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IBM

Project Management Foundations, Initiation, and Planning

IBM and SkillUp EdTech via Coursera

Overview

To navigate today’s complex and rapidly changing work environments, many organizations divide work into projects. Project management provides a structured approach to plan and manage projects in order to achieve on-time, within-budget, and scope as planned delivery. Compare and contrast predictive and adaptive project management models. Learn to avoid common causes of project failure. Investigate how to lead effective meetings and how motivating your team can lead to project success. Create essential documents required during the project initiation phase like the business case, project charter, project brief, stakeholder register, and stakeholder engagement plan. Prepare other project documents to help you scope a project and plan accurate project schedules and budgets. You will gain practical experience with hands-on labs. Upon completion, you will have a portfolio of widely used project initiation and planning assets to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. This course is set up to help you succeed as a project manager. It is well-suited for those looking to step up their careers or new graduates seeking to establish their project management careers. This course is part of series of courses intended to help you prepare for CAPM and PMP certification exam. 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

  • Why Project Management?
    • Welcome to Module 1, which introduces the three-course project management series and the importance of project management in any career path. This module will summarize what you can expect to learn in this three-course series and what the first course will cover. You will also learn the three constraints in project management, how to get the most out of this series, and the project management certifications for which we prepare you.
  • Traditional Project Management
    • Welcome to Module 2, which introduces traditional project management terms, models, and methodologies. In this module, you will learn about predictive and adaptive project management models and the importance of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) model. You will also learn how organizations impact and influence projects, the importance of the Project Management Office (PMO), and fitting the project to the customer’s needs.
  • Modern Project Management
    • Welcome to Module 3, which introduces topics on modern project management techniques. In this module, you will learn the Project Management Body of Knowledge’s (PMBOK) 12 principles and how to apply them to a project. You will learn how to avoid common causes of project failure, the importance of organizing and leading effective meetings, how motivation and influencing your team can lead to project success, and the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) quality process.
  • Setting Up the Project for Success
    • Welcome to Module 4, where the focus is on the project initiating phase and the many tools and techniques you need to know to be a successful project manager. In this module, you will learn about the processes and tools that drive the initiation phase and the purpose and structure of essential documents like the business case, project charter, project brief, stakeholder register, and stakeholder engagement plan. You will also learn the importance of decision-making in project management and be able to summarize the Project Management Institute's (PMI) decision-making methods. You will interact with labs and Subject Matter Expert (SME) videos to discover the importance of the stakeholder register, analyze a simulated stakeholder engagement plan, and learn tips and tricks to identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities and how to initiate a project.
  • Project Planning
    • Welcome to Module 5, which covers project planning processes, documents, and tips. In this module, you will learn end-to-end scope, schedule, budget, support planning techniques, and documents and tips supporting these processes. You will also understand the importance of earned value management and the project management plan approval process.
  • Final Project and Quiz
    • In this module, you will complete a final exam that tests your knowledge on the course content. The exam will include questions on topics including but not limited to: project management concepts, principles, terminology, and methodologies, designing effective project management templates, improving project management results, setting up and initiating projects, and planning the project. You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and proficiency in initiating and planning projects through a peer-graded final project.

Taught by

Daniel C. Yeomans

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4.7 rating at Coursera based on 155 ratings

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