A project is defined as an undertaking designed to achieve specific objectives within a given budget and time period. Projects provide benefits like building organizational capacity but also carry risks requiring time, effort and money. Effective project design follows a rational process answering key questions about objectives, current status, strategies for achieving objectives, and evaluating outcomes. Defining the problem or need is the first step, such as addressing the need to retrain and reskill an aging Romanian workforce.

1. Fundamentals of Project Management Week 1 – an introduction to projects and project management

2. Definition Project An undertaking which is designed to achieve specific objectives within a given budget and within a specified period of time

3. Benefits/Risks of Projects Builds the capacity of the organisation Opportunity to create teams Networking Broader recognition for the organisation Needs time, effort, money

4. Project Design Rational, logical, sequential process The process answers 4 Key Questions Where do we want to go? Where are we? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be? What will happen when we do?

5. Project Design How do we get there? Generate strategies to use resources, avoid constraints Choose strategy Define structure, budget, schedule Where do we want to go? What is the problem? Define the Goal Define the Objectives Where are we? Identify resources and constraints SWOT! What will happen when we do? Monitoring Evaluation Reporting

6. Problem/ Need Definition Reflect on the context within which your organisation operates. Think of an area where you are dissatisfied with a situation. Define the problem/need .

7. Example problem: Need for re-training/re-skilling older Romanian workforce