Live Design International (LDI) 2024

A guided approach to creating a project plan using PMP best practices.

Prerequisite:
The basics of how to use a computer.
Laptops are required.

Attendees will develop the skills required to create a practical, flexible and immediately applicable world-class project plan influenced by a PMP. This will become an instant part of your portfolio and templates for all future projects.

Notes on course structure:
This year we are providing an online platform to support the face-to-face presentation.
Provide a WORKSHOP type environment for learning project management.

1. Provide tools and techniques that are immediately applicable to managing all projects and workflow
2. Instructor provided feedback on creation of project plan
3. Access to an online support with all course materials and templates

Rationale for Course:
There are many persons who started their careers as experts in one field or another and have found themselves now managing a team without all the project management training that would have been ideal. For persons operating in our industry, the absence of the term “project manager” as a formal title has hidden the need for this training. Many of the activities being done by the members of the target audience involves managing projects even though they are not recognized as “projects”, many of them are in fact projects. This course (taught by a trained PMP, practicing educator, and an entertainment management practitioner for over 20 years) will provide attendee with skills to take on any project with a sense of confidence and provide useful tools and techniques to ensure increased success. It will also show how to assess your progress and alter your approach before it is too late, so that your projects can remain on time and be completed within budget.

Here is what you will get from this course:

· The confidence, skills and technique to use every day accessible tools to succeed as a project manager, in any industry, by developing a wholistic approach to planning, and executing a project.
· Develop two project plans which can immediately be use in your portfolio as a testament to your current experience and skills as a manager.
· Practical strategies for project management and project plan development through an instructor-lead interactive workshop.

Target Audience:

· Facilities managers for any performance/visual arts venue
· Managers and leaders in House of worships
· Technical Directors
· Production Managers
· Stage Managers
· Faculty in technical theatre
· Students of technical theatre
· Event producers
· Middle managers
· Rental houses team leaders, managers and owners.

Course Schedule
Module 0: Online platform ahead of face-to-face meeting
(This will be accessed via an online platform that will be provided twoweeks prior to the course)

· Orientation and platform introduction
· Course outline
· Overview of tools to be used
· Outline of portfolio to be developed

Module 1:Overview on planning a project

· What is a project and how to define what success looks like on the levels that matters?
· Initiating a project in a systematic way.
· Using tools to decompose projects.
· Gather project requirements.
· How to define and develop a complete project scope as well as understanding technique to break down (decompose) an established scope in a systematic way, applicable to any project (large or small, in any industry).
· How to identify and manage the inevitable risks that are associated with all projects.
· How to gather information to create a realistic schedule and budget.
· How to be successful when you must “back into a budget”.

Module 2:Overview on managing scope and budgets

· Using tools to create and manage budgets and scopes.
· Project Draft

Module 3:Project Schedules

· Executing a project: A serious look at your workflow.
· Tips on how to maximize the use of your team.
· Management of your workflow as a Project Manager, with detailed use of flexible

A guided approach to creating a project plan using PMP best practices.

Prerequisite:
The basics of how to use a computer.
Laptops are required.

Attendees will develop the skills required to create a practical, flexible and immediately applicable world-class project plan influenced by a PMP. This will become an instant part of your portfolio and templates for all future projects.

Notes on course structure:
This year we are providing an online platform to support the face-to-face presentation.
Provide a WORKSHOP type environment for learning project management.

1. Provide tools and techniques that are immediately applicable to managing all projects and workflow
2. Instructor provided feedback on creation of project plan
3. Access to an online support with all course materials and templates

Rationale for Course:
There are many persons who started their careers as experts in one field or another and have found themselves now managing a team without all the project management training that would have been ideal. For persons operating in our industry, the absence of the term “project manager” as a formal title has hidden the need for this training. Many of the activities being done by the members of the target audience involves managing projects even though they are not recognized as “projects”, many of them are in fact projects. This course (taught by a trained PMP, practicing educator, and an entertainment management practitioner for over 20 years) will provide attendee with skills to take on any project with a sense of confidence and provide useful tools and techniques to ensure increased success. It will also show how to assess your progress and alter your approach before it is too late, so that your projects can remain on time and be completed within budget.

Here is what you will get from this course:

· The confidence, skills and technique to use every day accessible tools to succeed as a project manager, in any industry, by developing a wholistic approach to planning, and executing a project.
· Develop two project plans which can immediately be use in your portfolio as a testament to your current experience and skills as a manager.
· Practical strategies for project management and project plan development through an instructor-lead interactive workshop.

Target Audience:

· Facilities managers for any performance/visual arts venue
· Managers and leaders in House of worships
· Technical Directors
· Production Managers
· Stage Managers
· Faculty in technical theatre
· Students of technical theatre
· Event producers
· Middle managers
· Rental houses team leaders, managers and owners.

Course Schedule
Module 0: Online platform ahead of face-to-face meeting
(This will be accessed via an online platform that will be provided 2 weeks prior to the course)

· Orientation and platform introduction
· Course outline
· Overview of tools to be used
· Outline of portfolio to be developed

Module 1:Overview on planning a project

· What is a project and how to define what success looks like on the levels that matters?
· Initiating a project in a systematic way.
· Using tools to decompose projects.
· Gather project requirements.
· How to define and develop a complete project scope as well as understanding technique to break down (decompose) an established scope in a systematic way, applicable to any project (large or small, in any industry).
· How to identify and manage the inevitable risks that are associated with all projects.
· How to gather information to create a realistic schedule and budget.
· How to be successful when you must “back into a budget”.

Module 2:Overview on managing scope and budgets

· Using tools to create and manage budgets and scopes.
· Project Draft

Module 3:Project Schedules

· Executing a project: A serious look at your workflow.
· Tips on how to maximize the use of your team.
· Management of your workflow as a Project Manager, with detailed use of flexible

Smartsheet requirements:
Smartsheet is a 100% Software as a Service (SaaS) online application compatible with browsers running on PC, Mac, and Linux operating systems. You can also use Smartsheet on mobile devices.

To access Smartsheet from any browser:
You need an internet connection.
You must have JavaScript enabled.
Operating systems and browsers
Smartsheet supports the two most recent major versions of the following browsers:

Windows: Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge
Mac: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari
Linux: Firefox
ChromeOS: Chrome

Intro:
Welcome to our Smartsheet Introduction Course designed specifically for managers in the entertainment industry. In this course, we will demonstrate the power of Smartsheet, a versatile collaboration and project management tool, and explore how it can revolutionize your workflow and enhance communication.

Whether you're managing film a small community theatre, or a Super Bowl-size production, music events, or talent bookings, Smartsheet will help you streamline processes, increase efficiency, and ensure that your projects run smoothly.

Throughout this course, we will demonstrate the creating and organizing sheets, task management, collaboration features, and advanced customization options tailored to the unique demands of the entertainment sector.

By the end, you'll be understand all of what smartsheet can do and we will focus on how to approach using smartsheet to create solutions for your project management needs.

Let's embark on this journey to optimize your managerial skills and elevate your entertainment industry expertise by seeing how Smartsheet may be used and learn how to improve your knowledge beyond this short introductory course!

Topics include:

1. Project Planning: Demonstrate how to create a project plan, define tasks, set deadlines, and assign responsibilities using Smartsheet's project management features.

2. Task Dependencies: Teach how to establish dependencies between tasks, ensuring that one task cannot be started until another is completed.

3. Resource Management: Explain how to allocate and manage resources such as staff, equipment, and materials within Smartsheet.

4. Collaboration and Communication: Highlight Smartsheet's collaboration tools, including sharing sheets, assigning comments, and updating stakeholders in real-time.

5. Document Management: Show how to attach files, documents, proofs, and relevant media to tasks and projects within Smartsheet for easy access and reference. Generating PDFs from data in any sheet.

6. Gantt Charts/Calendars: Introduce the Gantt chart view in Smartsheet, which provides a visual representation of project timelines, dependencies, and progress tracking.

7. Critical Path Analysis: Explain how to identify the critical path in a project using Smartsheet, helping project managers understand tasks that directly impact project completion.

8. Reporting and Dashboards: Demonstrate how to create custom reports and dashboards in Smartsheet to track project performance, KPIs, and key metrics.

9. Automation and Workflow: Showcase Smartsheet's automation capabilities, such as setting up alerts, reminders, and notifications for task updates, approaching deadlines, or status.

10. Resource Allocation and Tracking: Teach project managers how to track resource utilization, monitor budgeting, and adjust allocations within Smartsheet.

11. Integration with Other Tools: Discuss how Smartsheet integrates with other popular project management tools, collaboration platforms, and software systems, enabling seamless data exchange and workflow management.

12. What we should not use Smartsheet for...

Personal Computers are needed.  

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