Certified Data Centre Project Management (CDCPM®)

Establish a robust project baseline and a comprehensive plan for a complex, high value data centre expansion project that demonstrates an accurate interpretation of the project scope and focuses on delivering project success in support of business strategy.

Working as a critical member of a multi-disciplinary project team, you will make a significant impact by exhibiting strong leadership qualities, optimising tools and processes to implement effective stage management to ensure product quality and financial control.

Driven by the exponential demand for data processing and storage, and the need to bring services closer to the customer (the edge), the pressure to deliver additional data centre facilities is a constant challenge for owners and operators. Highly skilled and dedicated project managers provide the confidence that facilitates the extension, build and renovation of facilities that contribute to the expansion of the global data centre footprint.

The comprehensive Certified Data Centre Project Management (CDCPM®) program is designed to provide in-depth knowledge into the application of processes, procedures, skills, knowledge and experience to deliver successful data centre projects. The program first invites learners to evaluate the personal attributes that contribute to developing a successful project manager and prioritises the main characteristics to consider.

Successful project management requires clear visibility of the organisational strategy and recognition of the importance of gaining maximum contribution from all project stakeholders. Situational awareness is key to proactivity, it enables managers to positively impact risk, have the foresight to accurately predict adverse outcomes and develop actions to prevent catastrophic failure of the project.

With a focus on a ‘concept to closure’ theme, the CDCPM® examines traditional principles and processes and tailors project management tools to the unique requirements of a critical infrastructure project. Tools such as Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Programme Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT), Critical Path Analysis (CPA) and Earned Value Analysis (EVA) are all utilised throughout the program.

The program also examines the evaluation techniques that determine the success of the project, or the lessons that need to be learned to improve future projects. This activity poses questions. Was the project completed on time/on budget? Was it completed to the right quality standard? Have the strategic business benefits been realised and was the risk profile managed effectively?

Prerequisites

Project management experience would be advantageous, along with previous experience in a relevant technical discipline. Learners at this level should be able to analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant information, concepts and ideas. Completion of the Certified Telecommunications Project Management (CTPM®) program would be an advantage

CDCPM® certified individuals will possess unrivalled knowledge, expertise and capability to deliver complex data centre projects.

Data Centre Review:

• Data centre categories
• The 4 key constraints (the 4Cs):
  • Power
  • Cooling
  • Space
  • IT Infrastructure
    • Maintenance strategies

Data Centre Design Principles

• Examining opportunities for geographical location:
  • Live mapping natural disasters
  • Sustainable development
  • Resource availability:
    • Power
    • Cooling
    • IT connectivity
    • People (skill sets)
    • Equipment
    • Transport
  • Cost effective solutions
  • Security
  • Local restrictions (e.g. noise pollution)
  • Local government Incentives (financial, planning laws etc)
• Resilience modelling
• Cost
• Construction costs
• Operating costs
  • Power
  • Operations
  • Administration
  • Maintenance

The Multi-disciplined Team

• Recognise key stakeholders, understand lines of communication and project escalation. Engage with:
  • Strategic leadership
  • Workstream managers
  • Subject matter experts (SMEs)
  • The design team
  • The implementation team
  • Quality assurance
  • Safety and security

Understanding the Data Centre Build Project

• Scope of works and review process (avoidance of scope creep)
• Business drivers
• Stakeholder relationships
• Technical deliverables
• Ongoing customer activities
• Project controls
• Contractual constraints and disturbances
• Utility and vendor services
• Communication
• Escalation management and decision making
• Documentation
• Project closure
• Measuring success
• Writing lessons learnt
• Improving organizational projects

Attributes of a project manager

• Understand management concepts
• Communication style (internal and external)
• Decision making
• Inter-personal relationships
• Delegation skills
• Ability to meet key project objectives
• Competence (appropriate technical knowledge)

Project Management Principles

• Appreciate the role of the PM in a multi-disciplined high- value project
• Core principles
• Develop a clear understanding of the project objectives and critical deliverables
• Create a structured plan defining the pathway to achievement
• Monitor and manage project activities to maintain anticipated progress
• Evaluate performance and develop appropriate strategies

Project Management Process

• Project scope development (needs to be agreed and baselined)
• Project estimation reviews
• Quality planning
• Quality control
• Change management process
• Configuration management processes
• Health & safety (including CDM)
• Stakeholder communications
  • Project meetings
  • Project reporting
• Project deviation impact analysis
• Cost fluctuation
• TCO, ROI re-alignment
• Customer satisfaction
• Commissioning
• Handover procedure & customer training
• Projects closure and payment

Project Management Tools

• Organisation and Work breakdown Structures (OBS/WBS)
• Precedence diagramming (project plan/ program)
• Program Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT)
• Critical Path Analysis (CPA)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• GANTT
  • Task planning
  • Resource levelling
  • Deconfliction
• Risk management:
• Risk Breakdown Schedule (RBS)
• Quantitative Risk Management (QRM)
• Risk Assumptions Issues and Dependencies (RAID)