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Course Description

This intensive five-day program is designed for current and aspiring project leaders, project managers, and project control professionals seeking to master the principles and practical application of comprehensive project controls. The course provides a holistic view of integrating planning, scheduling, cost control, monitoring, and reporting to drive project success. Participants will delve into advanced techniques for establishing robust baselines, performing earned value management (EVM), conducting effective variance analysis, accurate forecasting, and managing change. With a focus on strategic decision support, the program also covers risk control, performance reporting for various stakeholders, and the leadership skills essential for effectively leveraging project controls to achieve project objectives and organizational goals. Through a blend of theoretical instruction, real-world case studies, hands-on exercises (potentially using generic project management software or simulated scenarios), and interactive discussions, attendees will gain the expertise to lead and implement best-in-class project control systems.

Course Objectives

  • Understand the strategic importance and integrated nature of project controls in achieving project and organizational objectives.
  • Master the process of developing a robust Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) that integrates scope, schedule, and cost.
  • Apply advanced project planning techniques, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Organizational Breakdown Structures (OBS).
  • Develop and manage detailed project schedules using Critical Path Method (CPM) and critical chain concepts.
  • Implement effective cost control measures, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and cost forecasting.
  • Utilize Earned Value Management (EVM) as a primary tool for integrated performance measurement.
  • Conduct comprehensive variance analysis (cost and schedule) and determine root causes of deviations.
  • Perform accurate forecasting (Estimate at Completion - EAC, Estimate to Complete - ETC) for both cost and schedule.
  • Design and implement effective project monitoring and reporting systems for various stakeholder levels.
  • Understand and apply principles of risk management and integrated change control within the project controls framework.
  • Select and evaluate appropriate project controls software and tools (conceptual understanding).
  • Develop leadership skills for communicating project performance, influencing stakeholders, and driving corrective actions.
  • Contribute to a culture of disciplined project execution and continuous improvement.

Who Should Attend?

This course is essential for Project Directors, Project Managers, Program Managers, Project Control Managers, Project Control Engineers, Planners, Schedulers, Cost Engineers, Risk Managers, Financial Analysts, and any professional seeking to enhance their strategic understanding and application of integrated project controls within a leadership capacity.

Course Agenda

Day 1: Strategic Foundations of Project Controls & Planning

  • Introduction to Project Controls:
    • Definition, purpose, and value proposition of project controls.
    • The project lifecycle and the role of controls at each phase.
    • Integrating project controls with project management processes.
    • The Project Controls Professional as a Strategic Business Partner.
  • Project Planning Fundamentals:
    • Defining Project Scope: Scope Statement, Requirements Management.
    • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Principles, hierarchical decomposition, benefits for control.
    • Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) and Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM).
    • Establishing the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB): Integration of scope, schedule, and cost baselines.
  • Cost Estimating Principles:
    • Types of Estimates (Conceptual, Definitive).
    • Estimating Techniques: Analogous, Parametric, Bottom-up.
    • Contingency and Management Reserve.
  • Project Controls Systems & Tools (Conceptual Overview): ERP, Project Management Software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project), Control Accounts.
  • Workshop: Developing a WBS and initial cost estimates for a sample project.

Day 2: Mastering Project Scheduling & Time Control

  • Detailed Schedule Development:
    • Activity Definition, Sequencing, and Durations.
    • Critical Path Method (CPM): Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Total Float, Free Float.
    • Network Diagramming (PDM, ADM - overview).
    • Resource Loading and Leveling.
    • Schedule Compression Techniques (Crashing, Fast-Tracking).
  • Establishing the Schedule Baseline: Importance and maintenance.
  • Project Progress Measurement & Tracking:
    • Methods for progress measurement (physical percent complete, earned value techniques).
    • Updating the schedule: Actual dates, remaining durations.
  • Schedule Variance Analysis:
    • Identifying schedule deviations and their causes.
    • Impact of changes on the critical path.
  • Introduction to Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM - overview): Buffers and resource dependency.
  • Practical Exercise: Developing a project schedule, identifying the critical path, and performing a baseline update with progress.

Day 3: Mastering Project Cost Control & Financial Performance

  • Cost Budgeting & Allocation:
    • Cost Aggregation to Control Accounts.
    • Time-Phasing the Budget (Planned Value - PV).
    • Cash Flow Forecasting.
  • Cost Tracking & Actual Cost Collection (AC):
    • Types of costs (direct, indirect, fixed, variable).
    • Collecting actual expenditure data.
    • Accruals and commitments.
  • Cost Variance Analysis:
    • Comparing Actual Cost (AC) to Earned Value (EV) and Planned Value (PV).
    • Identifying cost overruns and underruns.
    • Root cause analysis for cost deviations.
  • Forecasting Project Costs:
    • Estimate to Complete (ETC): Methods for projecting remaining costs.
    • Estimate at Completion (EAC): Predicting the total project cost at completion.
    • Variance at Completion (VAC).
  • Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI) - Detailed: Calculation and interpretation.
  • Laboratory Session: Performing cost calculations, tracking actuals, and preparing a cost performance report.

Day 4: Integrated Project Monitoring, Performance Reporting & Analysis (EVM Focus)

  • Integrated Performance Measurement using Earned Value Management (EVM):
    • Core EVM Metrics: Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), Actual Cost (AC).
    • Performance Variances: Cost Variance (CV), Schedule Variance (SV).
    • Performance Indices: Cost Performance Index (CPI), Schedule Performance Index (SPI).
    • Graphical representation of EVM data (S-Curves).
  • Advanced EVM Concepts:
    • To Complete Performance Index (TCPI).
    • Independent Estimate at Completion (IEAC).
    • Earned Schedule (ES) Concepts (Overview).
  • Variance Analysis & Management by Exception:
    • Developing variance thresholds.
    • Analyzing significant deviations and identifying corrective actions.
  • Project Monitoring & Control Cycle: Plan, Do, Check, Act.
  • Comprehensive Project Performance Reporting:
    • Designing effective reports and dashboards for different stakeholders (executive, project team, client).
    • Frequency and content of reports.
    • Visualizing data for clear communication.
  • Practical Exercise: Analyzing a full EVM dataset, calculating all key metrics, interpreting performance, and drafting a performance summary report.

Day 5: Advanced Project Control Strategies, Risk, Change & Leadership

  • Integrated Change Control Management:
    • Formal Change Control Process: Identification, Impact Analysis (cost, schedule, scope), Approval, Implementation.
    • Baselines vs. Changes: Maintaining baseline integrity.
    • Contingency and Management Reserve drawdown.
  • Risk Management in Project Controls:
    • Risk Identification, Analysis (Qualitative & Quantitative), and Prioritization.
    • Risk Response Planning: Mitigation, Avoidance, Transfer, Acceptance.
    • Controlling and Monitoring Risks.
    • Integrating risk with schedule and cost (e.g., probabilistic scheduling, contingency sizing).
  • Advanced Project Control Best Practices:
    • Lessons Learned Integration.
    • Project Controls Audits.
    • Close-out Procedures (financial and administrative).
  • Leadership in Project Controls (Certified Project Leader Focus):
    • Communicating complex control data effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
    • Influencing decision-making through data-driven insights.
    • Driving accountability and corrective actions.
    • Building a high-performing project controls team.
    • Ethical considerations in project controls.

Assessment Methodology

All courses conducted by EdTech are begun with a written Pre-evaluation and end with a Post-evaluation. The instructor will evaluate the knowledge and skills of the participants according to the feedback given by participants. This proactive method will help to recognize the benefits and knowledge gained by participants through the course.

Training Methodology

Facilitated by a highly experienced specialist; this program will be conducted using extensively interactive methods, encouraging participants to share their own experiences and apply the program material to real-life work situations in order to stimulate group discussions and improve the efficiency of the subject coverage. Percentages of the total course hour classification are:

  • 30%  Theoretical lectures, Concepts and Role Play
  • 30%  Work Presentation and Techniques
  • 20%  Case Studies and Practical Exercises
  • 20%  Topic General Discussions with Relevant Videos

Course Manual

Participants will be provided with a comprehensive reference manual. This manual is a compilation of core valuable information, references, presentation methods and inspiring reading materials.

Course Certificate

At the completion of the course, all participants who successfully accomplished the required contact hours will receive an EdTech Course Completion Certificate as a testimony to their commitment to professional development and further education.

Why Edtech ?

  • Industry Experienced; Internationally Qualified Trainers
  • Hands-on Practical Sessions & Assignments
  • Intensive Study materials
  • Flexible Schedules
  • Realistic training methodology
  • High-Quality Training in Affordable Course Fees
  • Achievement Certificate, as approved by the Ministry of Education (Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education Training - ACTVET), HABC, AWS, IAOSHE, SHRM, etc.