Course Guide

Professional
Certification on
Project Management
Technologies
© Muhammad Arifur Rahman
PCPMT
Professional Certification on Project Management Technologies
About PCPMT
Demonstrate your
capability to handle
projects using
technologies: productivity
tools, comprehensive cloud
solutions, multi-platform
integration tools,
and most importantly the
aptitude to adopt new
technologies whenever
needed.
Essential Topics Certification Process
Workflow (re) design (1) Quiz and assignments
Tech-scoping on all topic areas (25%).
Project planning
Office & G-Suite (2) Case studies and real-
Automation life problem solutions
APIs & Integrations (50%).
Cloud solutions
Artificial intelligence (3) Technology exercise
Technology forecast portfolio or real-life
Transformation readiness experience (25%)
 PCPMT
Course modules and topic outline

01 02 03 04
Project Individual & Going Integration,
Technology Small Team Cloud Automation, AI, &
Landscape Productivity Altogether Future Technologies

(1.1) Workflow analysis, (2.1) Office 365 and (3.1) Technology (4.1) Multiplatform task
documentation, and Google G-suite; (2.2) dimensions and flows integration; (4.2)
visualization (1.2) Leveraging Office and preferences (3.2) Quick Intelligent project
Industries and nature of Google Forms; browser-based solution; chatbots (PBOT); (4.3)
projects (1.3) Technology (2.3)Microsoft Excel – (3.3) Communication Future technology
leverage: Opportunities, Project Manager’s oriented solution; (3.4) analysis; (4.4)
cost-benefit analysis Workbook (2.4) Google Heavy productivity cloud Transformation
(1.4) Documenting and Spreadsheet – Project solutions readiness planning.
communicating ERP for small teams
technology requirements
02
(2.1) Microsoft Office 365 and
Google G-suite;

(2.2) Leveraging Office and

Google Forms;

Individual (2.3) Microsoft Excel – Project

Manager’s Workbook
& Small Team
(2.4) Google Spreadsheet – Project
Productivity ERP for small teams
CASE STUDY #01
Concept Note Project Idea
Renewable
Biogas, a clean
and renewable fuel
Biogas has vast potential as an alternative Reduced
Reduced
to natural gas. It can be a supplement to greenhouse
Pollution
petroleum products, if used in compressed emissions
form in the cylinders. Biogas originates
from bacteria in the process of
biodegradation of organic material under
anaerobic conditions. Methane is the most
valuable component under the aspect of
using biogas as a fuel; the other components
do not contribute to the calorific ("heating")
Less
value and thus are "washed out" in our
Waste dependency
purification plants in order to obtain a gas
with almost 93-95% CH4. Methane is the
Reduction on imported
flammable compound in biogas.
fuels
Production process flow
Plant infrastructure
 Biogas Plant (WBS)

Pre-
Civil Mechanical Pre-operation
construction
construction infrastructure activities
activities

Site readiness &

Calculations & sizing Equipment import Facility test-run
temporary setups

Major civil Mechanical setup

Civil layout design Appointments
construction team

Mechanical layout Main bio-gas Payments, Release &

design production unit Handovers

Equipment & vendor

Fertilizer unit Facility Functional
selection

Construction
Carbon Dioxide
materials & vendor
recovery plant
selection
 Pre-construction activities

Construction
Calculations & Civil layout Mechanical Equipment &
materials &
sizing design layout design vendor selection
vendor selection

Lead consultant's Architect's appointment Engineering consultant's Lead consultant submits Lead consultant submits
appointment (Local) appointment equipment options materials options
Architect reviews Director reviews and Director reviews and
Air ticket booking Air ticket booking
consultant's report decision decision
Lead consultant provides Request quotation from
Hotel booking Architect visits site Hotel booking
list of vendors materials suppliers
Architect submits the civil Vendors requested for price Appoint civil construction
Receive the consultant Receive the consultant
design quotation consultant
Lead consultant visits the Review and vetting of the Engineering Consultant Vendors offer price Review quotations and select
site design visits the site quotations materials
Lead consultant meets the Consultant submits the Director's and lead Select suppliers and make
Payment of architect's fee
directors design consultant select vendor contracts
Lead consultant submits the Review of consultant's Vendor provides delivery Project auditor estimate
report design timeline estimate taxes and cost plan
Project financial auditor Project auditor estimate Partial payment to project
Payment of consultant's fee
appointment import tax auditor
Review of lead consultant's
report
Payment of lead consultant's
fee (25%)
Schedule, Cost, and Milestones
Pre-construction phase task areas Start Date. End Date. Est. Duration (Days) Est. Cost Est. Cost%

Calculations & sizing Wed 8 Dec 21 Mon 31 Jan 22 37 1,127,000.00 48.60%

Civil layout design Sat 29 Jan 22 Wed 23 Feb 22 31 265,000.00 11.43%

Mechanical layout design Mon 21 Feb 22 Wed 6 Apr 22 33 827,000.00 35.66%

Equipment & vendor selection Mon 4 Apr 22 Sat 30 Apr 22 31 0.00 0.00%

Construction materials & vendor selection Sun 1 May 22 Wed 1 Jun 22 44 100,000.00 4.31%

Total duration and cost Wed 8 Dec 21 Wed 1 Jun 22 176 2,319,000.00 100.00%

Calculations & Civil layout Mechanical layout Equipment & vendor Construction materials
Milestones & dependencies
sizing design design selection & vendor selection

Lead Consultant Sun 20 Feb 22 Sun 3 Apr 22 Sat 30 Apr 22 Wed 1 Jun 22

Project Auditor Thu 27 Jan 22

Cost timeline
Year & Month Cost Estimate
2022 May 2022 2021 Dec
4% Jun
2021 77000.00 0% 3%

Dec 77000.00

2022 2242000.00 2022 Apr

33% 2021 Dec
Jan 1050000.00 2022 Jan 2022 Jan
45%
Feb 330000.00 2022 Feb
2022 Mar
Mar 12000.00 2022 Feb
14% 2022 Apr
Apr 750000.00 2022 May
2022 Mar 2022 Jun
May 100000.00 1%

Jun 0.00

Total duration and cost 2319000.00

Resource assignments
Calculations & Civil layout Mechanical layout Equipment & vendor Construction materials
Team Member
sizing design design selection & vendor selection

Accountant
Partial payment to project auditor Sun 29 May 22
Payment of architect's fee Mon 21 Feb 22
Payment of consultant's fee Mon 4 Apr 22
Payment of lead consultant's fee (25%) Sat 29 Jan 22
Communication executive
Air ticket booking Sun 12 Dec 21 Mon 28 Feb 22
Engineering Consultant visits the site Tue 15 Mar 22
Hotel booking Sun 12 Dec 21 Mon 28 Feb 22
Receive the consultant Sun 26 Dec 21 Mon 14 Mar 22
Request quotation from materials suppliers Wed 11 May 22
Project manager
Appoint civil construction consultant Sun 1 May 22
Approval and go-ahead signal Thu 27 Jan 22 Sun 20 Feb 22 Sun 3 Apr 22 Sat 30 Apr 22 Wed 1 Jun 22
Architect reviews consultant's report Tue 1 Feb 22
Architect submits the civil design Thu 3 Feb 22
Architect visits site Thu 3 Feb 22
Architect's appointment (Local) Sat 29 Jan 22
Consultant submits the design Sat 19 Mar 22
Director reviews and decision Thu 7 Apr 22 Wed 4 May 22
Director's and lead consultant select vendor Mon 25 Apr 22
Engineering consultant's appointment Mon 21 Feb 22
Lead consultant meets the directors Sun 2 Jan 22
Lead consultant provides list of vendors Thu 14 Apr 22
Lead consultant submits equipment options Mon 4 Apr 22
Resource assignments
Calculations & Civil layout Mechanical layout Equipment & vendor Construction materials
External team member
sizing design design selection & vendor selection
Civil construction consultant Sun 15 May 22
Construction materials suppliers Wed 11 May 22
Engineering Consultant Mon 28 Feb 22 Sun 29 May 22
Equipment Vendor Sun 17 Apr 22
Lead Consultant
Air ticket booking Sun 12 Dec 21
Appoint civil construction consultant Sun 1 May 22
Approval and go-ahead signal Sun 20 Feb 22 Sun 3 Apr 22 Sat 30 Apr 22 Wed 1 Jun 22
Director reviews and decision Thu 7 Apr 22 Wed 4 May 22
Engineering consultant's appointment Mon 21 Feb 22
Hotel booking Sun 12 Dec 21
Lead consultant meets the directors Sun 2 Jan 22
Lead consultant provides list of vendors Thu 14 Apr 22
Lead consultant submits equipment options Mon 4 Apr 22
Lead consultant submits materials options Sun 1 May 22
Lead consultant submits the report Sun 2 Jan 22
Lead consultant visits the site Wed 29 Dec 21
Lead consultant's appointment Wed 8 Dec 21
Payment of lead consultant's fee (25%) Sat 29 Jan 22
Receive the consultant Sun 26 Dec 21
Review and vetting of the design Sun 13 Feb 22
Review of consultant's design Mon 28 Mar 22
2.1
Microsoft Office 365 and
Google G-suite
Essential Spreadsheet Skills for Project Managers

Pre-construction phase task areas Start Date. End Date. Est. Duration (Days) Est. Cost Est. Cost%
(1) Data formats
(2) Date & formulas
Calculations & sizing Wed 8 Dec 21 Mon 31 Jan 22 37 1,127,000.00 48.60%

Civil layout design Sat 29 Jan 22 Wed 23 Feb 22 31 265,000.00 11.43%

(3) Basic statistical functions

Mechanical layout design Mon 21 Feb 22 Wed 6 Apr 22 33 827,000.00 35.66%

Equipment & vendor selection Mon 4 Apr 22 Sat 30 Apr 22 31 0.00 0.00%
(4) Conditional formatting
Construction materials & vendor selection Sun 1 May 22 Wed 1 Jun 22 44 100,000.00 4.31% (5) Basic charts
Total duration and cost Wed 8 Dec 21 Wed 1 Jun 22 176 2,319,000.00 100.00%

Year & Month Cost Estimate

2022 May 2022 2021 Dec
4% Jun
2021 77000.00 0% 3%

(6) Pivot table (+Data structure) Dec 77000.00

2022 2242000.00 2022 Apr

(7) Advanced options 33% 2021 Dec

Jan 1050000.00 2022 Jan 2022 Jan
45%
Feb 330000.00 2022 Feb
2022 Mar
Mar 12000.00 2022 Feb
14% 2022 Apr
Apr 750000.00 2022 May
2022 Mar 2022 Jun
May 100000.00 1%

Jun 0.00

Total duration and cost 2319000.00

SKILL#01 Project

Transferring WBS to Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

Spreadsheet
Subtask 1.1 Subtask 2.1 Subtask 3.1
Enter the WBS
demonstrated on the Subtask 1.2 Subtask 2.2 Subtask 3.2
right into Microsoft Excel
or Google Sheet.
Subtask 1.3 Subtask 2.3
Enter milestone after
Subtask 1.2, 2.4, and 3.2.
Subtask 2.4
SKILL#01
Transferring WBS to
Spreadsheet

Repeat the high-level

task for each subtask in
it. In this project we have
3 high level tasks and 10
subtasks.
SKILL#01
Transferring WBS to
Spreadsheet

Milestones are not tasks.

Add the milestone under
the high-level task group.
Add a new column and
categorize each task by
their types.
 Project

SKILL#02
Assigning time, cost, Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

and dependency to
Subtask 1.1 Subtask 2.1 Subtask 3.1
project tasks and
subtasks. Subtask 1.2 Subtask 2.2 Subtask 3.2

Enter duration, cost, and

Subtask 1.3 Subtask 2.3
dependency of each
project subtasks.
Subtask 2.4
SKILL#02
Assigning time, cost, and dependency to
project tasks and subtasks.
 Project

SKILL#03
Enter task start date Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

& date. Estimate total

Subtask 1.1 Subtask 2.1 Subtask 3.1
project duration.
Enter start date and end Subtask 1.2 Subtask 2.2 Subtask 3.2

date of each subtask based

on duration and task Subtask 1.3 Subtask 2.3

dependency. Estimate
overall project duration. Subtask 2.4
 Start-End Date Entry &
SKILL#03 Estimating Project Duration
 Project

SKILL#04
Prepare budget Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

estimates – task and

Subtask 1.1 Subtask 2.1 Subtask 3.1
time based
Use pivot table Subtask 1.2 Subtask 2.2 Subtask 3.2

techniques to present
estimated budget for Subtask 1.3 Subtask 2.3

each task. Show

monthly planned cost. Subtask 2.4
SKILL#04
Prepare budget
estimates
Use pivot table
techniques to present
estimated budget for
each task. Show
monthly planned cost.
 Project

SKILL#05
Prepare milestone and Task 1 Task 2 Task 3

team task/deadline
Subtask 1.1 Subtask 2.1 Subtask 3.1
summary
Assign tasks to team Subtask 1.2 Subtask 2.2 Subtask 3.2

members and prepare

milestone and team Subtask 1.3 Subtask 2.3

task/deadline summary
using pivot table. Subtask 2.4
 Prepare milestone and team
SKILL#05 task/deadline summary
 Prepare milestone and team
SKILL#05 task/deadline summary
Tasks Starts Ends Starts Ends Starts Ends
Executive A
Milestone 1 Tue 21/Dec/21 Tue 21/Dec/21
Subtask 1.2 Sun 19/Dec/21 Mon 20/Dec/21
Subtask 2.3 Tue 28/Dec/21 Sun 02/Jan/22
Subtask 3.1 Mon 10/Jan/22 Mon 17/Jan/22
Executive B
Milestone 2 Sun 09/Jan/22 Sun 09/Jan/22
Subtask 1.3 Tue 21/Dec/21 Thu 23/Dec/21
Subtask 3.3 Sun 30/Jan/22 Mon 14/Feb/22
Manager
Milestone 3 Tue 15/Feb/22 Tue 15/Feb/22
Subtask 1.1 Sat 11/Dec/21 Sat 18/Dec/21
Subtask 2.1 Sat 25/Dec/21 Mon 27/Dec/21
Subtask 2.2 Tue 28/Dec/21 Sat 01/Jan/22
Subtask 2.4 Mon 03/Jan/22 Sat 08/Jan/22
Subtask 3.2 Tue 18/Jan/22 Sat 29/Jan/22
Exercise #2.1 Climate Awareness
Video Project

“Think Climate” is an environmental

agency that creates awareness videos
Pre-production Production Post-production Promotion
and promote those in social medias to
engage people in climate friendly
socioeconomic behavior. A new video
Subject
project is to be undertaken soon. You Selection (7 days,
Venue selection Editing Facebook
(15 Days, 50,000) (7 Days, 100,000) (30 Days, 100,000)
are assigned to develop a project plan 10,000)

based on the WBS provided. You will

have to make the following Shooting Subtitling Instagram
Script writing (14
submissions: Days, Tk. 25,000) (30 Days, 450,000) (3 Days, 50,000) (30 Days, 150,000)

(1) Budget estimates (with Task,

Media vendor
Time, and Team Member breakdown) selection (7 Days, Photography Production Twitter
(2) Milestone and team task/deadline Advance Tk.
25,000)
(30 Days, 150,000) (7 Days, 50,000) (30 Days, 200,000)
summary
2.2
Leveraging Office and
Google Forms
Where to use forms?
Budget Control Task Control Chart
Track Actual against Track Actual completion
Budgeted Costs against planned completion

Allow team-members to submit Allow team-members to submit

cost against project tasks using task completion using forms.
forms. Prepare real-time Compare actual completion time
updates comparing budgeted with planned completion time to
and actual costs. create multiple progress reports.
 Office Form
Microsoft Forms is an online
survey creator, part of Office 365.
Released by Microsoft in June
2016, Forms allows users to
create surveys and quizzes with
automatic marking. The data can
be exported to Microsoft Excel.
✓ Google Form
Google Forms is a survey
administration software included
as part of the free, web-based
Google Docs Editors suite offered
by Google. The collected data can
be exported or linked with a
Google Sheet.
Setting up a real- 1 2
time project budget
monitoring system.
Baseline Project Cost
[1-2] Create a Project Cost Entry Form
Project Plan Entry Form
(PCEF) that allows project team
members to enter project cost against for
different project tasks outlined in the
Baseline Project Plan (BPP).

[2-3] Collect project cost data from the

PCEF to Real-time Cost Data Workbook 4 3
(RTC).

[1-4]+[3-4] Take the budgeted cost data

from BPP and actual cost data from RTC.
Compare and present in the Real-time Actual vs.
Actual vs. Budgeted Cost (ABC) report. Budgeted Cost Real-time
Report Cost Data
Setting up a real- 1 2
time project task
monitoring system.
Baseline Project Task
[1-2] Create a Project Task Entry Form
Project Plan Status Entry
(PTEF) that allows project team members
to enter project task status against for Form
different planned project tasks outlined in
the Baseline Project Plan (BPP).

[2-3] Collect project task data from the

PTEF to Real-time Task Data Workbook 4 3
(RTT).

[1-4]+[3-4] Take the planned task data

from BPP and actual task data from RTT.
Compare and present in the Real-time Real-time
Actual vs. Planned Task (APT) Actual vs. Real-time
completion report. Budgeted Task Task Data
Report
 Exercise #2.2a

Create a BPP: Transfer the PCEF: Create a RTC: Collect the ABC: Compare
folder named baseline plan of Google Form with PCEF data to the BPP and RTC
AV Project in the Awareness following fields: Real-Time Cost data and create
Video Project of Project Task Name (RTC) sheet. the Actual vs.
your Google
Think Climate to a (Dropdown), Cost Budgeted Cost
Drive.
Google Sheet. head (text field), (ABC) report.
Name the sheet as Cost amount, and
AVP Baseline Cost occurrence
Plan. date.
 Exercise #2.2b

Create a BPP: Transfer the PCTF: Create a RTT: Collect the APT: Compare the
folder named baseline plan of Google Form with PCTF data to BPP and RTT
AV Project in the Awareness following fields: Real-Time Task data and create
Video Project of Project Task Name (RTT) sheet. the Actual vs.
your Google
Think Climate to a (Dropdown), Sub- Planned Task
Drive.
Google Sheet. Task Name (text (APT) report.
Name the sheet as field or dropdown),
AVP Baseline Task completion
Plan. date
2.3
Microsoft Excel – Project
Manager’s Workbook
Excel on web may help project
managers to stay tuned with project
teams, with all super-feature of the
desktop version.
Every worksheet can have a
web link and can be shared
with any team members.

Different users may work in

different worksheet without
getting access or view of any
other worksheets.
Using Excel on Web for
Multi-Project Management

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Create a Master Each workbook Create Actual vs. Connect all
Web Workbook for should contain Budget Cost project workbooks
each of your Baseline Project Plan (ABC) report and in a separate
projects. (BPP), Real-time Actual Vs Enterprise
Cost Entry Sheet Planned Task Workbook to
(RTCS), Real-time (APT) report from check status of all
Task Status Entry BPP, RTCS, and projects in your
Sheet (RTTS) RTTS organization.
Exercise #2.3
It is a real challenge to keep the
projects on track, for the
organizations that do not use
dedicated enterprise-wide
solution for project management.
Solutions such as Microsoft
Project and Primavera are
expensive and difficult to
implement. On the other hand,
other cloud solutions that are
popping up are not still
trustworthy to many.
However, solutions such as
Microsoft Excel, that comes with
Office 365, a must-use package
in almost all organizations.
Do you think it is better to invest
and learn how to customize Excel
to manage all projects in the
organization than investing on
heavy project management
solutions? Discuss by comparing
Excel with Microsoft Project (see
next pages).
2.4
Google Spreadsheet –
Project ERP for small teams
Enterprise Multi-Project Management
using Google Workspace Solutions
As Google Workspace apps are
web-based solutions, outputs of
all these applications can easily
be transformed into webpage.
Such feature can be used Use for Use for Use as
creatively to design, develop, creating project project real
and deploy Enterprise Multi- Multi- planning time cost
Project Management Solution Project and and progress
Homepage database entry
(EPMS).
Exercise #2.4
Google Workspace provides
multiple applications that can be
tailored easily to create a
workflow for managing multiple
projects inside an organization.
For small organizations or
individuals, free version may do
very well. However, for a little
larger organizations security is a
big concern.
The cost/user for Google
Workspace vary from $6 – $18
(see next page). While a
dedicated project management
solution may cost $5 to $25/user.
Considering such costing
scenario do you think, you should
create customized solution using
workspace rather than spending
on dedicated solutions?