Certified Data Centre Project Management (CDCPM®) Training

Develop a robust project baseline and create a comprehensive delivery plan for a complex, high-value data centre expansion project. Learn how to interpret project scope accurately, align project activity with business strategy and maintain control throughout the full project lifecycle.

The Certified Data Centre Project Management (CDCPM®) program provides an in-depth approach to managing critical data centre projects, combining established project management principles with the specific demands of mission-critical infrastructure environments.

As a key member of a multidisciplinary project team, a project manager must demonstrate strong leadership, make effective use of project tools and processes, manage delivery stages carefully, protect product quality and maintain financial control.

Rapid growth in data processing and storage demand, together with the move towards services being delivered closer to users through edge infrastructure, continues to increase the requirement for additional data centre capacity. For owners and operators, this creates ongoing pressure to build new facilities, expand existing sites and renovate operational environments. Skilled project managers provide the structure and confidence required to deliver these developments successfully.

The CDCPM® program examines how processes, procedures, professional skills, technical knowledge and practical experience can be combined to deliver successful data centre projects. The program begins by considering the personal qualities associated with effective project management and identifying the characteristics that are most important when leading complex infrastructure projects.

Successful project management also requires clear understanding of organisational strategy and the ability to gain meaningful contribution from all project stakeholders. Situational awareness is central to proactive management. It enables project managers to identify and influence risk, anticipate negative outcomes and establish actions that can prevent major project failure.

Using a “concept to closure” approach, CDCPM® explores established project management principles and adapts recognised project tools to the unique requirements of critical infrastructure projects.

Tools applied throughout the program include:

• Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Programme Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Critical Path Analysis (CPA)
• Earned Value Management / Analysis (EVM / EVA)

The program also explores how project success should be evaluated and how lessons can be captured to improve future projects. Key questions include whether the project was completed on schedule and within budget, whether required quality standards were achieved, whether expected strategic business benefits were realised and whether the project risk profile was managed effectively.

Previous project management experience would be advantageous, together with experience in a relevant technical discipline.

Learners working at this level should be capable of analysing, interpreting and evaluating relevant information, concepts and ideas.

Previous completion of the Certified Telecommunications Project Management (CTPM®) program would also be beneficial.

Individuals who successfully achieve the CDCPM® certification will develop advanced knowledge, expertise and capability in planning and delivering complex data centre projects.

Learners will strengthen their ability to manage project scope, stakeholders, time, cost, quality, risk, change, commissioning and project closure within high-value critical infrastructure environments.

Data Centre Review

• Data centre categories
• The four key constraints of the data centre environment:
  • Power
  • Cooling
  • Space
  • IT infrastructure
• Maintenance strategies and their impact on project planning

Data Centre Design Principles

Evaluating Geographical Location Opportunities

• Reviewing live mapping of natural disaster risks
• Sustainable development considerations
• Availability of key resources:
  • Power
  • Cooling
  • IT connectivity
  • People and required skill sets
  • Equipment
  • Transportation
• Cost-effective solutions
• Security considerations
• Local restrictions such as noise pollution
• Local government incentives:
  • Financial incentives
  • Planning requirements and legislation

Additional Design Considerations

• Resilience modelling
• Cost evaluation
• Construction costs
• Operating costs:
  • Power
  • Operations
  • Administration
  • Maintenance

The Multidisciplinary Team

Recognising key stakeholders, understanding communication routes and establishing appropriate project escalation processes through engagement with:

• Strategic leadership
• Workstream managers
• Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
• Design teams
• Implementation teams
• Quality assurance
• Safety and security teams

Understanding the Data Centre Build Project

• Scope of works and scope review
• Preventing scope creep
• Business drivers
• Stakeholder relationships
• Technical deliverables
• Ongoing customer activities
• Project controls
• Contractual constraints and disruptions
• Utility and vendor services
• Project communication
• Escalation management and decision-making
• Documentation
• Project closure
• Measuring project success
• Producing lessons learned
• Improving future organisational projects

Attributes of a Project Manager

• Understanding management concepts
• Internal and external communication style
• Decision-making
• Interpersonal relationships
• Delegation skills
• Ability to achieve key project objectives
• Appropriate technical knowledge and competence

Project Management Principles

• Understanding the role of the project manager within a high-value multidisciplinary project
• Core project management principles
• Establishing clear project objectives and critical deliverables
• Developing a structured pathway to project achievement
• Monitoring and managing project activities
• Maintaining planned project progress
• Evaluating project performance
• Developing appropriate management strategies

Project Management Process

• Developing, agreeing and baselining project scope
• Reviewing project estimates
• Quality planning
• Quality control
• Change management
• Configuration management
• Health and safety requirements
• CDM considerations
• Stakeholder communications:
  • Project meetings
  • Project reporting
• Impact analysis of project deviations
• Cost fluctuation
• Realignment of TCO and ROI expectations
• Customer satisfaction
• Commissioning
• Handover procedures
• Customer training
• Project closure and payment

Project Management Tools

Structural Planning Tools

• Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Precedence diagramming
• Project planning and programming
• Programme Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Critical Path Analysis (CPA)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)

Gantt Planning

• Task planning
• Resource levelling
• Deconfliction

Risk Management

• Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS)
• Quantitative Risk Management (QRM)
• Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies (RAID)

Through the use of these tools and methods, learners develop a structured approach to managing time, cost, resources, quality and risk across complex data centre projects.