MIME PM Training

MIME Solutions Limited

PM Toolkit

Toolkit Series and Downloads

Toolkit Reviews

PM Toolkit Training

Planning and Delivery Toolkit Training

Project Benefits Management Training

Project Management (PM) Toolkit Series and Downloads

There are now four books in the PM Toolkit series. For a limited time, the tool templates that accompany these books are available for free download:

The first, 'Project Management Toolkit' provides a general overview and step-by-step tools that guide those new (or intermittent users of PM skills) to project management via the key lifecycle stages of a project.
The second, 'Real Project Planning' is a more in depth look at an often overlooked element of a project - the planning, a concept far broader than simply money and time.
The third, 'Project Benefits Management' explores the link between the project and the business into which it must fit, and how the benefits of the project should be managed, from concept through to realisation.
The fourth, 'Managing Project Delivery' focuses on being in control and managing change, using tracking mechanisms and feedback to manage risk and forecast outcomes.

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PM Toolkit Series Reviews

Project Management Toolkit

PMFORUM uses the internet to provide an impartial arena for the promotion and exchange of project management information and knowledge worldwide. The following is an excerpt from their review of the first edition of the PM Toolkit:

"Trish Melton describes the aim of the book as 'to develop a practical, usable resource which can be picked up and used on day 1'. She has clearly done that. She has also provided some critical tools, such as the 'Why Checklist', that many experienced project managers do not use well.

There is one other reason to purchase the book. It contains access to a web site containing the blank tool templates described in the book. The templates alone are worth the purchase price!"

For the full review visit www.pmforum.org.

"Dr. Melton covers the basics of project management well. One senses her years of experience in this efficient distillation. Most practitioners, as well as occasional dabblers in project management, would find her book to be a useful reference and compass. Theory is minimal. Practical applications of proven principles, tools and techniques abound.

The core chapters....reflect Dr. Melton's pragmatic rendering of the project lifecycle. These chapters have consistent structure, and the reader can follow them easily. Those in the project management field who feel short changed on the concept and application of benefits management and realization will be edified."

For the full review visit www.che.com (please note you must subscribe to Chemical Engineering magazine in order to access this review) or click here. Extract and full review reprinted by special permission from CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (Mar 15, 2008) Copyright (c2008), by Access Intelligence, New York, NY10038.

“The real power in this (series) comes from using it as a reference tool…have it readily to hand as you manage a project…powerful tools for business change processes” Bill Wilson, Programme Manager, Projects Group, AstraZeneca."

Bill Wilson (Programme Manager, Projects Group, AstraZeneca)

"Having been a project manager for 20 years plus I can claim that experience is the best teacher (unfortunately normally bad experiences). However the value of this book is that it sets most of the perceived wisdom in one place and links it all together in a format that you can reproduce, project after project. If you are setting out on the adventure called Project Management I'd recommend you read this book first. Who knows after reading it you might decide you made a wise career choice?"

Arnold Black (Network Director, The Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network)

"To the point, brief and entirely practical, `PM Toolkit' is a route map for project success. `The real power in this (series) comes from using it as a reference tool....have it readily to hand as you manage a project"

Bill Wilson (Programme Manager, Projects Group, Astrazeneca)

"The Project Management Toolkit is a great teaching resource which provides practical straightforward mechanisms for the rationalisation, control and audit of projects"

Denis Ring (CEng, MIChemE, University College, Cork, Ireland)

Real Project Planning

"The old adage of Failure to Plan means Planning to Fail is very true. This book will help inexperienced Project Managers or even those moving into a new field of expertise like myself develop a strategy to ensure things get done to budget and on time."

Arnold Black (Network Director, The Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network)

Project Benefits Management

"Delivering technology is increasingly about delivering benefit to the business. This book provides a useful frame of reference to make you think about the benefits piece and specifically how you can establish, link and track those benefits."

Confidential Client

I think this is a book that could be usefully read by all (our) PMs especially to develop their business as opposed to PM skills."

The above review is from a confidential client who assessed the usefulness of each of the books in the series for their team of experienced PMs (this client employed a team of high level career PMs who have an in-house PM Standard available)

"As a Project Manager how many times have you delivered the 'perfect project' only to discover that the business wanted something else? All Project Managers claim to be supreme communicators but this book illustrates we have long way to go sometimes. If you are struggling to make your business case read this book and try again."

Arnold Black (Network Director, The Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network)

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PM Toolkit Training Courses

MIME Solutions offers standard and customised PM Toolkit training courses structured around the series:

Project Management Toolkit The Basics for Project Success •Practical, entry level workshop designed to get you up and running fast •Simple step-by-step tools to help understand and manage each key project stage: WHY? – HOW? – IN CONTROL? - BENEFITS REALISED? •Provides a straight forward checklist format to maximise efficiency •Introduces a structured framework to manage people and communications •Helps you do the ‘right’ project, and do the project ‘right’ ‘The course was perfect for my needs’ Dr James Booker, Principal Chemist
Course Description Project Management Toolkit was written as a practical handbook for project managers and this accompanying workshop is in a similar style. Delegates are taken through each of the four value-added stages in a project and introduced to concepts, tools and techniques during the journey. As new tools are introduced delegates will have an opportunity to test their understanding and will also be introduced to real case study material showing good and not so good practices. A project used to be one mechanism that organizations used to deliver benefits, now organizations are managed by project. This has meant the development of project management competency within the organization, the Project Team(s) and the individual Project Manager(s). This course delivers a set of basic tools as an entry level resource supporting project management competency development. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course delegates will: Understand the concept of the project lifecycle Understand the basic concepts of: Benefits management Project delivery planning Controlled project delivery Benefits realization Be able to use the tools from all four stages in their own projects Be able to select the appropriate tool to use from the PM Toolkit Course resources 1 x delegate folder (exercises and slide pack) 1 x Book (Project Management Toolkit: The Basics for Project Success) Access to all tools as downloadable PDF templates	Next Course May 18 2009 Fee - £350 + VAT Location - Cheshire, UK
	Who should attend? Those developing PM skills, or involved in any type of project intermittently throughout their career (business change, capital engineering or process improvement). Recommended foundation prior to Days 2 & 3...and those preparing for these roles.
	Download 2009 Flyer and Booking Form here.

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The Planning and Delivery Toolkit A 2 day workshop based around the 2 books: Real Project Planning: Developing a Project Delivery Strategy Managing Project Delivery: Maintaining Control and Achieving Success •The HOW? stage: robust ‘front end loading’ will get the right people doing the right things at the right time •Failure to plan is planning to fail: projects are not just about cost, scope and time – an in-depth look at business, set-up and control planning (including contract planning) •Focuses on soft skills: manage the message and engage the stakeholders •Assess risk and change as part of planning, then get a step ahead with appropriate tool use and forecasting, applying lean six sigma value-add techniques •The IN CONTROL? stage: good planning enables accurate forecasting during delivery and ensures the business is ready for the project •Focuses on change management - forecasting and reacting to change appropriately •Introduces the feedback loop: without feedback you are simply monitoring history – control is about using team and tools to forecast the outcome •Demonstrates effective risk tracking mechanisms to ensure appropriate response •Develops cost, scope and time control tools and techniques to help manage change, risk and forecast outcomes ‘I really benefited from the detailed explanations and overall project ethos’ Denis Ring, Lecturer ‘Excellent workshop delivered in a great format’ Kim Burford, Business Change Manager
Course Description Real Project Planning and Managing Project Delivery were written as practical handbooks for project managers and this accompanying workshop is in a similar style. Delegates are taken through each of the three planning and delivery levels and introduced to concepts, tools and techniques which align with the eleven planning and delivery themes. Too often planning and delivery control is restricted to the cost, scope and time elements of a project. Whilst important, they represent only a part of how a project needs to be planned and controlled. This course delivers a set of planning and delivery tools as an in-depth resource supporting project management competency development. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course delegates will: Understand the concept of project delivery planning and the planning hierarchy Understand the concepts of controlled project delivery and the delivery hierarchy Understand the concepts of: Business planning and delivery Set-up planning and delivery control planning and delivery Be able to use the Planning and Delivery toolkits in their own projects Be able to select the appropriate tool to use from the Planning and Delivery toolkits Course resources 1 x delegate folder (exercises and slide pack) 1 x Book (Real Project Planning: Developing a Project Delivery Strategy) 1 x Book (Managing Project Delivery: Maintaining Control and Achieving Success) Access to all tools as downloadable PDF templates	Next Course May 19 to 20 2009 Fee - £700 + VAT Location - Cheshire, UK
	Who should attend? Managers frequently involved in any type of project requiring more in-depth planning and control tools and techniques...and those preparing for these roles.
	Download 2009 Flyer and Booking Form here.

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Project Benefits Management Linking Projects to the Business •The WHY? and BENEFITS REALISED? stages: puts the project in the context of the business – why did we do this project in the first place? •Challenges what is delivered – a project or measurable benefit? – introduces tools to identify the right programme of projects to match the needs of the business •Examines why projects fail – from a lack of planning, to poor links with the business •Builds a framework for assessing the impact of non financial benefits •Develops a way to challenge scope creep, ensure sustainable benefit delivery and track success metrics ‘A great way to understand benefits right from the start’ Bill Wilson, Global Projects Director
Course Description Project Benefits Management was written as a practical handbook for project managers and this accompanying workshop is in a similar style. Delegates are taken through each of the three phases of the benefits management lifecycle and introduced to concepts, tools and techniques during the journey. As new tools are introduced delegates will have an opportunity to test their understanding and will also be introduced to real case study material showing good and not so good practices. Too often project managers remain within the boundaries set by the project scope. Whilst this focus on project scope delivery is important no project can become disconnected from the business into which it will eventually be integrated. This course delivers a set of benefits management tools as an in-depth resource supporting project management competency development. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course delegates will: Understand the concept of the benefits management lifecycle Understand the basic concepts of: Benefits concept development Benefits specification Benefits realization Be able to use the Benefits Management Toolkit in their own projects Be able to select the appropriate tool to use from the Benefits Management Toolkit Course resources 1 x delegate folder (exercises and slide pack) 1 x Book (Project Benefits Management: Linking Projects to the Business) Access to all tools as downloadable PDF templates	Next Course May 21 2009 Fee - £350 + VAT Location - Cheshire, UK
	Who should attend? those requiring a more detailed working knowledge of benefits management and/or development of additional programme and business management skills...and those preparing for these roles.
	Download 2009 Flyer and Booking Form here.

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PM Toolkit Press Release
PM Toolkit Publishers Leaflet