Overview

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Project Management: Foundations and Initiation provides learners with the foundational knowledge and practical tools to manage and initiate projects in real organizational settings. Project managers are responsible for more than schedules and task lists, they drive clarity on scope, align stakeholders, communicate effectively, and lead teams through constraints, change, and competing priorities. In this course, learners will build the core skills needed to launch and manage traditional projects with confidence and practice the habits that prevent common project failures. This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no traditional application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder. Logo image courtesy of Jehyun Sung, available on Unsplash at https://unsplash.com/photos/6U5AEmQIajg?utm_source=email&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=photos-page-share

Syllabus

Project Management and the Role of the Project Manager
- In this module, you’ll learn what project management is and how it differs from operations. We will explore what project managers do across the project lifecycle, and how projects fit within organizations through programs, portfolios, and the Project Management Office. You’ll then step through the project management lifecycle and core process groups, and end by comparing traditional, agile, and hybrid methodologies.
Starting the Project: Project Scope
- In this module, you’ll learn how to start a project the right way by defining clear scope and building the planning foundation that prevents rework and scope creep. You’ll create alignment through the project charter and project management plan, translate stakeholder needs into requirements, and use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to capture the full set of deliverables and work needed for successful execution.
Managing Stakeholders & Communications
- Projects don’t succeed on plans alone. They succeed when the right people stay aligned. In this module, you’ll practice the core communication and stakeholder tools project managers use to reduce confusion, prevent rework, and drive decisions. You’ll learn how to choose effective channels, address common communication barriers, build a communications management plan, and map stakeholders so your engagement strategy matches influence, interest, and project risk.
The Project Team
- Strong projects are delivered by strong teams. In this module, you’ll learn how to plan for people and physical resources, navigate real-world constraints like matrix organizations, and build teams that can execute effectively. You’ll also explore team development, sources of influence, leadership styles, motivation theories, and project-appropriate performance management practices that help teams stay aligned and reliable.