Successful projects and programs are critical to electric cooperatives’ mission and purpose. They may be large, like building a substation and extending distribution lines to a new part of the service area; or they may be relatively small, like developing a communication and marketing program for a new energy service offering. No matter if the project is internal or consumer-facing, the co-op staff leading the effort need specific knowledge and skills to successfully plan, manage and execute the project or program.
In this course, participants will learn how to initiate, plan and manage projects and programs to achieve the desired results and meet stakeholder needs. They will explore typical challenges in managing projects and programs—and techniques for addressing them. Participants will learn how to propose a program or project for stakeholder approval and then organize the work and resources needed to get the work done on schedule and on budget. How to monitor and report progress is also covered, as well as how to close out and evaluate the overall effort.