“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr Seuss
The Fistral “Espresso” Range – access PM videos for FREE
During Covid-19 everyone is pulling together to help where they can, and the Fistral team is doing our bit too. To support customers, course participants and anyone with an interest in Project Management (PM), we have developed the following bite-sized videos that we’re making free to access during the pandemic.
We call this our Fistral “Espresso” range as it’s an intense ‘shot’ of learning.
The videos below focus on Project Management and are aimed at PhD/PGR and Early Career Researchers. Each video is circa 5 minutes long, and although presented in the context of research, the tools, tips and techniques are equally useful in any project and across any industry or sector. Fistral also offer a range of webinars across our Product Suite – on PM, Leading & Influencing, Communication & Collaboration, and Personal Effectiveness which, linked to the above, we’re calling our “Americano” range. Customers can book and schedule webinars as per an onsite training session. See our Webinar Page or Contact Us for more info.
Please share these videos as widely as you can – with your network, friends, colleagues, classmates, students, relatives – in case it’s of help or interest to anyone during this time.
Fistral Espressos
In response to customer requests, we have initially focused on developing videos on Project Management topics specifically aimed at PhD, PGR and Early Career Researchers. The PM tools and techniques below will help with managing any project, but are presented in the context of research. The videos are sequenced, and we recommend you watch them in order. However if you’ve attended a Fistral PM session before, have PM experience, just need a refresher, or want a just-in-time ‘shot’ of knowledge – feel free to jump to the relevant topic.
Our focus when developing Fistral “Espressos” – as with all our training – is to ensure the content is useful, practical, has a common-sense approach, and is accessible and easy-to-understand. Based on trainers’ experiences working in industry and academia for over 20 years, and their expertise delivering highly successful consultancy and training across sectors globally, Espressos provide tried-and-tested knowledge underpinned by sound theoretical principles.
More Fistral ‘Espressos’ are planned for development, but feel free to Contact Us if you have suggestions for specific topics. To keep up to date, follow @FraserFistral, Newsletter Signup or check back here to see what’s new.
01. Introduction to Project Management – What is a Project?
What is a project? What do we mean by project management? And why is it applicable to me? This session defines what we mean by project management, contextualising it within a research environment. It also provides an overview of how to use these videos, who we are, and the Fistral approach to project management. Length 03:49
02. Project Initiation
So you’ve got a project, are preparing a bid, have received funding or been given a piece of work to complete… How should you start planning and organising? This session discusses what you should be considering, where you begin, and what key questions you should be asking right from the start. Length 04:43
03. The Project Triangle
The secret to managing any project effectively is understanding your constraints and how any change will have an impact upon other aspects of your work. This session introduces a simple but effective way to consider this. Length 04:00
04. Prioritisation
Often we have too much to do and too little time! This session introduces a method of identifying the most important elements of your project and allowing focus on them, leaving the items of less importance to later. Length 04:55
05. Stakeholder Identification
Projects do not happen in isolation – they are affected by the world around them. This session helps to begin identifying some of these key influencing factors in the form of stakeholders and how understanding these people can be extremely useful when considering our project. Length 04:12
06. The Scope Document
Managing expectations and boundaries is crucial in any work environment. This session examines simple way to begin to do this in projects of any size. Length 04:03
07. The Planning Process
This session gives a brief overview of the planning process and contextualises the tools to be discussed in sessions 08-12. We recommend viewing this session before proceeding to 08-12. Length 03:52
08. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
It might sound obvious, but a key element in planning any bit of work is actually understanding what is involved in it. In this session you’ll be introduced to a fundamental project management tool that kicks off the whole planning process and is one of the most transferable techniques around. Length 04:04
09. Task Duration
This session examines the differences between active and passive tasks, and why it is important to identify and include both when planning your work. Length 04:59
10. Activity Sequencing
Working efficiently involves identifying the best order in which to perform the different tasks and figuring out where multi-tasking will work or where tasks just have to be done one after the other. This session establishes a method of easily identifying the optimal dependencies of task, establishing which are the key time-dependent activities and which have greater flexibility. Length 05:27
11. Activity Scheduling
The famous Gantt Chart! This session demystifies the most popular of project management artefacts, the Gantt Chart. It demonstrates how it can be a powerful tool if developed correctly but is only as good as the information entered in to it so should be used with great care. You will be shown how to create a Gantt Chart properly! Length 04:46
12. Resource Allocation
All projects require several resources – even those where it only seems to be us alone doing the work! This session considers resource planning to allow others to make time for you. It also examines that if we’re in a resource constrained project (e.g. it genuinely is only us!) how to optimise our schedule. Length 07:08
See our Product Suite or Online Training page for topics and to see more Fistral ranges – e.g. video (“Espresso”) and face-to-face (“Grande”) training. Or Contact Us for more information.
For Customer Comments see Testimonials
Understanding and Working with your Time Management Style – 4.63
We hosted Post-Doctoral Researchers from Teagasc on our ‘Understanding and Working with Your Time Management Style’ webinar. This course helps...
“Brilliant session” – Risk Management 4.67
A group of Post-Doctoral Researchers from Teagasc, recently completed their fifth part of Fistral’s online Project Management webinar series, ‘Risk Management’. Teagasc...
Professional Communication Skills Webinar – rated 4.82 by PhDs
Fistral’s ‘Professional Communication Skills’ online training was attended by PhD students at the University of Strathclyde, who rated the course...
Instructor 5 out of 5 and 4.96 overall – Advanced PM
PhD students from the University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s ‘Advanced Project Management’ webinar, part of the CAPM training...
“My view on GANTT has been forever shifted” – PM Planning attendee
We hosted a group from University of Bath Doctoral College and Researcher Development on our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar....
‘Creating the Plan’ – 100% will put their PM learning into practice
Post-Doctoral Researchers from Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority based in Ireland, completed Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar...
Leadership and Team Building Techniques webinar – “It was really amazing”
Fistral’s ‘Leadership and Team Building Techniques’ webinar was recently delivered to a group of PGRs at the University of Strathclyde,...
Centres for Doctoral Training – 100% would recommend ‘Planning for Uncertainty”
PhD students from two Centre’s for Doctoral Training (CDT) at the University of Bristol, attended all four sessions to complete...
“Very insightful” – Introduction to Project Planning
PhD students at the University of Liverpool Doctoral College completed the third and final part of Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project...
4.70 – Risk Management Webinar
PhD students from the University of Strathclyde Researcher Development Programme undertook Fistral’s ‘Risk Management’ online training recently. This webinar is...
“Excellent series of sessions” – CAPM Prep Day 4.88
Researchers and PGRs from the University of Bath Doctoral college rounded off their CAPM training online recently, which they’d started...
“That was brilliant” – Scoping the Project webinar for Post Docs
Post-Doctoral Researchers from Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, recently undertook part two of our online training series ‘Introduction...
“Very useful” – Introduction to Project Planning course for staff
Staff from the University of Bath Student Union attended our trio of webinars ‘Introduction to Project Planning: Parts 1, 2...
Risk Management webinar – 4.74
Uncertainty is inherent in any project, which makes it difficult to plan. This uncertainly is called risk. PhD students from...
4.79 out of 5 – “A great session”
Participants from the University of Liverpool Doctoral College, scored our “Introduction to Project Planning’ (part 2) webinar, 4.79 out of...
‘Stress Hardiness’ webinar – 100% would recommend to a colleague
PhD students and Post Doctoral Research Assistants at The University of Bristol ACCIS and CoSem Centres for Doctoral Training attended...
Doctoral College – CAPM rates ‘Excellent’ for trainer, 4.91 overall
A group from the University of Bath Doctoral College and Research and Innovation Services who we met previously in person...
Introduction to Project Planning rated 4.69
Our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar was rated 4.69 out of 5 (5 being Excellent), by a group from the...
“Honestly the best webinar I had this year” – Introduction to Project Planning
We had a great group from the University of Bath Doctoral College join us for an ‘Introduction to Project Planning’...
Doctoral College group rate session 4.93 out of 5
A group of PhD students working their way through our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series, completed the course recently...
Establishing Foundations webinar – ‘An insightful session’
PhD students across all years of study from the University of Liverpool attended our ‘Establishing Foundations’ webinar. The session is...
Doctoral College – Fistral Instructor rated ‘Excellent’
PhD students from two Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT’s) at the University of Bristol completed our Introduction to Project Planning...
“Wish I had done this for my PhD work” – Teagasc PostDoc comment
Post-Doctoral Researchers from various different specialty areas at Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, attended part one of our...
“You hardly notice the time pass when you’re so engaged with the material” – Research Staff, 4.89
Staff at the University of Dundee logged on for Part Three of Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project Planning for Researchers’ webinar...
Scoping the Project webinar “Built on Part 1 perfectly” said staff
We hosted staff at the University of Dundee online for Part Two of Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series,...
“It helped me focus and tailor my research objectives” – Project Planning Part 2
Researchers at the University of Dundee attended part two of Fistral’s 'Introduction to Project Planning' webinar series recently. Entitled ‘Scoping...
“A very informative session” – Doctoral College rating of 4.73
PhD students from Strathclyde University Doctoral College attended part two of our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ training. Entitled ‘Scoping the...
‘Creating the Plan’ contextualised for PGRs
PhD students from Ulster University Doctoral College recently attended the final session in our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ series. This...
100% from EPSRC CDT would recommend ‘Risk Management’
PhD students at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (XM2) based at the University of Exeter completed Fistral’s ‘Risk Management’ webinar....
“Brilliant sessions” – Introduction to Project Planning
Our three part ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series concluded for a group of staff from the CLEAR programme at...
Staff say Project Planning offers – “Lots of tips and tricks”
Staff at the University of Dundee participated in part one of Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series, as part...
“As a researcher, I’m finding the tools very useful” – Scoping the Project webinar
Academic and research staff from the CLEAR programme at the University of Bristol took part in the second of our...
4.73 -“Amazing as usual” – Introduction to Project Planning
A group of PhD students from the University of Strathclyde Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme attended the first part of...
“Very helpful” – ‘Establishing Foundations’ Project Planning webinar
Academic and research staff from the CLEAR programme at the University of Bristol (including one person logging on from Argentina!)...
Space industry training – “Very useful”
Space engineering professionals from ATG Europe BV based in The Netherlands attended our bespoke online training ‘Project Management Principles Level...
Introduction to Project Planning rates 4.74 out of 5
Our ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series continued with Part 2: ‘Scoping the Project’, delivered to a group from the...
4.90 – “I will implement a number of these strategies”
A group of PhD students from Queen’s University Belfast finished the third and final part of the ‘Introduction to Project...
‘Scoping the Project’ – 100% of attendees would recommend
PhD students at Ulster University logging in from Qatar and Lebanon joined their Northern Ireland based colleagues for part two...
4.75 for ‘Introduction to Project Planning’
A group of PhD students at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (XM2) based at the University of...
4.80 – Project Planning for Researchers
Researchers from the University of Dundee joined us for Part One of Fistral’s ‘Project Planning for Researchers’ online training. This...
“Very helpful” – Project Planning for Researchers webinar
A group of staff from the University of Dundee took part in the first of our four part ‘Project Planning...
“Your lecture was very inspiring” – Personal Time Management Strategies
We had an incredibly international group of attendees on our 'Keeping on Top of Your PhD or Research: Personal Time...
“You can’t afford to miss this!” – Project Planning series rates 4.91
Research staff and PhD students at Napier University undertook all three parts of Fistral’s ‘Introduction to Project Planning’ webinar series....
‘Leading and Motivating your Team Members’ – 5 out of 5
We recently delivered our ‘Leading and Motivating your Team Members ’ online training to staff from the University of Dundee as...
Leading Teams webinar – “A wonderful informative session”
A group of staff from the University of Dundee participated in our webinar entitled ‘Leading and Motivating Your Team Members.’...
“Awesome session” – Project Planning webinar
Ulster University PhD students undertook the first part of our Project Planning webinar series; ‘Establishing Foundations’. The group gave the...
4.77 overall – “A very useful session” Project Planning webinar
A group of students from the Graduate School at Queen’s University Belfast in various different years of their PhD study,...
Space industry Project Management training rated 4.75
Our webinar series ‘Project Management Principles Level 2’, was given an overall feedback rating by attendees of 4.75 out of...
Making Decisions in Stressful Circumstances – 4.83
Staff from the University of Dundee gave a fantastic overall feedback score of 4.83 out of 5 (5 being Excellent)...
‘Making Decisions in Stressful Circumstances’ Webinar rated 4.50
A group of staff from the University of Dundee attended our training webinar “Making Decisions in Stressful Circumstances” as part...