Project Management, Scheduling, and Budgeting Essentials for Technical Writers

About Course

Overview: This comprehensive course equips technical writers with essential project management skills, focusing on planning, scheduling, and budgeting. Participants will engage in six interactive modules to master the complexities of project scheduling and financial planning. Each session features simulated tasks and hands-on workshops, facilitated over Microsoft Teams using a virtual whiteboard to support collaborative learning.

Instructor Bio: Kieran Morgan has over 20 years of experience in operations, program management, documentation, and publishing. He led the technical documentation team at Cochlear, producing the Nucleus 6 documentation, and has held senior roles in operations and program management for telecommunications companies and education departments. Known for his ability to plan and manage strategic programs of work, Kieran is now focused on training the next generation of technical writers and project managers.

Features:

Duration: 6 sessions, each 1.5 hours
Delivery Method: Online, instructor-led sessions
Assessment: Assignments with personalized instructor feedback
Certification: Certificate of completion with a pass mark of over 50%

Timing (Australian Eastern Standard Time – Sydney, NSW, Australia):

Day 1: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 13 June 2024
Day 2: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 20 June 2024
Day 3: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 27 June 2024
Day 4: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 4 July 2024
Day 5: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 11 July 2024
Day 6: 6pm-7.30pm Thurs 18 July 2024

Course Structure

Topic 1: Introduction to Project Management

Introductions, expectations, and learning objectives
Definition of Project Management
Different approaches to Project Management (Waterfall, Agile, Kanban)
Criteria for project success

Topic 2: Processes for Planning

The technical writing process vs. the documentation development lifecycle
Planning process for project management

Topic 3: Documentation Plans

Using a Documentation Plan to predefine your project
The PADRE Method: Purpose, Audience, Design, Review
- Defining purpose
- Analyzing audience
- Designing deliverables (initial Table of Contents)
- Selecting a review team

Topic 4: Estimating Scope, Time, and Cost

Employing a visual Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to estimate scope
Utilizing an Estimating Sheet
Estimating complexity using t-shirt sizes
Calculating the total effort and cost of the project

Topic 5: Scheduling

Creating project schedules with Gantt charts
Developing high-level timelines for an overarching project view

Topic 6: Budgeting

Formulating a simple budget for your documentation project
Allocating contingency funds
Managing spending to avoid over- or under-spending

Course Content

Topic 1: Introduction to Project Management
• Introductions, expectations, and learning objectives • Definition of Project Management • Different approaches to Project Management (Waterfall, Agile, Kanban) • Criteria for project success

Introduction to Project Management

01:30:00

Topic 2: Processes for Planning
• The technical writing process vs. the documentation development lifecycle • Planning process for project management

Topic 3: Documentation Plans
• Using a Documentation Plan to predefine your project • The PADRE Method: Purpose, Audience, Design, Review o Defining purpose o Analyzing audience o Designing deliverables (initial Table of Contents) o Selecting a review team

Topic 4: Estimating Scope, Time, and Cost
• Employing a visual Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to estimate scope • Utilizing an Estimating Sheet • Estimating complexity using t-shirt sizes • Calculating the total effort and cost of the project

Topic 5: Scheduling
• Creating project schedules with Gantt charts • Developing high-level timelines for an overarching project view

Topic 6: Budgeting
• Formulating a simple budget for your documentation project • Allocating contingency funds • Managing spending to avoid over- or under-spending

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About Course

Course Content

Topic 1: Introduction to Project Management • Introductions, expectations, and learning objectives • Definition of Project Management • Different approaches to Project Management (Waterfall, Agile, Kanban) • Criteria for project success

Introduction to Project Management

Topic 2: Processes for Planning • The technical writing process vs. the documentation development lifecycle • Planning process for project management

Processes for Planning

Topic 3: Documentation Plans • Using a Documentation Plan to predefine your project • The PADRE Method: Purpose, Audience, Design, Review o Defining purpose o Analyzing audience o Designing deliverables (initial Table of Contents) o Selecting a review team

Documentation Plans

Topic 4: Estimating Scope, Time, and Cost • Employing a visual Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to estimate scope • Utilizing an Estimating Sheet • Estimating complexity using t-shirt sizes • Calculating the total effort and cost of the project

Estimating Scope, Time, and Cost

Topic 5: Scheduling • Creating project schedules with Gantt charts • Developing high-level timelines for an overarching project view

Scheduling

Topic 6: Budgeting • Formulating a simple budget for your documentation project • Allocating contingency funds • Managing spending to avoid over- or under-spending

Budgeting