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11 essential project management techniques

Example of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Example of a Gantt chart

Example of a project network diagram

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Example of a Critical Path Method (CPM)

ls can also integrate with other techniques like Gantt charts and resource levelling. AgileBA , P3O

While CPM is well-suited for projects with well-defined tasks and dependencies, it may be less effective for projects with high levels of uncertainty or frequent changes. In such cases, it’s often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as PERT or ® ®Agile methodologies – Agile Business Analysis , PRINCE2, for a more adaptive approach. Foundation ®

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)United KingdomLearn the fundamentals of Agile Business Analysis. Agile, RESILIA

PERTAustriaPractitioner ® is a project management technique that can be used for Belgium4-day course including Foundation. , and the Swirl logo are registered trademarks of the PeopleCert group. Used under licence from PeopleCert. All rights reserved. AgilePMprojectsBulgariaLean Six Sigma ® 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.CroatiaYellow Belt and AgileBA

PERT requires the creation of a network diagram of all project tasks, along with three time estimates for each task:CyprusSelf-paced training course to gain LSS Yellow Belt. ®

  1. Optimistic time (O): The shortest time the task could possibly take.Czech RepublicPMI are registered trademarks of Agile Business Consortium Limited. All rights reserved. The APMG International AgilePM and Swirl Device logo, APMG International AgileBA and Swirl Device Logo, APMG International Change Management and APMG International Better Business Cases and Swirl Device logo are trademarks of The APM Group Limited, used under permission of The APM Group Limited. All rights reserved. Better Business Cases™ is a trademark of Her Majesty’s Treasury. All rights reserved. DevOps Foundation
  2. Most likely time (M): The best estimate of how long the task will take, based on available information.Denmark® ®
  3. Pessimistic time (P): The longest time the task could possibly take, considering all potential issues.EstoniaPMI-ACP is a registered mark of the DevOps Institute. “PMI”, “PMBOK

The expected time (E) for each task is then calculated as E = (O + 4M + P) / 6.FinlandSelf-paced course to prepare you for the exam (exam not included). ®

Key takeawaysFranceKanban Guide”, “PMP” and “CAPM” are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc. Knowledge Train Scrum Essentials™, Business Learning Library (BLL)™, Business Analysis Learning Library (BALL)™, Agile Learning Library (ALL)™, IT Learning Library (ITLL)™, and Compliance Learning Library (CLL)™ are trademarks of Knowledge Train Limited. All rights reserved.

  • Provides more realistic project timelines by accounting for uncertaintiesGermanyEstimating for Agile Foundation Knowledge Train Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative of NewDay Cards Ltd for the Newpay finance product provided by NewDay Ltd. NewDay Cards Ltd acts as a credit broker, not a lender. We will introduce you exclusively to Newpay finance products provided by NewDay Limited under this Introducer Appointed Representative arrangement. Finance available from other lenders is not covered by this arrangement. NewDay Ltd and Newday Cards Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (ref nos 690292 and 682417 respectively).
  • Identifies critical paths and potential schedule risksGreeceAgile Learning Library (ALL)™
  • Helps in better resource allocation and IrelandBUSINESS ANALYSIS risk managementItalyBCS Business Analysis
  • Allows probabilistic analysis of project completion times.LatviaBusiness Analysis Foundation

Quick tipsLithuaniaLearn the fundamentals of business analysis.

  • Involve experts in estimating task durations to get accurate timeframesLuxemburgModelling Business Processes Search
  • Update estimates regularly as new information becomes availableMaltaGain practitioner certificate in modelling business processes.
  • Use PERT in conjunction with CPM for a comprehensive schedule analysisNetherlandsBusiness Analysis Practices
  • Leverage software tools for PERT calculations and visualisations.PolandGain practitioner certificate in business analysis practices.

Common pitfallsPortugalRequirements Engineering

  • Overreliance on extreme (optimistic or pessimistic) estimatesRomaniaGain practitioner certificate in requirements engineering.
  • Neglecting task dependenciesSlovakiaBusiness Analysis International Diploma
  • Failing to update analysis as the project progressesSloveniaAll 4 courses bundled into this Diploma certification package.
  • Misinterpreting results as definitive rather than probabilistic.SpainAgileBA

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.Sweden®

Kanban boardsOther countries – Agile Business Analysis Request a quote

Kanban BoardsHomeFoundation training 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 Project ManagementLearn the fundamentals of Agile Business Analysis. Agile project Project Management CoursesPractitioner managementWhat soft skills do project managers need4-day course including Foundation. . PMI

Example of a kanban board.

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:{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Project Management","item":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Project Management Courses","item":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/project-management-courses"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"What soft skills do project managers need","item":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/project-management-courses/what-soft-skills-do-project-managers-need"}]}®

  • Visualise workflow: The status of all tasks is visible at a glance. PMI-PBA
  • Limit work in progress: Limits are set on the number of tasks in each column to avoid overloading the team. Self-paced course to prepare you for the exam (exam not included). Manage Consent
  • Manage flow: Blockers are quickly identified and resolved. Business Analysis Learning Library (BALL)™
  • Continuous improvement: The team optimises the workflow over time.What soft skills do project managers need?CHANGE MANAGEMENT To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Benefits of using Kanban boards include: APMG Change Management

  • Improved transparency and communicationSimon BuehringFoundation
  • Increased focus and productivity19 Feb 2026Learn the fundamentals of enterprise change management.
  • Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities Practitioner
  • Reduced waste of time and resources. Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. Functional

Kanban boards can be physical or digital. A physical board can be as simple as a whiteboard and some sticky notes. A digital board is a virtual representation of the physical board that can be accessed and updated by the team members using PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT project management software MSP . Digital boards offer more features, such as automatic updates, task details, and integration with other tools. ®

Implementing Kanban boards is easy, but it requires the team to be committed to updating the board regularly and following the work-in-progress limits. Foundation

Risk and stakeholder management Learn the fundamentals of programme management. Functional

Risk management matrix Practitioner

A Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. Always active Risk Management MatrixINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) , also referred to as a Probability and Impact Matrix, is a graphical representation used in project management to prioritise and manage risks. It allows project managers and teams to evaluate potential risks based on their likelihood of occurrence and potential impact on the project.ITIL

The matrix typically displays a grid with probability on one axis and impact on the other. Risks are plotted on this grid, enabling quick visual identification of high-priority risks that require immediate attention and action.®

Example of a risk management matrix.

Essential elements in a Risk Management Matrix:Foundation

  • Probability: The chance of a risk happening (typically rated as low, medium, high)Learn the fundamentals of ITIL service management.
  • Impact: The severity of the outcome if the risk occurs (usually ranked from minor to major)Strategist DPI
  • Risk score: A value obtained by multiplying the probability and impact assessments.3-day ITIL Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve (DPI) course. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.

Advantages of employing a Risk Management Matrix:Specialist: DSV

  • Facilitates a clear, visual summary of potential project risks.3-day ITIL Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV) course.
  • Assists in prioritising risk responses.
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  • Key takeaways
  • Strong project delivery depends on combining technical competence with human-centred skills.
  • Soft skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving are essential for keeping teams aligned and projects on track.Preferences
  • Clear, regular, non-emotive communication and active listening reduce confusion, rework and avoidable failure.

Conflict is inevitable, so set expectations early and address disagreements quickly before morale and productivity drop. Influence and negotiation work better than authority when managing senior stakeholders and cross-functional priorities. A proactive, positive attitude improves decision-making under stress and encourages openness about risks and issues.

Example of a stakeholder mapping diagram.

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Quick tipsWhat are soft skills? Select your preferred training course below:

  • Use a power/interest grid to plot stakeholders.
  • Update the stakeholder map regularly as the project evolves.Project management soft skills StatisticsAPM COURSES
  • Identify both positive and negative stakeholders. Select your preferred training course below:
  • Customise communication plans for different stakeholder groups.What type of attitude do project managers need?
  • Engage team members in the mapping process for a broader view. AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSES

How should project managers communicate?

  • Learning project manager soft skills
  • View soft skills infographic The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
  • Introduction BETTER BUSINESS CASES COURSES

Project success can be achieved by carefully identifying and communicating with key project stakeholders. The concept of a stakeholder map can be explained as the graphical representation of project stakeholders. The process to be performed for conducting a stakeholder mapping analysis is very crucial for the project success. When starting with a new project, the first phase in stakeholder mapping analysis is to conduct a stakeholder identification process. The stakeholder identification process in a project involves categorising the identified stakeholders based on their impact on the project and their level of influence in the project. What are soft skills?The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.Select your preferred training course below:

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Example of an Earned Value Management (EVM)

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Example of a resource levelling diagram.

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What type of attitude do project managers need?

Project management techniques infographic

, Knowledge,
: Recognising the need for change.Desire: Building the motivation to participate.Knowledge