Project Management Specialization

Successful projects do not just happen. They are planned. Understanding what success for a specific project means is part of the plan. Take the opportunity to understand how you will measure success. Does your project require assistance or materials from the outside? If it does, will you know what type of contract will support your success? When you understand these basics, and you know how to identify the risks you face and how all of this information shapes your estimates, then you are ready to consider committing to a schedule and a budget. This course will take you through critical project planning basics so that when it is time for your schedule and budget, you are well informed.

By the end of this course, students will be able to: • Develop two quality metrics for a project • Differentiate between fixed price and cost-reimbursable contract types • Perform a basic risk assessment • Estimate the quantities and costs of resources required to perform project activities • Identify differences in three common cost estimating techniques

Project Execution has many challenges and a good project must learn how to execute projects and adjust to changes that may derail your project plans in the traditional and agile project management environments. In this course, the student will define direct and manage project work and knowledge.

By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Direct and manage project work by preparing proactively for changes that lead to adjusting and re-planning your projects to success. - Conduct project execution according to project plans in both the traditional and Agile project management environments and effectively manage resources throughout project execution.

Managing multiple projects presents different and additional challenges when compared with the management of a single project. This advanced hands-on course builds on the project managers’ previously acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of scope, time, cost, risk, human resources, leadership, and team building through a combination of videos, discussions, and team-based learning exercises.

This capstone course lets you put into practice the project process groups and knowledge areas that are outlined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide (PMBOK® Guide) and expands it to those required to manage multiple projects. These skills include delivering appropriate and timely communications and applying advanced, effective management skills. You'll learn how to oversee multiple stakeholders, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources efficiently. You'll explore scheduling techniques that allow you to balance resource utilization with project risks and achieve a desired level of responsiveness that can lead to a schedule that ensures optimal stakeholder satisfaction. The basics of portfolio management, program management, and Scrum Agile project management techniques are also covered.