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LRMP Process Management--Participant Workbook

by Integrated Resource Planning Committee, Government of BC; co-published with Government of BC

40 pages; 3-hole punched & shrink wrap; catalogue #97-0033; ISBN 1-55212-268-9; US$7.00, C$8.88, EUR5.80, £4.00

One of a series of training modules for participants of Land and Resource Management Planning (LRMP) processes in British Columbia. LRMPs are strategic land use planning processes under the Forest Practices Code.

Read more! LRMP Process Management--Participant Workbook

About the LRMP process About LRMP Training Module Overview

About the LRMP process

Planning for land and resources in British Columbia, including LRMP, is evolving in new directions. Land and resource management decisions made without an overall plan are being replaced by planning at the regional, sub-regional (LRMP), and more local levels. Land and resource decisions formerly made unilaterally by single government agencies are being replaced by inter-agency processes that seek to consider all environmental, resource and socioeconomic values. Decisions with short-range perspectives are being replaced by decisions that seek to protect future generations by ensuring commitments of land and resources are sustainable in the long term. Planning decisions made through internal government agency processes are being replaced by decisions made through open, consensus-based processes involving full participation of the public and stakeholders.

About LRMP training and publications

Training is an essential foundation for the new land and resource management directions in B.C. Through training, participants can become more effective in their roles and responsibilities in the processes. They can better understand the benefits of these processes, and avoid many of the difficulties. The purpose of training is to increase the capabilities of all participants.

How can I find out more about LRMP training?
Training module development is coordinated, on behalf of the Integrated Resource Planning Committee, by Brian Fardoe, Strategic Forest Planning Section, Forest Practices Branch, Ministry of Forests, 1st Floor -1450 Government St., Victoria, BC V8W 3E7. Phone 250-356-5110, fax 387-6751, or email Brian.Fardoe@gems3.gov.bc.ca.

How is training delivered?
Interagency Planning Teams (IPTs) are responsible for developing and implementing LRMP table training plans. In support of IPTs, the Integrated Resource Planning Committee has developed the training modules listed below. In general, IPTs select and fund consultants to present training to LRMP tables.

What kinds of training materials are available?
LRMP training materials produced by the Integrated Resource Planning Committee include modules and publications. Instructor manuals are available for all training modules. Overheads and participant workbooks are also available for most modules.

Training modules:

• Orientation to LRMP
• Public Participation in LRMP
• First Nations:
  • Orientation to LRMP for First Nations
  • Interagency Management Committee Orientation to First Nations
  • LRMP Table Orientation to First Nations
  • LRMP Table Orientation to Local First Nations
• LRMP Process Management
• Scenario Development in LRMP

Publications:

• LRMP: Statement of Principles and Process
• Diamond LRMP- A Model Report
• Resource Analysis Guidelines
• Public Participation Guidelines
• Social and Economic Impact Assessment Guidelines

Who pays for the training materials?

• Note: These training materials and publications are available to IPTs, colleges, researchers and others. A fee is charged by the distributor (Trafford Publishing) to recover printing and order processing expenses only.
• Many of the publications are available to read on-line through accessing the Land Use Coordination Office's web site at http://www.luco.gov.bc.ca/lrmp/home.htm.

Module Overview

Description

This module allows participants to learn while working on project plans for components of their own LRMP process. This approach furthers the work of the LRMP while improving project management skills. Combining the learning experience and practical work also makes more effective use of participants' time as training is not an off-line activity. The module is designed for a highly interactive, practical and participatory learning experience with a minimum of theory.

Timing

Audience

• Basic orientation to LRMP equivalent to the LRMP Orientation module.
• Basic familiarity with LRMP Public Participation principles and processes so that these can be considered in project planning.

The participants in this training module should be drawn from a single LRMP planning project to allow the participants to use their own project as a case study for practice. The module is designed to allow flow from training to actual project planning and to facilitate team building.

The number of participants should be small enough to allow close contact between participants and facilitator. The content and procedures to be learned may be difficult to some participants, and careful monitoring of training climate and progress is required at each step in the delivery. It is recommended that this module involve no more than 20 participants.

The target audience for this module includes members of the Inter-agency Planning Team (IPT) and others with project management and/or administrative responsibilities for the project, such as the Inter-agency Management Committee (IAMC). The participants should include a core of people who will form the nucleus of the future LRMP planning team so that this team can assist others in project planning and monitoring.

The training participants should include one or more government staff people working in the LRMP area who are familiar with government administrative, budgeting, contracting and personnel procedures.

Some members of the public might also be interested in this module. Their participation would demystify some of the concerns that could develop over schedules, budgets, etc.

Training Team

• familiarity with the standard techniques of project planning, monitoring and team building.
• experience with managing large, long term, multi-organizational planning projects.
• experience with other LRMP processes.
• experience with financial and contract monitoring processes of administering agency (this could be addressed by local administrative officer of lead agency).

Learning Objectives

• be able to state why effective project management and monitoring is important in an interdisciplinary, multi-agency, and cross-cultural team context.
• understand and be able to use simple, commonly-used tools for project planning including task outlines, work breakdown structures, work assignments, flowcharts, timelines, and budgets.
• understand and be able to use simple, commonly used tools for monitoring of project results, quality, schedules, budgets, and organization.

Topics

• A conceptual overview of project management and team-building.
• Simple project planning techniques with applications to LRMP:
  • Defining project specifications (statement of work)
  • Defining tasks (work breakdown structures, task outlines)
  • Assigning work and estimating time
  • Scheduling (flowcharts, timelines)
  • Preparing Budgets
  • A conceptual overview of project monitoring, and some simple techniques

  Key Themes

  • Good project management is the result of careful project planning and monitoring, and effective team building. There are well-established and widely-used procedures and practices for project management that can be learned and applied to LRMP. These procedures, if used appropriately, will reduce delays, costs, and conflicts within LRMP projects.
  • Although a project is led by a project manager, successful completion of the project is the responsibility of all participants.
  • Large projects, such as an LRMP, are collections of smaller projects. Larger projects are more manageable if they are broken down into components for project planning and management. This also allows detailed participatory planning and delegation.
  • LRMP project managers should follow sound project management practice adapted to LRMP principles and process. LRMP project management should:
    • conform to LRMP principles and processes.
    • encourage participation of the public, stakeholders, and First Nations.
    • build consensus on integrated, sub-regional plans.
    • produce an LRMP for review and approval of government that is guided by provincial policies and approved regional plans.
    • work within the constraints of information, funding and participants' availability.
  • LRMP involves nine steps. Each of these steps, as well as activities within each step, must be carefully planned and managed if the LRMP is to be successful.
  • Project monitoring depends on good planning, monitoring of time, cost and quality factors, and a system to provide information on these factors.

  Approach

  This training module is designed to provide skills training while working on aspects of the LRMP process. It introduces project management concepts and techniques, and begins to apply these directly to planning of LRMP activities. Participants will learn about project planning and monitoring, and experience working in a team. It will explore examples and experience from other LRMPs.
  

  Only commonly used concepts, tools and terminology for project management will be introduced. Those seeking more detail (e.g., CPM, PERT, project management software) should be advised where to get further training (Project management is a well-developed field of study).

  The module will emphasize practice by explaining LRMP project management tools and applying them immediately. Based on this introduction, the participants will then begin to prepare plans for some tasks they might later implement; e.g., a public meeting, a newsletter, a step in the LRMP process, or specific activities within a step.

  How to Use this Module

  This module will usually be delivered in one day, but two days of training can be offered, if necessary. The estimated time ranges from approximately 8 to 13 hours, including practice exercises but excluding coached post training work.

  The trainer should consult with local organizers prior to the training to consider training needs and objectives, and to adapt case examples, training techniques and other training program factors to participant needs.

  This module is divided into three main units: project planning concepts, project planning methods, and project monitoring. These units should be delivered in sequence. Because project management is systematic, it is recommended that all the components of this module be delivered. However, the content can also be delivered in successive meetings.

  Ideally, training sessions for Units B and C should be followed by a day or two of coached project work. In this coached work, the trainer may act as a resource person and coach as the project planning team works on preparing project plans for elements of their project.

  Unit D (Project Monitoring) may have a greater impact once the project management team has more experience.

  Extra material included in the module provides the trainer and local organizers with some options in the delivery of training. Some segments may be dropped depending on local needs. For example, if teams have some familiarity with project management, some segments could be delivered through brief lectures to review concepts.

  Consultation with local organizers will identify possible examples of project work that can serve as training material.

  Accompanying this module is a Demonstration Example: Public Open House Work Plan, demonstrating how project planning tools come together into a project plan, and provides a model to follow for future project planning work.

  In addition, a Handout Materials: Project Planning Tools package can be used during and after the training.

  Estimated Time Allocations

  The time allocated for various units should be decided in discussions between the trainer and local LRMP project organizers. The times suggested below should be adjusted to address local circumstances based on the needs of participants. The module includes participatory exercises as well as presentation notes that can be used to review and reinforce messages.

  The following time estimates will vary depending on the size of the group, their previous experience with LRMP, learning climate, the style of the trainer, and other factors. The trainer and local organizers should agree on priorities.

  Typical Schedule

    UNIT
                                                Suggested Time by
                                                segment (Minutes)
                                                                      Suggested Time by
                                                                        unit (Hours)
    1. OPENING SESSION
                                                       30
                                                                             0.5
    2. PROJECT PLANNING CONCEPTS
                                                                             2.0
    a. What is project management?
                                                       15
    b. What is a project work plan?
                                                       15
    c. Some considerations for project planning
                                                       45
    d. Project Team Building
                                                       45
    3. PROJECT PLANNING METHODS
                                                                             5.5
    a. Overview of project planning methods
                                                        5
    b. Step One: What is the project? Defining
    Project Specifications
                                                       30
    c. Step Two: What needs to be done?
    Defining Tasks
                                                       90
    d. Step Three: Who will do what work?
    Assigning Work and Estimating Time
                                                       30
    e. Step Four: How long will it take?
    Developing schedules.
                                                       90
    f. Step Five: How much? Preparing Budgets
                                                       60
    g. Pulling it together: a project work plan
                                                       25
    4. PROJECT MONITORING
                                                                             3.0
    a. Introduction to Project Monitoring
                                                       15
    b. Monitoring for Results, Quality, Time
    and Budget
                                                       90
    c. Successful Approaches to Project
    Monitoring
                                                       45
    d. Project Monitoring as a People
    Management Process
                                                       30
    5. SUMMARY
                                                       30
                                                                             0.5
    6. EVALUATION
                                                       30
                                                                             0.5
    TOTAL
                                                   720 minutes
                                                                          12.0 hours
  

  Training Materials

  The following support material is available for this module:
  • Lesson Plans
  • LRMP Timetable (available from IRPC)
  • Overheads.

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