established 1985
Benefiting from over 30 years’ experience, Fitzwilliam Institute’s Online Diploma in Business with Project Management course features:
The nature of business, business plans and start-ups, legalities – sole traders and partnerships, limited companies, non-profit organisations, public sector organisations.
Vision and mission, objectives, planning and strategy, contingency planning, implementation, change control.
Production methods, cost, revenue and break-even analysis, quality assurance, production planning, project management.
The nature of business, economic systems, structure of the industry, sources of finance, share capital, stock exchange, institutions providing finance.
Marketing concepts, market research, market segmentation, positioning and targeting, new product development and the product life cycle, brand awareness, the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion), competitor analysis, marketing strategies, e-commerce.
Financial Mathematics, Calculus and Profit Maximisation, Descriptive Statistics, Measure of Association, Probability, Statistical Inference.
Introduction to financial accounting, users of financial information, key accounting models, terminology, need for financial statements, the balance sheet, balance sheet layouts, ratio and the balance sheet.
Introduction to macroeconomics, understanding macroeconomics, principles of economics, how the market works, gross domestic product, international trade, open economy, Labour market, income, expenditure and the circular flow, the consumer price index, cost of taxation, employment, cost of living, the Philips Curve, national income, supply and demand for goods and services, money and inflation, the quantity theory of money, interest rates, social costs of inflation, hyperinflation, exchange rates.
Introduction to microeconomics, trade, trade-offs and government policy, production and supply, elasticities, individual choice in supply and demand, production and cost analysis, competitive markets, oligopoly and monopolistic competition and strategic pricing, uncertainty.
Objectives, the office – planning and organisation, equipping the office, the future of office administration.
Effective communication skills, leadership styles, information gathering and interpretation, problem solving, decision making, workforce planning, conflict resolution, time management, delegation.
Company organisational culture and structures, building an effective workforce – recruitment, team selection, appointment and termination, training and appraisal, motivational strategies, competition in the workplace. Wage and salary administration, job restructuring.
Human resources management, employee representation, industrial democracy including bargaining, consultation and participation, industrial relations - action and disputes. Government policy (including EU and other industrial blocs), consumer protection, workforce protection, equal opportunities legislation, pressure groups. Taxation.
Business ethics, business and the environment, corporate social responsibility. Commercial Law, Company Law, Contract Law, Employment Law, Law of Tort.
Innovation, research and new product development.
Introduction to spreadsheets, step by step instructions on using the features, functions and applications for spreadsheets, customizing the spreadsheet software, installing the spreadsheet software, security, platforms, operating system compatibility.
Three business management case studies.
Definitions from industry-led professionals, characteristics defining a project, comparing projects to processes, Introducing global standards in project management, summary of major associations representing the profession of project management - International Organization of Standardization (ISO), the Association for Project Management (APM), International Project Management Association (IPMA) Project Management Institute (PMI) Examples of widely used methodologies and guides in project management (e.g. PRINCE2, the Critical Chain Method (CCPM), PMBOK guide by the PMI)
Detailed analysis of key players involved in a project life cycle and their integration (Project sponsor, seniority, project manager, project engineer, seller/supplier, project team members, programme board, project management office, stakeholders, customer)
The main factors involved in project initiation (definitions, business plans, project sponsor and other stakeholders) planning at the initial stage for a successful project outcome, understanding and defining the project scope, recognising time, budget schedule restraints in the scope development.
Where and how to start, using detailed checklists and flowcharts as tools in creating and formulising project plans, the advantages of using work breakdown structures (WBS), organizational breakdown structure (OBS), the use of logical coding systems as effective organization methods, critical path networks, gaining authorization, making decisions, initial project coordination
The key concepts in project cost management, cost estimating, cost budgeting, cost accounting, tools and techniques in cost estimation (top-down, bottom-up costing, reserve, conference, vendor bid analysis) cost estimations for materials, labour costs and manufacturing. Processes involved in project time management, difference between time planning and time scheduling, internal and external time influences, bottom-up and top-down time planning, parametric estimation and three point estimation, checklists and diary planning, developing a realistic schedule.
Gantt charts and linked Gantt charts. Defining quality, how quality fits into the project life cycle, planning for quality, SMART planning, inputs and outputs required for quality planning and quality assurance, costs of quality, prioritising quality. The value of quality management, quality assurance, testing for software quality (unit testing, integration testing, subsystem testing, system testing, regression testing, alpha testing, beta testing, acceptance testing), validating and verifying quality, benchmarking, quality management practices, quality testing and reviewing, why quality isn't met.
Defining risk management, categories of risk (internal and external risks), identifying the projects? risks, risk analysis and assessment, qualitative analysis (fishbone diagram, classification matrices), quantitative analysis, introduction to risk planning.The risk register - output to risk identification, avoiding risk, reducing risk (mitigate), contingency plans, risk acceptance, risk monitoring, insurance, planning for a crisis.
Formal project closure procedures, managing files and archives, finalising records and reports, disposing of surplus materials, completing final project definition. Project review, improving project performance, learning before doing.
ProjectLibre is a free open source project management software application. It is designed to manage small to medium sized projects and contains all the tools necessary to manage various types of projects including extensive reporting facilities. ProjectLibre is also compatible with Microsoft Project making transfer of projects easy and straightforward
The Business Plan, Legalities, Setting Up, the Marketing Strategy, Knowing Your Competitors, Promotional Tools.
Preparation and Research, Speech Content, Subject Matter and Objectives, Speech Delivery and Variety, Body Language, Eye Contact, etc., Presentation Aids e.g. Visuals, etc., Management of Locations and Audiences, Presentation Structure.
The projects are an important part of the course. Each course participant is given five project briefs. Participants are asked at the end of the course to produce five business management projects. This gives participants the opportunity to use the knowledge they have obtained during the course in a focused way.
Online Lecture Modules, Subject Expert Feedback Sessions after each Module, Practical Case Studies, End of Module Practical Activities etc.
Full support is available from our Subject Experts by email at the end of each module and an ongoing basis during the course.
Anyone working in the general business sector in a senior or support role which is likely to require Business Management Skills.
Successful candidates are awarded the Diploma in Business and Project Management at Pass, Credit or Distinction level.
Students have up to 12 months to complete this course
On successful completion of this course you will receive a Diploma level qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management)
The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Asia in a total of 140 countries, by leading industries, bodies and professions.
Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for one calendar year. However, you can complete the course in as little as 4 - 6 months, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.
Course Fees: 995.00 EUR
To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.
Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.
Year on year, we have the pleasure of training students from top Ireland and international companies. See where our most recent students come from and find out what they have to say.