Overview

Class Central Tips

Project management is a highly valued skill that provides a structured approach to managing projects. Communication, stakeholder management, leadership skills are core to any project manager's success. This course is intended for anyone interested in project management, be it a beginner or an experienced professional looking to switch or advance their career in project management. In this course, you will learn how to lead, communicate, and manage stakeholders as a project manager. This course will teach you how to cultivate a healthy project environment and review the benefits of empowering team members. You will learn different ways of communicating with team members across different types of stakeholders using appropriate communication mediums and channels. You will explore the leadership skills used to improve stakeholder engagement and facilitate successful projects from their inception through closing. Throughout this course, you will work with numerous hands-on labs and real-world examples to develop your communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills. This course is part of a series of courses that will help you prepare for certifications offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) including Certified Associate of Project Management (PMI-CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMI-PMP). RECOMMENDED: It is good for everyone gearing toward a career in Project Management to have basic to intermediate skills in an Office Productivity Suite, such as Microsoft Office 365. We highly recommend enrolling in the SkillUp EdTech Office Productivity Software Specialization, which covers Word Processing, Spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Messaging, and Email.

Syllabus

Creating a Healthy Project Foundation

Welcome to Module 1, where we will explore various methods to cultivate a positive and productive atmosphere for team members. A key aspect of a healthy environment is to “put people first.” We will examine how empowering team members can improve project outcomes. Additionally, we will dive into the importance of project objectives and how objective awareness can prevent scope creep. We will also explore the responsibility of a project manager in developing and communicating project objectives to the team and stakeholders. Finally, we will introduce the concept of servant leadership, its benefits, and tips to become a good servant leader.

Effective Communications Building Blocks

Welcome to Module 2, where we will explore the definition of numerous communications best practices and take a deep dive into the process of managing end-to-end project communications. We will look at different communication mediums and understand the concepts of the gulf of execution and the gulf of evaluation to identify communication gaps. We will touch on the failing fast concept and how the approach can help turn a failing project into a success. Finally, we will review the different roles that engage in a project and how the RACI matrix can be used to assign responsibilities.

Communications Planning

Welcome to Module 3, where we will introduce two common methods used to establish and effectively communicate an acceptable schedule baseline. The methods include critical chain and critical path method. We will also explain and illustrate a communications management plan. In addition, we will revisit the need to plan virtual communications effectively. We will discuss status reporting essentials and share how various communication styles can impact the quality of communications.

Leadership Fundamentals

Welcome to Module 4, where we will introduce some critical leadership skills, attributes, and styles. We will also cover the key differences between a manager and a leader. We will look at how to be effective as a leader in different situations. In addition, we will review the importance of knowledge sharing and understand why intuitive decision-making is an important skill for a leader.

Managing and Leading Stakeholders

Welcome to Module 5, where we will explore effective resource management practices, including the resource breakdown structure (RBS) tool. You will learn the techniques to plan for and acquire resources, the challenges you may face, and strategies to overcome the challenges. You will also explore the principles and benefits of effective negotiation.

Final Project and Quiz

In this module, you will complete a final exam that tests your knowledge of the course’s content. The exam will include questions on topics including but not limited to effective communication, managing stakeholders, and effective leadership. You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in project management communications, stakeholder management, and leadership skills through a peer-graded final project.