Overview

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One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Taught by internationally recognised project management expert Chris Croft, this course uses real-world examples & practical tools to demonstrate how successful project managers plan, organise, and deliver projects. You will be introduced to the core principles of the PMP® project management framework, including project planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, scheduling, and team leadership. Effective projects are rarely the result of luck. More often, they succeed because common mistakes are identified and avoided before they become costly problems. This practical course helps you master the fundamentals of project management by exploring the 10 most common mistakes that cause projects to fail (e.g run late or over budget). Rather than focusing on theory alone, the course provides practical techniques that can be applied immediately to projects of any size. Participants will learn how to avoid common pitfalls, improve project performance, and make better decisions throughout the project lifecycle. Ideal for project managers, team leaders, and professionals responsible for delivering projects, this course provides a clear and practical foundation for achieving better project outcomes and building confidence in project delivery.

Syllabus

Welcome to this Project Management Guide

This module provides a practical introduction to project management and explains the fundamental concepts every professional should understand, regardless of whether they have a formal project management role. Learners will explore what projects are, why projects fail, common project management methodologies, Agile principles, the PMD method, and the key stages of the project lifecycle. The module also introduces project documentation and professional project management qualifications.

Top Ten Mistakes and how to avoid them

This module examines the most common mistakes that cause projects to miss deadlines, exceed budgets, or fail to meet objectives. Learners will explore planning pitfalls, scope management issues, poor stakeholder engagement, inadequate scheduling, ineffective use of Gantt charts, and common decision-making errors. Practical tools, templates, and examples are provided to help learners avoid these mistakes and improve project outcomes.

Wrap Up

This concluding module reviews the key lessons from the course and reinforces the most important project management principles. Learners will revisit the top project management mistakes, review essential planning techniques, and consolidate their knowledge through practical resources and final reflections. The module prepares participants to apply project management skills confidently in their own workplace projects.