Project audits are a crucial yet often overlooked function for ensuring the health and success of projects. This "Eagle Eye: Mastering Project Audits Training Course" is meticulously designed to equip professionals with the skills to conduct thorough, objective, and constructive project audits. You will learn to move beyond simple compliance checks and adopt a strategic mindset, using audits as a powerful tool for identifying risks, uncovering inefficiencies, and providing actionable recommendations that drive project performance. This course will empower you to become a trusted advisor who can provide clear insights and help organizations achieve their project goals with greater predictability and control.

This 10-day immersive program will guide you through the entire project audit lifecycle, from planning and execution to reporting and follow-up. The curriculum is built on a foundation of best practices and real-world scenarios, covering essential topics such as audit types, data collection techniques, and stakeholder communication. You will gain practical experience in evaluating project documentation, interviewing team members, and analyzing performance metrics. By the end of this course, you will be prepared to conduct professional project audits that not only ensure accountability but also foster a culture of continuous improvement across your organization's project portfolio.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• Project Managers
• Program Managers
• PMO Professionals
• Quality Assurance Specialists
• Internal Auditors
• Business Analysts
• Risk Managers
• Senior Management
• Team Leads
• Project Schedulers

Objectives:

• Understand the purpose and types of project audits
• Master the project audit planning process
• Learn effective data collection techniques
• Conduct objective and thorough project assessments
• Identify and document project risks and issues
• Develop a project audit report with actionable insights
• Communicate audit findings to stakeholders
• Manage the post-audit follow-up process
• Use audits to foster continuous improvement
• Understand the ethical considerations in auditing

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Project Audits

• What is a project audit and its importance
• The difference between a project audit and a review
• The role of a project auditor
• Types of project audits (e.g., formal, informal)
• The benefits of regular project audits

Module 2: Project Audit Planning

• Defining the scope and objectives of the audit
• Creating a project audit charter
• Developing a detailed audit plan and schedule
• Assembling the audit team and roles
• The importance of stakeholder communication

Module 3: Data Collection and Analysis

• Identifying key project documents to review
• Conducting effective interviews with stakeholders
• Using surveys and questionnaires for data gathering
• Analyzing project data and performance metrics
• The importance of an unbiased approach

Module 4: Assessing Project Performance

• Evaluating project schedules and timelines
• Assessing project budgets and financial health
• Reviewing resource allocation and utilization
• Measuring project quality and deliverables
• The use of key performance indicators (KPIs)

Module 5: Risk and Issue Audit

• Reviewing the project's risk management plan
• Assessing the accuracy of the risk register
• Identifying unmanaged risks and issues
• Evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation strategies
• The auditor's role in risk identification

Module 6: Stakeholder and Communication Audit

• Reviewing the stakeholder engagement plan
• Assessing the effectiveness of communication channels
• Identifying communication gaps and issues
• Evaluating stakeholder satisfaction and alignment
• The importance of transparent communication

Module 7: Process and Governance Audit

• Assessing compliance with project methodology
• Evaluating the project's governance structure
• The role of the PMO in project oversight
• Checking for adherence to organizational policies
• Identifying process inefficiencies

Module 8: Quality Management Audit

• Reviewing the project's quality management plan
• Assessing the quality of project deliverables
• Checking for compliance with quality standards
• The importance of continuous quality improvement
• The use of quality checklists and metrics

Module 9: The Audit Report

• The structure and content of a professional audit report
• Writing clear, concise, and objective findings
• Providing actionable and practical recommendations
• The importance of an executive summary
• Creating visualizations to support data

Module 10: Presenting Audit Findings

• Tailoring the presentation for different audiences
• Communicating sensitive information effectively
• Handling difficult questions and pushback
• The importance of being a trusted advisor
• Focusing on solutions, not just problems

Module 11: Post-Audit Activities

• The role of the project team in follow-up
• Creating a corrective action plan
• The importance of monitoring progress
• Closing out the audit and lessons learned
• The role of the PMO in implementing changes

Module 12: Ethical Considerations in Auditing

• The importance of impartiality and objectivity
• Maintaining confidentiality and trust
• Handling conflicts of interest
• Professional integrity and accountability
• The auditor's code of conduct

Module 13: Project Audit Tools

• Using project management software for audits
• Data analytics tools for deep analysis
• Specialized audit software
• The importance of a centralized document repository
• Creating custom templates and checklists

Module 14: Auditing Agile Projects

• The unique challenges of auditing Agile
• Auditing Agile ceremonies and artifacts
• Assessing team velocity and sprint performance
• The importance of Agile principles in the audit
• Adapting traditional audit techniques for Agile

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.