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Scheduling and time management < Risk and stakeholder management

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FAQs<

Example of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

< Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

< The

< The essence of a WBS is to break down the final deliverable into smaller, more manageable components called work packages. It starts with the final deliverable at the top and is subdivided in a tree structure, where each level of detail represents an increasingly granular level of the project components. These components are typically organised into phases, deliverables, and work packages. By definition, WBS becomes more detailed as you go deeper into the tree. In

< project management

Example of a Gantt chart

< Create a foundation for estimating costs, duration, and resources

< typically requires input from the project team and stakeholders to ensure it is comprehensive and accurate. A WBS is usually presented as a tree diagram or outline, with each level representing an increased level of detail and each item on the same level representing a similar type of work. Note that the term ‘tree’ is used by many software systems and it is not necessarily drawn as a tree.

< A WBS becomes the foundation for other

< Gantt charts

Example of a project network diagram

< A Gantt chart typically consists of a horizontal bar chart with the project tasks listed on the vertical axis on the left side and the time periods spread across the top. The project tasks are then represented by horizontal bars spanning the time periods in which they are scheduled to be performed. The length of the bar indicates the duration of each task. This format allows

< Identify dependencies and relationships between tasks

  • < Some modern Gantt chart software provides additional features such as colour-coding of tasks, milestone markers, and linking of dependent tasks. Some tools also allow for resource allocation and workload management directly from the Gantt view.

< Gantt charts are most useful when you want to provide an overview of the entire project. However, for large and complex projects, they may become cluttered and difficult to read. Despite this, Gantt charts remain a popular tool for project managers because of their intuitive design and ability to communicate complex scheduling information quickly and clearly.

  • < Project Network Diagrams
  • Network diagrams typically use nodes to represent tasks or activities and arrows to indicate dependencies between these tasks. They allow for a clear visualisation of task sequences and can help project managers identify potential bottlenecks or critical paths in the

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.project schedule

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Example of a Critical Path Method (CPM)

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  • Anyone expected to facilitate and improve Scrum ways of working Critical Path Method (CPM)
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Recognised certification

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)

  • Best forPERT
  • Prerequisites is a project management technique that can be used for
  • Durationprojects
  • Delivery options with uncertain or variable task durations. Developed in the 1950s for the U.S. Navy’s Polaris missile program, PERT allows project managers to incorporate probabilistic time estimates into their project schedules.

Exam includedPERT requires the creation of a network diagram of all project tasks, along with three time estimates for each task:

  • Exam formatOptimistic time (O): The shortest time the task could possibly take.
  • Most likely time (M): The best estimate of how long the task will take, based on available information.
  • Pessimistic time (P): The longest time the task could possibly take, considering all potential issues.
  • The expected time (E) for each task is then calculated as E = (O + 4M + P) / 6.

Key takeaways

Provides more realistic project timelines by accounting for uncertainties

Identifies critical paths and potential schedule risksHelps in better resource allocation and risk managementAllows probabilistic analysis of project completion times.Quick tips

Example of a kanban board.

Involve experts in estimating task durations to get accurate timeframes

  • Update estimates regularly as new information becomes available
  • Use PERT in conjunction with CPM for a comprehensive schedule analysis
  • Leverage software tools for PERT calculations and visualisations.
  • Common pitfalls

Overreliance on extreme (optimistic or pessimistic) estimates

  • Neglecting task dependencies
  • Failing to update analysis as the project progresses
  • Misinterpreting results as definitive rather than probabilistic.
  • PERT can be time-consuming to apply to large projects, and it may not be necessary for every project. It is most useful when used judiciously, in combination with other techniques, and applied to the most critical or highly uncertain aspects of a project.

Kanban boardsKanban Boards are a visual project management tool that originated in Toyota’s lean manufacturing system and have since become popular in various industries, particularly in software development and

Agile project

management

.

A Kanban board is a visual tool that helps teams manage their work using Kanban methodology. The board is divided into columns that represent the stages of a workflow, for example, “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Done”. Cards or sticky notes are placed on the board to represent the work items or tasks, and they are moved from one column to another as the work progresses. This way, the team can:Visualise workflow: The status of all tasks is visible at a glance.Limit work in progress: Limits are set on the number of tasks in each column to avoid overloading the team.

Manage flow: Blockers are quickly identified and resolved.

Example of a risk management matrix.

Continuous improvement: The team optimises the workflow over time.

  • Benefits of using Kanban boards include:
  • Improved transparency and communication
  • Increased focus and productivity

Example of a stakeholder mapping diagram.

Stakeholder mapping

  • Stakeholder mapping
  • is a visual technique to analyse and prioritise stakeholders for your project based on their interest, influence, and impact on the project.
  • Key takeaways
  • Recognise all potential stakeholders, those who may affect or be affected by the project.
  • Help prioritise stakeholders based on their influence and interest in the project.

Facilitate communication planning with stakeholders.

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Example of a resource levelling diagram.

Yes. This course teaches Scrum from the ground up and is suitable for people who are new to agile ways of working. If you want a lighter introduction before taking a role-based course, you can also start with Scrum Essentials.

Is this course suitable for project managers?

Yes. Many project managers take Scrum Master training when they move into agile delivery environments or work closely with Scrum Teams. The course is especially useful if you need to facilitate Scrum events, support team collaboration, and understand how Scrum delivery differs from traditional project approaches.

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Project management techniques infographic