New project management Web seminar series begins this month

This month, ASME's Continuing Education Institute will launch a new series of seven Web seminars covering the various aspects of project management.

The first Webinar in the series, "Define Your Project — Setting Parameters, Performance Standards for Each and Resources," will be offered Oct. 26. This session will present basic project parameters - people, costs, quality, time, and location - as well as what questions to ask to determine the specific resources for each of these basic parameters. You will also learn how to write performance standards so they will help you meet your project objectives.

"Define Your Project — Setting and Testing Your Project Plan Before You Waste Resources," on Nov. 2, will teach how to use mindmapping tools, including such software programs as "Inspiration," to develop your project plan.

The third Web seminar in the series, "Setting Up Your Team — Who? Their Role and How You'll Make Them Successful" on Nov. 9, will examine getting members of your team "ready, willing, and able" to successfully complete their part of the project.

"Building Consensus Through Communication With Your Project Team," on Nov. 16, will help develop the active listening skills necessary for communicating with members of the project team. The course also will demonstrate how to provide colleagues with positive and constructive feedback.

On Nov. 30, the fifth seminar, "Managing Project Meetings — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," will teach how to establish an agenda before scheduling a meeting, how to establish and then maintain ground rules for the meeting, how to refocus your group when group members are distracted, and how to deal with difficult members of the team.

"Delegating and Controlling Work Processes — Yours and Others," on Dec. 1, will examine the two most common project management charts: the Gantt chart and the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) diagram. The course will also acquaint attendees with the Project Priority List (PPL), which will help maintain control when aspects of your project change, as they usually do.

"Monitoring Project Progress and Contingency Planning," on Dec. 7, will look at how to create and use milestone charts, budget control charts, and contingency plans. This Webinar will also help generate ideas for keeping the team motivated for the duration of the project.

For more details and information on registering for the Project Management Webinars, visit www.asme.org/Education/Courses/Webinars, or contact Corinna Mansfield, ASME Continuing Education Institute, (212) 591-7072, e-mail: mansfieldc@asme.org.



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