Project Manager Development Program (PMDP)
The Project Manager Development Program (PMDP), created by AGC of America, is designed to specifically meet the needs of the construction industry. The curriculum, along with the activities and shared experiences of course participants, provides the necessary skills and knowledge to increase the participant’s ability to work successfully with others to ensure project success.
The 40-hour five-unit program covers the basics of project management and provides tactics and strategies for ensuring project success. Each course listed below consists of 8 hours of in-seat classroom instruction.
Unit 1: Introduction to Project Management
The class will discuss that a successful PM must be competent and efficiently model specific soft and technical skills. Each of these skills are defined and examples provided to highlight the skill’s purpose and its proper implementation during a project. Unit 1 will also provide a high-level overview of construction law, highlighting specific terms, and the PM’s responsibilities. Additionally, there will be an introduction and emphasis on project safety.
Unit 2: Initiating & Planning, Part 1
Unit 2 focuses on the first 2 process groups of Project Management: Initiating and Planning. This unit introduces the Initiation process group of Project Management. The instructor will cover the types of stakeholders involved in a construction project, from initiation to completion. The process of defining the project objectives, creating the Project Charter, and choosing an appropriate project delivery system will be reviewed. This unit also defines the concept of Project Scope. Instructors explore the purpose of the Project Scope and how it impacts the project during the entire project life cycle. The remainder of this unit focuses on the Planning process group of Project Management. This unit covers the elements of a Project Management Plan in detail. Project Managers learn how to develop a schedule for a construction project.
Unit 3: Initiating & Planning, Part 2
Unit 3 is a continuation of Unit 2, Initiating and Planning, Part 1. This unit covers determining project cost to include Estimates, Bids and final Budget, in depth. Instructors will teach Project Managers how to identify project resources and develop plans for quality, team acquisition, communication management, identifying and managing risk, project procurement, and stakeholder management.
Unit 4: Executing
Unit Four presents the third process group of Project Management: Executing. This unit introduces contract management in the construction industry. Project Managers learn the steps to creating a contract, reviewing contract documents, and identifying the difference between contractors and subcontractors. This section also addresses how to bill during a project, the reason(s) for contract termination, and the steps to contract termination. Section Two of this unit covers effective implementation of the project.
Unit 5: Monitoring and Controlling and Project Closeout
This unit presents the fourth and fifth process groups of Project Management: Monitoring and Controlling; and Closing. This unit focuses on changes that may occur during the life cycle of a project and how to finalize project processes. This unit emphasizes that the Executing, and Monitoring and Controlling process groups are iterative processes. It also addresses topics such as dispute resolution, how to document changes, the impact of changes on the overall schedule and budget, maintaining quality assurance, and change order management. This final unit focuses on the process of closing out a construction project. The instructors review the process for project closeout to include both administrative closure and contract closure. This unit emphasizes customer satisfaction and reviews the required communication with and documentation for the owner during closeout.