Module 1 Summary: What is project management?

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, and tools to a project

to deliver intended outcomes and produce value. It has many benefits, including
managing budgets and timelines, improving producticvity, addressing project risks,
improving communication, and increasing customer satisfaction.

Project management seeks to control the scope, schedule, financials, risk, quality,
and resources of a project.

Successful project management keeps projects within budget and on time, provides
needed tools to the team, clarifies responsibilities, facilitates communication,
manages delivery and risk, drives quality, and monitors and reports results

The three primary levers that project managers drive include time, quality, and
resources.

A project is an endeavor that is unique, temporary, completable, and measurable,

while a program is a collection of projects that is large, long-term, general, and
strategic projects. A portfolio is a collection of projects and programs that is
ongoing and aligns with the organization’s strategic objectives.

Common project management resources that can be used to learn more about project
management include the Project Management Body of Knowledge, or PMBOK.

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Module 2 Summary: Working as a Project Manager
Potential stakeholders on a project include team members, executives, clients, and
various other departments such as legal, sales, IT, operations, and HR in an
organization.

Project managers build and maintain positive working relationships with

stakeholders by effectively identifying, analyzing, and proactively engaging with
stakeholders from beginning to end.

By working across teams, functions, and departments, project managers can align
their goals with the project’s objectives. This allows the project team to adjust
the project in response to changes and new developments.

Waterfall, critical path, and critical chain methodologies use a linear, structured
approach in which tasks take place in either mutually exclusive phases or
sequences. Agile is focused on iterative development and constant improvement. Lean
is focused on continual production flow, and Six Sigma is data-focused and
manufacturing-driven.

Recent trends in project management include the use of artificial intelligence,

project management software, data analytics, remote teams, and a global workforce,
hybrid project management methodologies, and an emphasis on soft skills.

The advantages of traditional project management over modern project management are
that it is predictable and stable. The advantages of modern project management are
that it is flexible, responsive, and automated.

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Module 3 Summary: What does being a project manager require?
Soft skills are more intangible than technical skills and may include qualities
such as personality or attitude. Soft skills are not as readily quantifiable or
able to be taught as technical skills, but they can be developed and improved.
Useful technical skills for project managers include project management
methodologies and processes, business administration and management, and software
and information technology.

Useful soft skills for project managers include research, analysis, written and
oral communication, time management, decision-making, self-motivation, task-
switching, and problem-solving.

Interpersonal and leadership skills allow project managers to work more effectively
with team members and stakeholders. Skills such as communication, team building,
and conflict management help project managers inspire a team to work towards a
shared vision.

Project managers are responsible for project planning, execution, monitoring and
reporting, post-project evaluation, and project closing. Project managers fulfill
these responsibilities by performing tasks such as budgeting, assessing risk,
evaluating key performance indicators, and many more.

A typical day in the life of a project manager usually involves communications and
calendars. They often attend a daily standup meeting and other meetings such as a
sprint review, sprint retrospective, or project status meetings.

Many soft and technical skills found in other positions such as time management,
writing well, good verbal communication, and leadership transfer well to project
management.

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Module 4 Summary: Careers in Project Management
Project managers work across a variety of industries including construction,
engineering, IT, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Each industry comes with
its own requirements and types of projects.

Because industries are becoming more project-based, project management-oriented

employment is expected to increase consistently over the next ten years.

In addition to the usual responsibilities of project management, responsibilities

unique to IT project management include implementing IT strategy, managing IT
resources, and communicating with IT managers, employees, and clients. Required
technical skills also include familiarity with IT concepts and software development
methodologies.

There are different ways to become a project manager. Certain industries or

positions require a degree, as well as certain certifications such as the Project
Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM),
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI ACP), and Agile/Scrum. Higher-level positions
typically require a certain number of years of experience.

Generally, project management professionals will move from lower-level positions to

more senior or executive ones. Entry-level positions include project coordinator
and project manager, while mid-level positions include senior project manager,
program manager, or portfolio manager. After that, senior executive level roles in
project management include titles such as a director of project management or chief
operating officer.
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Module 1 Summary and Highlights
Congratulations! You have completed this module. At this point in the course, you
know:
How this three-course series differs from other project management courses

Why project management is essential

What the Foundational Knowledge course covers

How to overcome the top three project management constraints

How to get the most out of the project management courses for future roles

How to seek a Project Management Institute: Project Management Professional (PMI-

PMP) Certification or a PMI-Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Certificate
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Module 2 Summary and Highlights: Traditional Project Management
Congratulations! You have completed this module. At this point in the course, you
know:

Projects may be implemented using a predictive or adaptive method. Predictive

projects are generally called “Waterfall,” while adaptive projects are known as
“Agile.”

Many variations of predictive and adaptive projects exist, including Scrum, Six
Sigma, Lean, etc.

The importance of the project phases and following the phases as you manage the
project is critical. You learned that the Project Management Institute (PMI)
developed the most common phasing method, which includes initiating, planning,
executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.

Organizations can impact a project manager’s ability to be successful. The primary

impact is on authority, role, availability of resources, availability of staff, and
control of the budget.

The value Project Management Office (PMO) adds and that there are three types of
PMOs: supportive, controlling, and directive.

Customers can be internal or external, and they may have a problem to be solved or
an opportunity to pursue.

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Module 3 Summary and Highlights: Modern Project Management
Congratulations! You have completed this module. At this point in the course, you
know:

The 12 key principles listed in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
7th edition and how these principles impact project management.

Primary reasons for project failure and recommendations to avoid these causes.
Project management is an art and a science. Practice your interpersonal skills to
be effective, understand the significance of lifecycles, and follow them.

Essential tools and techniques to manage projects in a virtual environment. Virtual

is a reality in today's modern project management environment. Understand virtual
challenges, plan ahead, and work to overcome them.

The importance of organizing and leading effective meetings, including knowing when
meetings are necessary. You reviewed the 12 key success factors of effective
meeting management. Meetings are a core means of project communications. Practice
meeting management techniques and ensure meetings are productive.

Best practices for creating and managing a meeting agenda and minutes.

Effective influencing techniques and how to motivate others. You learned how to
motivate the project team. A project manager must motivate the team and
stakeholders to commit to performing the project's activities. Situationally
influence each individual by understanding their needs and issues.

Common models the Project Management Institute (PMI) recommends for influencing
stakeholders. These models include Theory X, Y, and Z, The 7-step Team Performance
Model, and the Influence diagram.

The importance of leading change and several common change models were reviewed.
Remember, you can manage change, or it can manage you. Change is inevitable. If
change is required, approach change management in a structured and proactive
manner.

The PMI project management quality process was defined, including distinguishing
between quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), and essential tools
managers use in project quality management.

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Module 4 Summary and Highlights: Setting Up the Project for Success
Congratulations! You have completed this module. At this point in the course, you
know:

Definitions and potential formats to develop a business case, project charter, and
project briefs. It is important to be familiar with the purpose and contents of
each of these documents, as project managers must often create or execute them.

How a project charter and project brief improve chances of project success. The
Project Management Institute (PMI) states any project that begins without a project
charter has a high probability of failure. Project briefs provide summary
information to keep stakeholders informed and committed.

Potential formats to develop a stakeholder register for stakeholder identification.

A stakeholder register defines roles and responsibilities for stakeholders
essential to project success.

A variety of decision-making techniques. Decision-making is a critical skill

essential to a project manager’s success.

How to analyze a stakeholder engagement plan to develop strategies for keeping

stakeholder commitment. Project managers should not assume stakeholder commitment.
Managers must analyze each commitment level and develop strategies to move
commitment levels to where they need to be.

The importance of key financial metrics a project manager must understand. Many
projects are approved to improve monetary returns. Financial analysis is a critical
project selection process all project managers must understand.

How budget estimation levels and essential project budgeting keys to success.
Budget is one of the three constraints. Project managers must plan budgets
correctly to support scope and schedule requirements.

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Module 5 Summary and Highlights
Congratulations! You have completed this module. At this point in the course, you
know:

The end-to-end planning process and all project managers should follow this process
to improve the potential for success. You also learned about the role of the
business analyst (BA). The role of the BA and the BA framework is a key area of
emphasis on the CAPM test.

The distinct processes provide a roadmap to follow when planning scope, schedules,
and costs. All planning should be approved and accepted to finalize the scope,
schedule, and cost baselines. Remember to plan the scope first. The scope should
meet the entire needs of the project as defined in the project charter.

Support planning begins after the manager finalizesthe scope, schedule, and cost
baselines. Support planning ensures that the team addresses and plans for project
quality, resources, communications, risk, and procurements accordingly.

Earned Value Management (EVM) is used in many organizations and is a great way to
show the project's progress. EVM analysis also allows project managers to make
directional changes as needed to get a project back on track when it falls behind
on schedule, budget, and production of deliverables. EVM is an area of
concentration on the CAPM test.

The project manager is responsible for gaining project management plan approval and
acceptance.