Initiating and Planning Projects

University of California, Irvine via Coursera

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Details

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

7-8 hours
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian, Thai, English, Spanish, Catalan, Hindi, Chinese, Ukrainian, Indonesian, Kazakh, Swedish, Korean, Greek, Japanese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Hungarian, Bengali, Pashto, Urdu, Azerbaijani, Farsi

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Overview

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The courses in the Introduction to Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization are a recommended precursor to UCI's Applied Project Management Certificate. Successful projects require careful upfront planning. In this course, you’ll learn the key roles and responsibilities of the project manager and project team. You’ll also learn to answer some key questions upfront to help you meet project objectives: What will this project accomplish? Why is this project important? Who benefits from this project? How will we plan for successful outcomes? Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Identify the key characteristics of a project 2. Identify primary project constraints 3. Define the role and responsibilities of the project manager 4. Identify Project Organizational Structures 5. Understand the definition of a Project Stakeholder 6. Identify project stakeholders 7. Identify information needs of the project stakeholders 8. Define responsibility for managing stakeholder and controlling stakeholder engagement 9. Define the purpose of using a project charter 10. Summarize the key elements of a project plan 11. Identify common sources of conflict within a project environment 12. Describe the difference between authority and influence

Syllabus

Get Started!

Welcome to the course! To begin your journey into project management, this module provides a comprehensive overview of what you'll learn and how it will benefit your career. We encourage you to review the course structure and participate in our brief survey to help us tailor your learning experience. Let's get started on building your project expertise!

What is a Project?

Welcome to the core of project management! In this foundational module, you will identify the key characteristics that define a project and understand primary project constraints. You'll also define the crucial role and responsibilities of the project manager and explore various Project Organizational Structures. This knowledge forms the bedrock for successfully initiating any project.

Get to Know your Stakeholders

After understanding project fundamentals, it's time to focus on the people who drive success. In this module, you will gain a deep understanding of project stakeholders. You'll learn to identify who they are, assess their information needs, and define your responsibility for effective stakeholder management and controlling their stakeholder engagement. Mastering these skills is crucial for navigating project dynamics and achieving collaborative outcomes.

Scope Matters

Building on your foundational understanding, this module will empower you to master critical planning tools. You will define the purpose of a project charter, summarize the key elements of a comprehensive project plan, and delve into the essential scope statement and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). These skills are vital for setting clear project direction and ensuring successful execution.

Authority Versus Influence

As a project manager, navigating team dynamics is key. This module will equip you with essential interpersonal skills. You will describe the critical difference between authority and influence, and learn to identify common sources of conflict within a project environment. Understanding these dynamics will empower you to lead more effectively and resolve challenges proactively.

Wrap Up

As we conclude this course, you'll have the opportunity to consolidate your learning and reflect on your journey. This module features insights from industry expert panelists to give you insights into initiating and planning projects. Prepare to apply your new skills and confidently move forward!

Taught by

Margaret Meloni

Reviews

4.3 rating, based on 19 Class Central reviews

4.7 rating at Coursera based on 23684 ratings

Start your review of Initiating and Planning Projects

Vijayakumar Menon N
212

Doing this course 'Initiating and Planning Projects' gives learners, a practical approach to Project management based on PMBOK methodology. Prof Margaret Meloni is a great teacher. Students will enjoy her crisp and clear communication of ideas. Slides are well designed. Video quality and sound quality is also great. You will encounter lots of good quality reading materials. Quizzes will help you to test your knowledge as you progress. Overall, an excellent course fit for project managers and project team members who work for construction projects. Also good for the aspiring project managers. Thanks to Prof Margaret and UC Irvine for the great course.
Daniel Wiehoff
8

When you read all these great reviews, you almost start wondering, "did I take the same course?" I am unsure whether I should do the following courses in the specialization. UCI does not seem to be interested in active engagement, updating their courses, or offering the best quality they potentially could.

The course basically works the following way: You read the PMBOK. There's no interactivity, no discussions, no way to ask questions if you need to clarify vaguely described concepts.

All in all, it did not meet my expectations.
Frank Keidel
2

The course helped me to get insight into stakeholder management and scope management and to prepare for my new job as project manager.
Sandro Abdelhafith
18
Jennifer D. Stone
4
Karen Ervin
2
Srdjan Simic
3
Roberto Fray Da Silva
4
Burcu Ozdemir
2
Ingrid Degand
14
Omar Adel Maaly
4
Kier Mitchel Pitogo
21
Элла Элен
12
Renato Feijó Da Rocha
6
Vo Chi Cong @vochicong
3
Michal Dardzinski
2
Panagiotis Bouklis
16
Chris @Christeph2047
14
Jonathan Golland
85