand a high quality product, but market competition requires us to produce that product for less and as fast as possible.   As a result, budgets are getting tighter and time-to-market must be faster.

Project management is difficult; it is more of a “discipline” than a profession.  A good project manager must be disciplined enough to use the project management processes, in spite of apparent contention between the project stakeholders and project goals.  In order to successfully manage a project (I.T. or business) a project manager needs to be able to draw on the entire body of knowledge about project management.  That is why high-quality, experience-based training by someone that has been in your shoes is so important. 

Enough about WHY you should do it.  How do you go about choosing a good trainer or a good class?

Things to look for in project management training

First you need to be aware that there are nine knowledge areas in project management.  No matter how you break it down and what standard you’re following, the basic areas to understand are the same.  Be sure that any training course you consider covers the following:

1.        Scope – How to define your project and the product you’ll produce.

2.        Time – Ensuring that you’ve estimated accurately, scheduled appropriately and kept the project to that schedule.

3.        Cost – Understanding all the costs involved, planning a budget and ensuring the project meets that budget.

4.        Quality – Not just inspecting for errors, but building quality right into the product.

5.        Human Resources – It’s people who determine the success of our projects, not the technology.  So understanding how to manage people is vital to project success.

6.        Communication – In Information Technology projects, communication often fails for many reasons.  Understanding the components of communication and how to plan for it on your project will help eliminate problems here.

7.        Risk – Identifying and planning for project risks, then controlling to project to deal with those risks.

8.        Procurement – Planning and controlling the processes of purchasing services or products from outside the organization.

9.        Integration – Finally bringing all the knowledge areas together into one plan and ensuring that they stay together throughout the project.

Secondly, examine the training provider and the courses and services they offer.  When choosing a training program you should look for the following things:

„      Does the trainer offer training in all nine knowledge areas?

Even if you’re looking for an overview or “fundamentals” course, choosing a trainer that has developed training in the nine knowledge areas means that they will probably not teach you to take shortcuts that may end in disaster.

„      Is the training associated with an accredited training institution?

The courseware should be endorsed by a college, university or other accredited educational institution.

„      Does the training have hands-on workshops where you can apply what you’ve learned during the lecture?

This is necessary so you can use what you’ve learned when you go back to your office!

„      Does the training seem to focus on actual project management rather than the scheduling tool?

There are times when you need to learn about a tool, no argument, but make sure your training doesn’t stop there.
A good training provider will offer training in many areas of project management, not just the tools.

„      Don’t be fooled by big training companies.
Sometimes you can get extremely high quality training from a smaller training organization with less structure and “canned lessons.” They have more flexibility in what they present and they can individualize their sessions to meet specific needs.

„      Is the training taught by an experienced project manager?

If you get an REP, the training will always be taught by a certified PMP®, however, if the instructor doesn’t have broad experience in relevant industry they may not be able to help you with questions and issues.  Discussing students’ issues adds as much to the training as do the lecture and workshops!

„      Does the trainer limit the size of their classes?

8 to 15 students is an ideal size for idea generation and discussions.  Learning from experiences of others is very important in project management.

„      Will the trainer be available for questions and follow-up after the training course?

Often, what you learn in class makes perfect sense until you’re back at your desk.  That’s when it’s great to have someone you can turn to for help.

„      Is the training offered by a Registered Education Provider (REP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI®)? 

The REP may not be the only accreditation to look for, but PMI® is the foremost organization in project management and project management standards. 
Look for the REP logo.  The REP logo represents that the training adheres to PMI’s® project management standards, that the training is of a high quality and that PMI® has reviewed and endorses the training.  Without it, you may be getting someone’s opinion (right or wrong) on what project management really is!

The pulse of project management training in Pittsburgh

Successful project management is not a quick fix. It requires a lot of discipline.  Many companies see the value of project management.  They understand that managing their projects will help them produce a better product, on time and within budget.  However, not all companies have the resources to invest in in-house project management training nor do they have the staff to help their people become successful project managers.

The Pittsburgh region is home to many dynamic organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies.   Projects carried-out by these companies include cyber security, cutting edge Web applications, researching tomorrow’s tissue engineering technologies and perfecting manufacturing techniques.   In addition, companies execute many in-house productivity projects to continue to improve their products and processes.

It’s obvious that Pittsburgh people and companies understand the value of project management. The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) is one of the strongest chapters of PMI® in the country with nearly 1000 members.  That’s 3.8% of our population in the Pittsburgh region. The Pittsburgh chapter can also boast 44% of our membership currently has their Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification. 

It is important to stay on top of the discipline to maintain the high level of value expected in Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh is fortunate to have many project management providers and training programs to help PMPs® and novice project managers attain optimal value in their project management knowledge.  As you evaluate training providers, be sure to find an experienced practitioner – someone who has been in the trenches of project work who can help you with your needs and discuss issues with you.

For information on our project management and business analysis services and training please visit www.vbhconsulting.com