“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
“Engaging and practical” – Loughborough University Staff
Staff from Loughborough University welcomed us onsite for our Project Management in the Real World training session. The group gave...
“Useful to learn how to organise a project to completion” – University of Bath feedback
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session....
“Very engaging & interactive without being pressured “– University of Warwick staff feedback
The second of two groups of research staff joined us onsite at the University of Warwick for Fistral’s Increase Your...
“Another great course!” – University of Warwick staff feedback
The first of two groups of research staff joined us onsite at The University of Warwick for Fistral’s Handling Academic...
“It will absolutely help me in my work going forward” – University College Cork staff
The first of two groups of staff at University College Cork joined us onsite recently for Fistral’s Successfully Planning &...
“Engaging, useful, and practical” – University College Cork staff
The second of two groups of staff at University College Cork joined us onsite for Fistral’s Successfully Planning & Managing...
“Useful and transferable skills” – University of Strathclyde feedback
PhD students University of Strathclyde joined us onsite in Glasgow for Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training session. The group gave it...
“Good mix of theory and application” – University of Strathclyde PhD student
PhD students University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques webinar training session. The group gave it...
5 out of 5 score for PM training – University of Strathclyde
Fistral welcomed PhD students at the University of Strathclyde onsite in Glasgow for our Advanced Project Management course. The group...
“Useful for Planning PhD” – University of Strathclyde PhD Student
Onsite in Glasgow at the University of Strathclyde, Fistral welcomed a cohort of PhD students on our Project Risk Management...
“Very practical and applicable” – University of Bath feedback
A mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to Fistral’s Advanced Project Management webinar...
“Effective and realistic” – University of Winchester staff
Staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral’s Influencing Skills for Leaders of Research Teams webinar course and...
“Very useful, easy to use tools” – University of Winchester staff
Research staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral’s Handling Academic Rejection webinar. The group gave the training...
“Invaluable techniques when planning a project” – Loughborough University staff
We joined staff onsite at Loughborough University to deliver our Project Management in the Real World training course and they...
“Practical things I can use straight away” – University of Winchester staff feedback
Research staff from the University of Winchester logged on to Fistral's webinar entitled Getting Unstuck: Procrastination Busting Techniques. The group...
“I can apply this in a number of different scenarios” – University of Bath feedback
PhDs from the University of Bath logged on to our Introduction to Risk Management webinar session. The group gave the...
“Really applicable to a PhD project” – University of Strathclyde PhD student
We were joined onsite in Glasgow by PhD students at the University of Strathclyde for Fistral’s Project Management in the...
“Practical and applicable tools” – University of Winchester Research Staff
We were joined onsite by research staff at the University of Winchester for Fistral’s Releasing Your Leadership & Teambuilding Potential...
“Very applicable and lots of examples” – research staff at University of Winchester
We were joined onsite by research staff at the University of Winchester for Fistral’s Project Management Techniques for New &...
“Interesting and relevant” – University of Strathclyde PGR
PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde logged on to Fistral’s Advanced Project Management webinar session. The group gave the training...
“Manage projects for the better” – ASPIRE Programme attendee from Sheffield Hallam University
A group of PhD students from the ASPIRE Programme, Sheffield Hallam University logged on to Fistral’s Project Management: 5 Key...
5 out of 5 rating for CAPM Training from CDT
PhD students at the University of Manchester iCAT Centre for Doctoral Training logged on to Fistral’s CAPM Preparation training course....
“Helps break down planning of PhD” – University of Bath
We were joined online by PhD students at The University of Bath for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training course....
“Everyone working on a project should complete this course” – Loughborough University Staff
We welcomed staff onsite at Loughborough University to Fistral’s Project Management in the Real World training course, and they gave...
“Lots of interesting techniques learned” – Manchester CDT
PhD students at the University of Manchester iCAT Centre for Doctoral Training joined us onsite for Fistral’s Project Management in...
“Head and shoulders above other providers” – University of Strathclyde PGR
We welcomed PGR’s onsite at the University of Strathclyde to our Risk Management in the Real World training course and...
5 out of 5 for CAPM training – University of Strathclyde PGRs
We joined PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde onsite in Glasgow to deliver Fistral's CAPM Preparation training. This training is...
“Useful for PhD planning” – University of Strathclyde PGR feedback
A cohort of PGR’s from the University of Strathclyde logged on to our Introduction to Project Planning training course and...
“Useful tips” – Space agency staff
Staff from LSE Space logged on to Fistral’s training webinar entitled Time Management: Prioritisation and rated the session Very Good....
4.93 rating for Maximising your PhD Performance training
PhD students from the ASPIRE programme joined us onsite at Sheffield Hallam University for Fristral’s Maximising Your PhD Performance Using...
“Project management made simple” – University of the West of England attendee
Fistral travelled to Bristol to the University of the West of England to deliver our Project Management for Researchers training....
“A must-attend course” – Strathclyde University PGR
PGR’s at Strathclyde University logged on to Fistral’s training webinar entitled Creating a Good Supervisory Relationship. The attendees rated the...
“Practical and helpful” – University of Bristol Staff
We welcomed staff onsite at the University of Bristol for a session entitled Project Management Tools for Managing Your Research...
Project Management In The Real World – Rated 5 out of 5 at Strathclyde University
Onsite at Strathclyde University, we ran our Project Management In The Real World training for a group of Postgraduate Researchers....
“Provides new perspectives” – PGR University of Strathclyde
Postgraduate Researchers from the University of Strathclyde logged on to our Techniques for Confident Professional Communication webinar training. The attendees...
“Plenty of practical tools” – Project Management in the Real World
Onsite at Loughborough University, we ran our Project Management In The Real World training for a group of Postgraduate Researchers....
“Useful practical tools” – Bristol University Staff
We welcomed staff from the University of Bristol to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management webinar training. The attendees rated the...
“Useful prep for CAPM Exam” – Intro to PM webinar
PhD Students from the University of Exeter joined us online for Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training webinar. The group...
“Very insightful” – Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques Training rated 5 out of 5
Postgraduate Researchers from the University of Strathclyde joined us onsite for Fistral’s Leadership and Teambuilding Techniques training course. The group...
“Worthwhile and engaging” – Intro to Project Management
We welcomed a mix of research staff and PhDs from the University of Bath to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management...
Advanced Project Management – “Useful for professional development”
Onsite once more at the University of Strathclyde, we hosted PhD students at Fistral’s Advanced Project Management training session. The...
“Useful for research projects” – PM Essentials
PGR’s from the University of Exeter logged on to parts 1-4 of Fistral’s Project Management Essentials for Researchers webinar series...
“A lot of inspiration for managing PhD” – 5/5 for Intro to PM
PhD students at the University of Bath joined Fistral logged on to Fistral’s Introduction to Project Management training session and...
‘Good for identifying risks that can impact your PhD” – University of Strathclyde student
A cohort from the University of Strathclyde joined Fistral onsite for our Risk Management in the Real World training session...
“Worth the time” – Avoid Drifting webinar
Fistral welcomed PhD students from the University of Strathclyde online for a webinar entitled Taking Charge of Your Time: Avoid...
“Practical and useful” – Time Management Strategies
PhD students from the University of Strathclyde joined Fistral onsite for a training session entitled Keeping on Top of Your...
5 out of 5 rating for Intro to Project Planning Part 4
PhD students from Ulster University joined us for a final time on Part 4 of Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning...
“Invaluable for PhD” – Intro to Project Planning Part 3
PhD students from Ulster University logged on to Part 3 of Fistral’s Introduction to Project Planning webinar series and rated...
“Clearly charts the essentials of Project Mgt” – Ulster University PhD student
PhD students at Ulster University logged on to part three of Fistral’s webinar session Introduction to Project Planning and rated...
“Time management tools you can apply to your working day” – Space staff feedback
LSE Space staff logged on to Fistral’s webinar session entitled Time Management: Personal Effectiveness and rated it 4.88 out of...