Weds 24th March 2010 - Madlab, Northern Quarter, 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HN. [MAP]

An introductory session aimed at exploring the use of "project management" tools in the small creative, digital and ICT businesses.

As an increasing number of private/public tenders are asking businesses to demonstrate their project management skills or qualifications. This workshop seeks to demystify some of the jargon and fears associated with the project management tool. By using practitioners experiences, the event will explain the benefits, gains and possible drawbacks, and should enable you to take away some of the processes and tools which you could enhance for your own practice or business.

This event will be concluded with a facilitated networking session to further assist in generating potential collaborations.

Event Outline:

4.00pm to 4.15pm	Delegate Registration
4.15pm to 5.00pm	Panel Introduction
	Practitioners Overview: Speakers will provide an introduction to the benefits off use 'project management' tools. Panel Speakers: Jim Symcox (Business PowerPack Ltd) - "an overview to the use of project management tools/approach, whilst addressing contacts and tenders...and explaining the importance to establish an in-house approach to project management....possibly to ensure confidence in the client". Garfield Southall (Direct NTI at University of Chester) - "an overview to how the public and/or the corporate sector might expect SME / MSE to have the ability to demonstrate good project management methodology....more than just having qualified staff.. but systems and procedures that work for the small businesses.....and what the contracting businesses might be interested in hearing/seeing in tenders."
5.00pm to 5.45pm & 5.45pm to 6.30pm	Parallel Workshops - each block of 10 delegates rotate Workshop 1: Steve Bower (Seven Communications) - Workshop Leader Managing the planning process - Decipher the meaning of planning, task breakdown, scheduling and control Introducing the meaning of planning, task breakdown, scheduling, monitoring and control - outlining the various stages Explaining the benefits of dealing with each stage and how to improve the 'monitoring' to ensure that each stage is to purposeful and meaningful for the team, business and client Sharing your experience in using the project management tools.....to avoid it becoming a 'paper led' process rather than a meaningful tool to assist the business Consider what might be the pitfalls in the process....and lead the discussion on how the business might overcome the pitfalls Encourage the delegates to explore what stages or elements they could take away from the workshop and embed in their businesses Workshop 2: Nicola Teece (Amaze) - Workshop Leader Managing beyond the paperwork - Ensure that the business, the team, and the client are engaged in the process. Exploring the processes available to engage the client, the team and the business in a 'project management tool' Consider the potential benefits which the project management tool might bring to the business, team and client Highlight the possible opposition which might be faced when employing a project management approach within the business.... and lead the discussion how the business might overcome/address those issues How could you encourage the team/business to own and engage with the new processes Encourage the delegates to explore what stages or elements they could take away from the workshop and embed in their businesses
6.30pm to 8.00pm	Wired City Reconnected (facilitated collaborative networking)

See also: Help Your Client to Access Funding.