Project Control Simulation
Atkins is one of the world's leading engineering and design consultancies. Employing 18,000 staff in over 200 permanent offices worldwide, Atkins has the depth and breadth of technical expertise to respond to the challenges of major infrastructure projects around the globe.
Project management is a core capability at Atkins and there is a continuous effort to improve capability in this area. Working with one of the world’s leading project management educators, Cranfield School of Management, Atkins offers its managers a range of development opportunities.
One of the Cranfield courses is aimed primarily at technical specialists who are moving into more ‘generalist’ project management roles. For this course, Atkins commissioned Prendo to develop a project management simulation. Based around a real Atkins project, and developed with input from Atkins staff and also Cranfield’s expert faculty, the simulation brings to life the universal challenges of planning, monitoring and controlling projects successfully. The simulation gives participants an opportunity to practise using the key project management tools and techniques, including: risk and stakeholder analysis, work breakdown structures, logical flow and critical path analysis, bar charts, budgeting, cashflow management, resource allocation and also Earned Value analysis.
Because of the close link between project management capability and our overall commercial performance, investing in the Project Control simulation was an easy decision. We had also recognised the limitations of "chalk and talk" training courses in a complex skill area like this. The simulation has provided a powerful learning opportunity for our managers, without any risk to us or our clients. It has been used by over 400 members of staff now, and the feedback on it has been consistently excellent.
Brian Fitzgerald, HR Director Group Talent Management, Atkins
