As a full service project management software and consulting company, Micro Planning International has been helping clients to be more successful through project management for more than 15 years.
Through its work with high technology-based clients all over the world, Micro Planning International has developed a step-by-step methodology that virtually ensures project success. The methodology consists of a five step process. Each step is executed sequentially and must be validated (signed-off) before moving to the next step.
1. Organize the Project/Process
Includes defining the objective, identifying project participants and determining
the reporting requirements at each level in the organization.
2. Structure the Process Model (Interactive Process Discovery)
In this step the project team collaboratively builds a process model defining
all the work that needs to be completed and the sequence in which the work
needs to be performed. The result is an unlimited resource baseline that
shows if it is possible to reach the objective in the desired time.
3 Optimize Resources
Once the team has established that it is possible to reach the objective
given unlimited resources, team members now address the resources available
to the project to determine if their are any resource constraints jeopardizing
the completion of the project. If there are significant resource overloads,
the project team uses resource analysis to brainstorm solutions that resolve
the resource conflicts
4. Gain Commitment
At this point, the project team knows that the project can be completed
successfully, given the assumptions that went into the project plan. The
specification can reasonably be met and sufficient resources are available.
The assumptions that went into the plan are now tested by requiring each
project participant to sign-off on their portion of the plan to certify
that they will meet their commitments to the plan. If project participants
are not comfortable signing off on the plan, their concerns are once again
considered and the plan is altered to address their concerns.
5. Manage the Project
If steps 1 through 4 have been completed, the project team can be assured
that the objective is reasonable, that resources are in place and that co-workers
believe the project can be successful. All that remains is to monitor progress
against the plan and to communicate progress to the project participants.
When slippages occur, the project team once again can use the project model
to brainstorm solutions for getting back on schedule. These revisions must
then be communicated back to the entire project team.
SEMINARS/TRAINING
Having worked with a broad range of organizations in many industries, we
have found that often the capabilities of Micro Planner exceed a manager's
appreciation of what to do with it. Our seminars close this gap using a
practical hands-on approach. We cover the fundamentals of project management
and our methodology, as well as the specifics of how to use Micro Planner.
All seminars are customized around the specific needs of the client, considering
the participants' level of expertise and areas of interest. Our consultants
use computer projection devices so that each participant can follow along
step-by-step on their computer.
MPI offers a variety of seminars including two day courses to bring the whole project team up to speed and one day courses for executives. Courses are offered at client sites and at MPI locations in the United States, Europe and Australia.
"SUCCESS THROUGH PROJECT MANAGEMENT" VIDEO SERIES
A unique look inside the world's leading high technology-based organizations
to see how they:
* Complete projects on time and within budget
* Cut product development time
* Improve quality
* Boost productivity
* Reduce costs
Tim Breen, CEO of Micro Planning International, draws on ten years of experience with clients such as Apple, Amgen, Bell Northern Research, Hewlett-Packard, Hughes Aircraft, IBM, Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, Motorola, Tandem and many more to provide this three part video series. The videos introduce the methodology used by these MPI clients as well as a step-by-step guide to using Micro Planner to facilitate the methodology. The methodology includes a practical approach for collaboratively developing sophisticated plans that draw on the experience of the knowledge workers in these organizations to anticipate problems before they cause delays.
This video series is deal for individuals who want to learn at their own
pace in the office or at home:
Video 1 covers Organizing the Project & Structuring a Process Model: 2
Hours, $199.00
Video 2 covers Optimizing Resources, Gaining Commitment & Managing for
Success: 2 Hours, $199.00
Video 3 covers Multiple Projects & Enterprise-wide project management:
2 Hours, $ 99.00
Or all three videos: a complete 6 hour training package for $349.00
OTHER CONSULTING SERVICES
In addition to seminars and training, MPI offers the following services:
For the troubled project:
Project review to compare results versus goal and recommend steps to get
the project back on schedule.
For the high profile project:
Independent third party assessment of the likelihood of success for the
high profile project. Especially useful when outside vendors play a major
role in the project. Emphasis is on agreed deliverables and detailed resource
loading analysis to determine if adequate resources are in place to ensure
a timely project completion.
For the failed project:
Project audit to determine why a project failed. Such an audit can be useful
in determining legal accountability, enforcing penalty clauses or preventing
future failures.
Specialized Services:
In addition to general consulting services, MPI has specific expertise
in the following specialized areas of project management: