06-21 Project management - A toolbox for scientists

Academia Raetica

Dates: November 11, 12 and 19 (09.00-13.00 each day)

Introduction

Projects are all around us. Specifically, in science the planning and management of projects is highly complex and requires a set of tools and techniques to perform successfully. Project management includes excellent techniques to allocate, use, and monitor resources to achieve a goal in a desired time frame. In a scientific setting, goals may include the set-up of experiments, the allocation of grants, publishing a paper, or even achieving tenure.

To develop a common language, this comprehensive workshop imparts a toolbox of project management skills for doctoral candidates and/or postdocs from various disciplines. It provides basic project management concepts and principles based on international standards (PMI). An important part of this training includes aspects of agile project management and how to integrate flexible project work into a research environment. During the workshop scientists will go through the full project life cycle to develop highly valued transferable competencies to enhance their professional portfolio.

Format

This project management workshop is organized over three half days, with a defined interval of one week during which participants will develop their individual project life cycle on a real project. 10 days before the first day of the workshop participants are asked to fill an online survey and send feedback about their expectation with the option to submit their individual project. These information will provide the base of the workshop set-up, the selection of topics and exercises. Participants will receive a detailed feedback before the first training day.

On the first and second day of the workshop, participants will define and prepare what is necessary to outline a project and develop an individual project management plan. Participants will prepare for the third day by working on their individual project life cycle. In advance of the third day´s activities participants will send their homework material to the trainer to receive detailed and individual feedback on their work by email.

During the training participants will get theoretical introdution into the topic by the trainer combined with many interactive group exercises as well as homework tasks between the second and third training day.
The course material and a project management handbook with exercises will be distributed as PDF files to all participants before and during the training.
The maximum number of participants is limited to 12.

Objectives

Participants who complete this comprehensive workshop will learn how to initiate, plan, and execute a project that meets objectives on time and within the budget. In addition, the workshop addresses different techniques which are relevant for a flexible approach to project management.

Day 1 (max. 4 hours)

  • Define and prepare

  • Understand what a project is and what is not

  • Learn what`s project management in academia vs. industry

  • Get an introduction into the project life cycle

Day 2 (max. 4 hours)

  • Develop plans

  • Make a work breakdown structure (WBS)

  • Define dependencies and relations

  • Schedule and estimate project plan durations

  • Do cost estimations

Day 3 (max. 4 hours)

  • Introduction to Agile Project Management

  • Consider agile and iterative approaches

  • Get a glimpse on "scrum for researchers"

  • Identify risks

  • Consider changes, project crashing and common mistakes

  • Develop a risk management plan

  • Execution of projects

  • Monitoring of progress including an overview of available online tools

  • Project communication

What we don´t do

Learn PM software in detail. This workshop gives an overview on available PM software tools, only.

General information and fee:

  • The workshop is open to PhD students, postdocs, and scientific staff.

  • Workload: Preliminary work: between 30 minutes and 1 hour, workshop: 3 x 4 hours, homework: between 1 - 3 hours

  • Maximum number of participants: 12

  • Participation fee: CHF 120

  • Format and language: Online or on site in Davos. The workshops will be given in English.

Trainer

Sina Henrichs has broad professional experience in implementation and development of project outlines in the academic environment. She holds a doctorate in Molecular Biology from the University of Zurich as well as an MBA in Academic Management form the University of Basel. Sina Henrichs combines her extensive research experience in the life sciences and in-depth understanding of process development and project management to provide interactive and professional training experiences. She implemented the Graduate Center GRACE, the professional platform for doctoral candidates and postdocs at the University of Basel and is founder of Manage Science (www.managescience.ch). Since 2018, Sina is working as a Project Manager in Davos.

Registration

If you have any questions about the Academia Raetica's interdisciplinary course offerings or if you have problems with registration, please contact the project manager Daniela Heinen.

Please read our terms of participation. You will immediately receive an automated reply email with your registration data. You will receive the final confirmation of your course place within a few days.

Email: daniela.heinen@academiaraetica.ch
Phone: +41 81 410 60 84

Academia Raetica
Berglistutz 8
7270 Davos Platz

Register here:


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