Coursera

Initiating and Planning Projects (Coursera)

Offered by University of California, Irvine,

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?

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Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

Identify the key characteristics of a project
Identify primary project constraints
Define the role and responsibilities of the project manager
Identify Project Organizational Structures
Understand the definition of a Project Stakeholder
Identify project stakeholders
Identify information needs of the project stakeholders
Define responsibility for managing stakeholder and controlling stakeholder engagement
Define the purpose of using a project charter
Summarize the key elements of a project plan
Identify common sources of conflict within a project environment
Describe the difference between authority and influence

This course is part of multiple programs
This course can be applied to multiple Specializations or Professional Certificates programs. Completing this course will count towards your learning in any of the following programs:

What You Will Learn

Identify project stakeholders
Define the role and responsibilities of the project manager
Summarize the key elements of a project plan
Anticipate common sources of conflict within a project environment

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Get Started!
Get started in this module by reviewing the course overview and participating in the course survey.

WEEK 2
What is a Project?
In this module, we will identify the key characteristics of a project, identify primary project constraints, define the role and responsibilities of the project manager, and identify Project Organizational Structures.

WEEK 3
Get to Know your Stakeholders
In this module, we will understand the definition of a project stakeholder, identify who they are, identify their information needs, and define responsibility for managing stakeholders and controlling their engagement.

WEEK 4
Scope Matters
In this module, we will define the purpose of using a project charter, summarize the key elements of a project plan, and discuss the scope statement and the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

WEEK 5
Authority vs. Influence
In this module, we will describe the difference between authority and influence and identify common sources of conflict within a project environment.

WEEK 6
Wrap Up
Wrap up this course by meeting our industry expert panelists, taking the final exam, and participating in our post course survey.

Go to Class

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