Project Management for Facilities Managers

Facilities managers are consistently tasked with the delivery of significant projects for their organizations.
These may range from the commissioning of new works, relocating staff to new accommodation, implementing new working methods or introducing environmental / sustainability programs.
To be successful the FM team needs to apply a structured approach appropriate to the scale of the task. This course sets out to demystify the project management process and equip the team with the fundamental tools to control and deliver projects in line with expectations.

Objectives

This course sets out a straightforward approach to managing facilities projects in line with objectives, budgets and customer expectations which will help participants to:

• Value the need for formal project management.
• Comprehend the different elements of a project strategy.
• Allocate responsibilities effectively.
• Develop and monitor a project plan.
• Know what to report and to whom?
• Ensure they involve all the key players.
• Convey to time and budget.
• Accomplish an effective hand-over.
• Gain confidence in the management of projects and dealing with people and problems.

Course Outline

Day 1

Getting started

• How to define a project?
• Drafting a concept paper.
• Drafting a business case.
• Interpreting the brief.
• Authorities/ownership.
• Budget/resources.
• Constraints.
• Terms of reference.

Day 2

Project strategy

• Why a strategy?
• Components.
• Organization and control.
• Planning – critical dates.
• Risk evaluation.
• Business imperatives.
• Technical and quality standards.
• Change control.

Day 3

Forming the project team

• Defining disciplines and skills.
• Selection of team members.
• Allocation of roles and responsibilities.
• Availability and commitment.
• Objectives and deliverables.

Day 4

Project plan

• List activities.
• Draft plan to the timeframe.
• List key dates.
• Identify dependencies.
• Consult key players.
• Plan approval and sign-off.

Project document control

• Reason for controls.
• Mechanisms of control.
• Types of the document.
• Updating and reviews.
• Audit.

Day 5

In-project management

• Direction.
• Communication and people skills.
• Reporting.
• Measurement against deliverables.
• Cost control.
• Quality.
• Identifying, managing and avoiding problems.
• Keeping focused.

Post-project

• Objectives met?
• Budget sign-off.
• Customer appraisal.
• Project review document.
• Team reassigned.
• Transfer of responsibilities.