Project Management/Communication

Communication

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the communication portion of Project+ certification include:

• Identify components of an internal / external communication plan
  • Frequency
  • Format (formal, informal, written and verbal)
  • Method of distribution
  • Distribution list
• Explain the importance of a project kick-off meeting and outline the common activities performed during this meeting
  • Communicates stakeholder expectations, high level timeline, project goals and objectives, roles and responsibilities to the project team
• Given a scenario, manage and implement information distribution based on communications plan
  • Manage stakeholders expectation’s
  • Schedule effective project meetings
  • Periodic stakeholders updates
• Recognize the special communication needs of remote and/or indirect project team members
  • Time zones
  • Communication preferences
  • Functional or hierarchical barrier
  • Language barriers
  • Technology barriers
  • Cultural differences

Readings

1. Read Wikipedia: Communication.
2. Read Wikipedia: Communication planning.
3. Read Weber Shandwick: Developing an External Communications Strategy
4. Read Wikipedia: Nonverbal Communication.
5. Read Super Business: Information Distribution
6. Read PMHUT: How to Start a Project on Your Marks, Get Set, Go
7. Read Wikipedia: Stakeholder Management.

Multimedia

1. Watch YouTube: Project Communications Management
2. Watch YouTube: 03 Internal and External Communication
3. Watch YouTube: Creating a Communications Plan
4. Watch YouTube: Key To Effective Communication In Projects
5. Watch YouTube: Your Project Kickoff Meeting Checklist
6. Watch YouTube: How to Have an Awesome Project Kick-Off Meeting
7. Watch YouTube: Project Stakeholder Management Plan: Managing Expectations!
8. Watch YouTube: Remote Project Management Tips & Tactics
9. Watch YouTube: How to Overcome Language Barriers

Activities

1. Watch the video The Art of Effective Internal and External Communication. Also, review Project Management Communication Tools & Techniques.
   • Establish the components of an internal and external communication plan.
   • Create the Communication Plan for your project.
2. Read the article Elements for a Successful Project Kickoff Meeting and review the Kick-off Planning Template.
   • Create the kick-off plan for your project.
   • Describe the implementation of the kick-off meeting.
3. Read the article Communications Management Plan Answer the following two questions and complete activity.
   • What are the stakeholders’ communication requirements?
   • Is there a difference in communication requirements between Change Control Board and Steering Committee?
   • Create the Communication Matrix identifying the scenarios for information distribution methods in your project.
4. Read the article 21 Essential Strategies for Managing Virtual Teams.
   • Determine communication needs of your virtual team and create Communication Matrix.

Key Terms

blogs

communications management plan

forecasts

References

Type classification: this is a lesson resource.