From Intuition to Effective Execution – Projects in Theory and Practice (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid)

Characteristics

This course is a practical journey into the world of project management, showing that projects are now a natural part of an organization's daily work. We implement them and are involved in them regardless of our role – not only as Project Managers or Scrum Masters, but also as members of project teams, subject matter experts, and individuals implementing changes and improvements. In a dynamic reality, the ability to consciously use project management tools and techniques supports organizational development and effective response to change.

The course focuses on a practical look at project management in an organization – both from the perspective of those responsible for project delivery and key team members. Its goal is to organize knowledge and show how a project-based approach can support daily work and the implementation of business initiatives.

Participants will learn recognized international standards and best practices in project management, including Traditional Project Management (Waterfall) and Agile, complemented by the trainer's business experience. During the course, elements of methodologies and standards such as PRINCE2®, PMBoK® Guide, AgilePM®, and SCRUM® are used.

The course is workshop-based – participants work on examples set in their real business environment or provided by the trainer. The formula of mini-lectures and exercises allows for developing one's own conclusions and ideas for the practical implementation of changes in the organization, and shows how to supplement intuitive project actions with structured and proven approaches.

Goals and Benefits

• Organizing project management knowledge and matching the approach (Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid) to the specifics of the initiative.
• Developing practical tools: project charter, scope and quality criteria, schedule, risk register, communication plan.
• Strengthening competencies in cooperation with the team and stakeholders: roles, responsibilities, delegation, motivation.
• Better monitoring and control of progress, and more effective closing and settlement of projects.

Target Group

Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, project leads, and project team members.

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites. Experience in project work (in any role) or participation in change/improvement initiatives is welcome.

KNOWLEDGE:

The participant knows key concepts (project/process/program/portfolio), understands the project golden triangle, and the differences between Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid approaches. They know the basic elements of standards and methodologies (PRINCE2®, PMBoK®, AgilePM®, SCRUM®) and understand their application.

SKILLS:

The participant can prepare a vision and project charter, define scope, requirements, products, and quality criteria, build a schedule (WBS, milestones, dependencies), apply roles and responsibilities tools (RACI), conduct risk identification and assessment, and plan responses. They can prepare a communication plan, manage change, monitor progress (critical path / Kanban), and formally close a project and draw conclusions.

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES:

The participant improves cooperation with the team and stakeholders, uses fact-based communication, delegates tasks, and supports a culture of continuous improvement.

VALIDATION:

Practical tasks during the workshop (project charter, schedule, risk register, communication plan, Kanban board) as well as trainer observation and discussion of results.

1. Introduction to Project Management

• Project, process, program, portfolio – basic concepts of project management in an organization
• The project golden triangle (time, cost, scope) – key areas of project management
• Approaches and standards in project management: Waterfall (classical approach), Agile (agile approach), and hybrid approaches – combining classical and agile methodologies
• Matching the approach to the project – project life cycle considering the specifics of participants' projects

2. Project Planning

• Project vision – common understanding of the goal, direction, and expected value of the project
• Project charter – goal, results, and benefits; defining project scope
• Requirements, project products, and quality criteria – delivering business value and project settlement
• Project environment and structure – the role of stakeholders and the impact of organizational structure

3. Project Scheduling

• From project product to task – the logic of building a schedule
• Scheduling approaches: scheduling based on products, activities, and resources
• Classical scheduling techniques: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), network diagram, milestones
• Agile approach to planning: Kanban boards as a tool for planning and visualizing work
• RACI Matrix – assigning roles and responsibilities in the project

4. Risk in Projects

• Risk management models in projects
• Risk identification and assessment
• Risk mapping and response planning
• Prioritization – an effective approach to risk management

5. Communication in Projects

• Communication plan – what, when, to whom, and how to communicate
• Structure of effective messages – fact-based communication

6. Change in Projects

• What can change in a project?
• Areas of change management in classical and agile approaches

7. Cooperation with Team and Stakeholders

• Structure and transformation of the project team
• Stages of team development and building effective cooperation
• Communication styles, team motivation, and task delegation

8. Project Monitoring and Control

• Schedule management – time, cost, scope
• Reporting systems and monitoring project progress
• Critical path – monitoring the project in the classical approach
• Kanban boards – monitoring the project in the agile approach

9. Closing and Settling the Project

• Formal project closure
• Evaluation of results and lessons for the future

10. Start – Stop – Continue – course summary