Project coordinators understand how projects and project teams deliver value and know how to proactively assist the project team achieve the project goals.
Proven approach showing how a coordinator can immediately support their team
Step-by-step guides for all the project coordination tools and techniques needed
Role establishment plan with first day, week and month objectives
Coordination plans for each stage; initiation, planning, execution and closure
Follow On Development (see below)
Combined with the project coordinator course, this module identifies the challenges and solutions a coordinator will encounter when working on a programme.
The broad range of activities that a project, programme or portfolio management office delivers requires coordinators to be prepared to encounter a wide range of domains.
Additional knowledge domains include:
- Project activities to programmes
- Programme strategy
- Programme life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, closing
- Coordinator monitoring and control
- Benefits coordination
- The different programme stakeholder needs
- Programme governance coordination
- Standards, methodologies, processes coordination
Additional knowledge domains include:
- Strategic planning coordination
- Portfolio management
- Project / programme delivery coordination
- Organisational change coordination
- Standards, methodologies, processes
- Governance and performance coordination
- Talent coordination
- Knowledge coordination
- Administration and Support
Administrative professionals including:
Executive Assistants
Personal Assistants
Team Leaders
Anyone considering a career in projects (excellent first step, see Notes below)
2 to 4 people: only extra costs for course materials
5 to 8 people: will likely extend course time by 20%
Attendees return motivated and confident that they can add value to any project
Understand the project environment and their role within it
Upgrade and acquire new skills, best practices, strategies, ideas and insights
Anticipate, then choose the correct tools and techniques
Experience increased recognition and visibility within the organisation
Be a valuable member of a team that will bring lasting change to your organisation
Increased probability of project success: coordinators relieve administrative time from the project management team, allowing them more time to manage, leading to increased productivity
Increased control over investment and strategic goals: organisations can direct the activities the coordinator concentrates on (such as billable consulting hours, benefit tracking, communication) to ensure that optimal investment and strategic goals are achieved
Increased organisational support: when projects reach deeper into the organisation non full time team members see the organisations commitment to the project and appreciate a resource that can reduce some of the burden a project will place on them
Streamlined interactions with internal and external stakeholders: the coordinator can be available when the project manager is not
Experience working with groups, being a team leader, member of a project team
Background in a domain related to anticipated projects: IT, HR, finance, procurement
Strong communication skills, written, presentation, reporting
Strong time management skills, multitasker who meets deadlines effectively
Upon completion, trainees will have sufficient knowledge and understanding of projects to interact effectively and act as an informed project support member working in any administrative capacity that is approved by the organisation and directed by the project manager.
Project Environment: key project concepts, organisational and project environment differences, project types, life cycles, outputs, outcomes & benefits
Roles, Responsibilities, Relationships: project coordinator, project manager and team
Working With Project Teams: influencing skills, project problem solving tools
Initiation Stage: project adminisatration set up
Planning Stage: tools for planning, scope, schedules, budgets, quality, risk & comms
Execution Stage: administrative monitoring, controlling and project progress reporting
Close Stage: administrative closure and maximising learning tools
Know how the coordinator's role can add value to their project
Understand the challenges a project coordinator will face
Know how to select and apply coordinator tools and techniques
Know how coordinators need to navigate the project environment
Understand the importance of operational management and project management
Understand project management terminology and definitions
Understand all project team roles and responsibilities
Understand the wider profession of project coordination and the resources available
8 hrs. over 6 months: Months 1 & 2 (2 hrs. / month), months 3, 4, 5 & 6 (1 hr. / month)
Follow on is a blend of face to face, phone and email communication as needed
Project Support
3 days to 5 days depending on training needs analysis
Onsite: Standard meeting room (during formal training); standard desk during analysis
Offsite: Trinity Street, Dublin; arranged anywhere in Dublin and Ireland
Professional administrators considering a project management career, will gain invaluable experience from this role. From the outset, they get to work on larger, high value and more complicated projects.
As a key point of contact, they get to experience the complex relationships that surround these projects and understand the journey from unclear to clear objectives.
Projects with high rankings in these dimensions are normally closed to all but senior project management teams.
As defined in your organisations project management framework, the coordinator's responsibilities and activities are limited to administration support.
Project accountability and responsibility remains with the project management team,
The project manager can delegate work, but only within the boundaries set by the organisation. The PM still retains project responsibility and accountability making this a safe role where employees can gain project experience.
Organisations that have attempted to share the responsibilities of project management, find that it dilutes the effectiveness of project management.
...Important: Responsibilities are dependent on "organisation" approval. This is to prevent dilution of project management roles. The role of project coordinator is responsible and accountable for the successful delivery of the project outputs.