Designing Project Information Hubs for Program and Project Performance from edX

Communication complexity rapidly increases even with a few program or project team members and stakeholders. Project managers are the “hub” of their project communication. Program managers are the “hub” of their organization communication to meet strategic goals. Managing these networks is essential whether you manage traditional programs or projects. Or agile programs and projects.

Program managers have two additional challenges. First, they must empower their project managers with skills, processes, and assets for information management. Second they must sense and integrate the key performance data to ensure strategic objectives are met, and project processes are improved across the program.

As you learned from the Project Management Institute, Inc.'s (PMI)"A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK) when preparing for the PMP exam, the number of communication channels grows geometrically with team size. If there are “n” communicators, then the number of communication channels is n*(n-1)/2. That means five team members have 10 channels, but 10 team members have 45 channels to manage. That’s over four times as many channels for doubling the size of a small team!

If you imagine each communication channel as a radio station, you can see how quickly the program or project manager can be overwhelmed with all the information coming in. As you gain more program or project management experience, what you learned for the PMP certification or similar professional certification is not sufficient. This course will help you go beyond the knowledge you needed to become a certified project manager.

This applies to all project leaders. Whether you are a just getting started as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or a seasoned Project Management Professional (PMP), you need to manage a lot of information transfer and exchange. And this challenge is even greater for agilists, like certified scrum masters (CSMs) and PMI-ACP holders. No matter the scaling methods, having timely information is critical for agile teams at scale, who need to move fast without driving up overhead in team-to-team communication as technical scope changes.

In this program and project management training course, you will learn effective and efficient project management tools to receive and transmit program and project-level information. Program managers and project managers need to ensure that information flows freely and where the information can do the most benefit. This online course will teach you how to build communication networks for your program or project’s success. Gain 10 professional development units (PDUs) while sharpening your program or project management skills.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Explain how to build a communication network for a program or project.
Describe different methods to manage the information flow in communication networks.

Create and test feedback methods to ensure that information is being transmitted accurately.
Analyze the information needs of the members in a program or project’s communication network.

Explain how to build a communication network for a program or project.
Describe different methods to manage the information flow in communication networks.
Create and test feedback methods to ensure that information is being transmitted accurately.
Analyze the information needs of the members in a program or project’s communication network.

Syllabus

Week One - Program/Project Communication Networks

Module One - What Are Communication Networks?

Module Two - How to Build a Communication Network for a Program or Project - Part One

Module Three - How to Build a Communication Network for a Program or Project - Part Two

Module Four - Scaling Up the Program or Project Communication Network

Module Five - Putting It All Together and Preview of the Next Module

Week Two - Managing Information in a Program or a Project

Module One - The Types of Information in a Program/Project

Module Two - How Information Moves in a Program/Project

Module Three - Knowledge Management in Programs and Projects - Part One

Module Four - Knowledge Management in Programs and Projects - Part Two

Week Three - Program/Project Management Information Templates

Module One - The Program/Project Communication Plan

Module Two - Reporting Program/Project Status

Module Three - Effective Meeting Practices

Module Four - Communicating Program/Project Status to Stakeholders

Week Four - Troubleshooting Program and Project Communication Network Challenges

Module One - The Network is Growing Too Big

Module Two - Information is Getting Lost in the Network

Module Three - Information Only Goes One Way

Module Four - How To Tell If Information is Being Transmitted Accurately

Module Five - Teaching Your Program Or Project Team Good Information Management Habits

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Incorporates program managers' additional duty of empowering project managers with skills and tools for information management

Discusses the increase in communication channels as project and program teams grow in size

Provides guidance on creating and testing feedback methods to ensure accurate information transmission

Stresses the need for timely information in agile team environments

Offers 10 professional development units (PDUs) for skill enhancement

Exploration of scaling up communication networks for larger programs and projects

Reviews summary

Project management storytelling course

Learners say this course about project management storytelling and communication is well-received with engaging assignments, informative content, and a knowledgeable instructor. Students highlight the use of real-world examples and practical tips to make learning easy and applicable to their work.

The course is accessible to learners with little to no prior knowledge of project management or storytelling.

"Basics of storytelling and risk management are included in this course. It's a great starting point that doesn't require previous program or project management knowledge."

"Good course for junior professionals that begin their carrier in Project Management or other type of management role."

"It was good. I wish that some of the examples used could be of diverse sectors such as non for profits to help me in better applying some concepts but I found it was overall well explained and easy to follow."

The course emphasizes the importance of communication in project management and provides practical strategies for effective communication.

"This course has came on time, I learned so much and I changed my perspective about the course."

"I truly enjoyed the class. This helped me to better prepare my teams for information creation, usage, storage, and control."

"I enjoyed this class. Bill teaches story telling through the class material and his delivery. He is very easy to listen to and I felt that I retained more information because of his teaching style."

Students praise the instructor for their expertise and teaching style, making the course more enjoyable and effective.

"The teachter is very good at presenting/teaching!"

"Bill teaches story telling through the class material and his delivery. He is very easy to listen to and I felt that I retained more information because of his teaching style."

"I enjoyed this class. Bill teaches story telling through the class material and his delivery. He is very easy to listen to and I felt that I retained more information because of his teaching style."

Students appreciate the use of storytelling techniques to explain concepts and the clear delivery of course material.

"This is so helpful. I am lucky to find this course while I am working on telling stories about my projects."

"Excellent content and delivery! Insightful approach to issues and didactic delivery!"

"I loved the use of examples as a guide to learning. As a storyteller and psychology teacher, I loved the multiple references of both art and psychology subjects"

Learners find the examples and references to real-world projects helpful in understanding the concepts.

"Very useful and informative course! I'm learning a lot of new things about different story planning strategies."

"Great course! Easy and digestible material I can apply to my everyday work!"

"Learned about communications management, stakeholder engagement, how to build a project management information system, and the information lifecycle among other interesting topics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Designing Project Information Hubs for Program and Project Performance with these activities:

Organize Course Resources

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Organizing your course resources will help you stay organized and easily access the materials you need for learning.

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Create a folder or notebook for the course
File and organize course materials, such as lecture notes, assignments, and readings

Review Course Materials

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Refreshing your knowledge of project communication fundamentals will help reinforce key concepts and improve your understanding.

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Review the course syllabus and identify key topics
Go through your notes and assignments from previous courses on project communication

Review the fundamentals of project management

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Build a strong foundation in project management principles to better understand the course content.

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Review key concepts such as project scope, time, cost, and quality.
Understand the different phases of a project lifecycle.
Practice using project management tools and techniques.

Nine other activities

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Read 'Project Management Body of Knowledge' (PMBOK)

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Reviewing the PMBOK will help you solidify foundational concepts related to project communication.

View Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 10: Communication Management
Complete the practice questions at the end of the chapter

Use a Communication Template

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Practicing with Communication Templates will help you develop proficiency in creating clear and effective communication materials.

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Find a communication template online or in a project management software
Use the template to create a communication document for a mock project

Participate in a Communication Workshop

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Interacting with peers in a Communication Workshop will provide you with valuable insights and best practices for managing project communication.

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Attend a Communication Workshop organized by a professional organization or online platform
Participate in discussions and share your experiences

Develop a Communication Plan

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Creating a Communication Plan will provide you with a structured approach for managing project communication.

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Identify stakeholders and their communication needs
Define communication channels and frequency
Create a schedule for communication activities

Develop a communication plan for a mock project

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Apply the principles of project communication by creating a plan for a real-world project.

Browse courses on Communication Plan

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Identify project stakeholders and their communication needs.
Develop a communication strategy and select appropriate channels.
Create a communication schedule and distribute it to stakeholders.

Follow tutorials on Agile Communication

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Familiarizing yourself with Agile Communication practices will help you enhance your skills in managing communication in agile environments.

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Watch a tutorial on Agile Communication on YouTube
Read an article on best practices for Agile Communication

Follow tutorials on managing communication in agile projects

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Enhance your understanding of communication in agile environments through guided tutorials.

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Learn about specific communication techniques for agile methodologies.
Practice using agile communication tools and frameworks.

Participate in a study group to discuss communication challenges

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Collaborate with peers to share experiences and insights on communication challenges in project management.

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Join or form a study group with other course participants.
Discuss specific communication challenges and share solutions.

Conduct a Communication Audit

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Performing a Communication Audit will help you assess the effectiveness of your communication strategies and identify areas for improvement.

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Gather data on communication channels and frequency
Analyze communication patterns and identify bottlenecks
Develop recommendations for改进ments

Career center

Learners who complete Designing Project Information Hubs for Program and Project Performance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project managers oversee the planning, execution, and closure of projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can help project managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage project communication networks. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Program Manager

Program managers are responsible for overseeing multiple projects that are related to a common goal. They work with project managers to ensure that projects are aligned with the program's objectives, and that resources are allocated effectively. This course can help program managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage program communication networks. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

IT Project Manager

IT project managers oversee the planning, execution, and closure of IT projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can help IT project managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage project communication networks. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Quality assurance managers are responsible for ensuring that products and services meet quality standards. They work with stakeholders to identify and understand their quality requirements. This course can help quality assurance managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts work with stakeholders to identify and understand their business needs. They then design and develop systems that meet those needs. This course can help systems analysts develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Business Analyst

Business analysts work with stakeholders to identify and understand their business needs. They then develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help business analysts develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Public relations manager

Public relations managers are responsible for managing the public image of an organization. They work with stakeholders to understand their communication needs and to develop public relations plans. This course can help public relations managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Customer Service Manager

Customer service managers are responsible for developing and implementing customer service strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their customer service needs and to develop customer service plans. This course can help customer service managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

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Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers are responsible for developing and implementing human resources strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their human resources needs and to develop human resources plans. This course can help human resources managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Change Manager

Change managers are responsible for planning and implementing change initiatives. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and to develop change management plans. This course can help change managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Change Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their marketing needs and to develop marketing plans. This course can help marketing managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales managers are responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their sales needs and to develop sales plans. This course can help sales managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

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Operations Manager

Operations managers are responsible for developing and implementing operations strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their operations needs and to develop operations plans. This course can help operations managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Communications Manager

Communications managers are responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies. They work with stakeholders to understand their communication needs and to develop communication plans. This course can help communications managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Manager

Risk Manager

Risk managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. They work with stakeholders to understand their risk tolerance and to develop risk management plans. This course can help risk managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively communicate with stakeholders. It can also help them to learn how to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop contingency plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager