Turn Project Data into Decisions. Turn AI into Action. A Practical 2-Session Workshop for Project Professionals

⭐ Dear Project Managers, Please Mark Your Calendar

SESSION 1

Efficient Use of AI in Excel
⭐ 29 August 2026
⭐ 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
⭐ Virtual | 6 PDUs

SESSION 2

⭐ AI Tools for Project Managers
⭐ 26 September 2026
⭐ 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
⭐ In Person | 6 PDUs

Excel is no longer just a spreadsheet. With advanced analytics, automation and AI, it can become a powerful project-control and decision-support platform.

Beyond the Spreadsheet is an intensive, hands-on workshop designed for project professionals who want to move beyond basic Excel and discover how Advanced Excel, AI tools, automation and analytics can transform everyday project-management activities.

Across two focused sessions, participants will work with practical project scenarios to build advanced Excel reports, automate recurring reporting, generate meaningful insights, use AI effectively, and explore how modern AI tools can support the project lifecycle.

🎯 What You Will Learn

Participants will learn how to:

📊 SESSION 1 – Efficient Use of AI in Excel

📅 29 August 2026 | ⏰ 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Format: Virtual
PDUs: 6

Module 1: Project Data & AI-Ready Excel

✦ Structuring project data for analysis
✦ Preparing clean and consistent datasets
✦ Making Excel data ready for AI-assisted analysis

Module 2: Advanced Formulas for Project Control

✦ Advanced Excel functions
✦ Project tracking and control calculations
✦ Dynamic formulas for project reporting
✦ Practical techniques for reducing manual effort

Module 3: Project Performance Analysis

✦ PivotTables
✦ PivotCharts
✦ Trend and variance analysis
✦ Project performance reporting
✦ Turning project data into actionable insights

Module 4: Power Query for Automated Project Reporting

✦ Data extraction and transformation
✦ Cleaning and consolidating project data
✦ Automating recurring reporting activities
✦ Creating repeatable reporting workflows

Module 5: AI-Powered Project Insights & Forecasting

✦ Using AI to analyse project information
✦ Identifying trends and exceptions
✦ Forecasting and decision support
✦ AI-assisted project reporting

Module 6: Capstone Project

✦ Participants will work individually or in teams to create a practical project workbook using the datasets and techniques covered during the session.

📘 Participant Takeaway

Every participant will receive a structured Excel workbook containing practical examples of:

Sample Data | Advanced Formulas | Functions | Power Query | PivotTables | PivotCharts | Analytics | AI-assisted techniques

🤖 SESSION 2 – AI Tools for Project Managers

📅 26 September 2026 | ⏰ 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Format: In Person
PDUs: 6

Module 1: Current Challenges in Project Reporting & Coordination

✦ Explore common project-management challenges where AI and automation can create measurable productivity gains.

Module 2: Generative AI vs Automation vs Application Development

✦ Understand when to use:

Generative AI | Automation | No-Code Tools | Custom Applications

Module 3: AI Use Cases Across the Project Lifecycle

Discover practical applications of AI for:

✦ Project planning
✦ Scope and requirements
✦ Schedule management
✦ Risk and issue management
✦ Status reporting
✦ Meeting summaries and action tracking
✦ Stakeholder communication
✦ Project documentation
✦ Data analysis
✦ Decision support

Module 4: AI Tools for Project Professionals

Hands-on exploration of:

✦  Claude | NotebookLM | Gemini | ChatGPT | Copilot | Render.ai | Make.com | GitHub

Participants will understand where each tool fits, what it does best, and how it can be applied responsibly in real project environments.

 Workshop Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

✅ Select the right AI tool for a project-management task
✅ Write effective prompts using Role, Context, Objective, Constraints & Output Format
✅ Use Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT and Copilot for analysis and productivity
✅ Use NotebookLM with approved project documents to generate grounded insights
✅ Create project plans, risk summaries, meeting outputs and stakeholder communications with AI
✅ Understand how GitHub and Render can support AI-enabled prototypes
✅ Use Make to automate repetitive project workflows
✅ Identify privacy, accuracy, access-control and governance risks
✅ Build a small AI-assisted project-management solution

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is ideal for:

✦ Project Managers and Program Managers
✦ PMO Managers and PMO Analysts
✦ Project Controllers
✦ Team Leads and Delivery Managers
✦ Professionals with basic/intermediate Excel knowledge
✦ Students and educators
✦ Professionals looking to improve reporting productivity
✦ Anyone interested in using Excel + AI + Analytics to work smarter

Especially valuable for professionals who need to:

Analyse complex project data • Automate reports • Build dashboards • Improve forecasting • Reduce manual reporting • Apply AI to project workflows

Prerequisites

Participants should have:

✦ Basic familiarity with Windows or macOS
✦ Familiarity with the Excel interface, including ribbons, menus and worksheets
✦ Access to Excel 2016 or later, preferably Microsoft 365
✦ Willingness to participate in hands-on exercises
✦ Basic understanding of project-management concepts such as scope, schedule, cost, risk, issues and resources

No programming experience is required.

The focus is on applying Excel, analytics and AI to real-world project-management challenges, rather than software development.

 Course Fees

Category	Single Session	Dual Session
PMI Members	₹1,800	₹3,000
Non-Members	₹2,500	₹4,000

⭐ Best Value: Dual Session

Experience the complete learning journey—from advanced Excel and project analytics to AI-powered project management and automation.

 Earn 12 PDUs Across Both Sessions

Session 1: 6 PDUs
Session 2: 6 PDUs
Total: 12 PDUs

About the Facilitator

Arumugam Mariappan

PMP | PMI-ACP | CISM | ITIL

Arumugam Mariappan brings 24+ years of experience in Project, Program and Transition Management across infrastructure, security, cloud and Generative AI domains.

A familiar and active presence in the project-management community, Arumugam has been associated with the PMI Chennai Chapter since 2013, contributing to numerous chapter initiatives and events.

He currently serves as VP – Technology, PMI Chennai Chapter and has been closely involved in major chapter initiatives, including Kovai Sangamam and other large-scale events connecting project professionals and industry leaders.

With a combination of deep hands-on delivery experience, technology expertise and community leadership, Arumugam brings a practitioner's perspective to the rapidly evolving intersection of Excel, analytics, AI and project management.

🌟 Why Attend?

Don't just manage project data.

Make it work for you.

Learn how to move from:

⭐ Manual Reports → Automated Reporting
⭐ Raw Data → Actionable Insights
⭐ Spreadsheets → Dynamic Dashboards
⭐ Repetitive Tasks → AI-Powered Productivity
⭐ Information → Better Decisions

⭐ Go Beyond Excel. Lead with AI.

Master Excel. Leverage AI. Automate smarter. Deliver better.

Join both sessions and transform the way you manage projects.