Project Planning and Execution from Coursera

The goal of this second course of the Project Management specialization is to provide students with skills necessary to plan and execute traditional engineering projects. Project managers must plan and manage complex projects constrained by time and budget. As part of this course, you will determine project schedules, budgets, and risk assessments. At the end of this course, you will also be able to identify and explain various quality tools and methods used in project management.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Project Schedule

In this module, you will learn how this course is structured and assessed. You will also be the introduced to the process of planning and documenting the project schedule. You will also learn how to estimate the durations of project activities.

Project Budget and Procurement

In this module, you will learn the process of planning and documenting the project budget. You will also learn how to manage the procurement process including supplier selection and management.

Risk Planning and Management

In this module, you will learn about how to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential risks to your projects.

Quality Management & Compliance

In this module, you will learn about the importance of quality in the project as well as the steps in closing the project.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation in project management principles and techniques

Focuses on traditional engineering projects, which are relevant in various industries

Instructed by Christy Bozic, PhD, PMP, an experienced project management expert

Aligned with the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree from CU Boulder, providing academic credibility

Covers essential project management aspects: scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and quality management

Second course in a specialization, assuming prior knowledge in project management

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 Project Planning and Execution with these activities:

Review basic statistics and probability concepts

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Sharpen your understanding of statistics and probability to enhance your ability to analyze and interpret project data.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Review notes or textbooks on basic statistics and probability.
Practice solving simple problems.

Read the Project Management Institute's A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)

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Deepen your understanding of project management best practices and standards by reviewing the PMBOK® Guide.

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

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Purchase or borrow a copy of the PMBOK® Guide.
Read the chapters relevant to the course.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.

Watch video tutorials on project management techniques

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Enhance your understanding of project management concepts by watching expert-led video tutorials.

Browse courses on Project Management Techniques

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Identify relevant video tutorials on platforms like Coursera or YouTube.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.
Review the concepts and apply them to your project assignments.

Five other activities

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Host a study session with your peers

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Collaborate with other students to review course materials, discuss concepts, and practice problem-solving.

Browse courses on Project Management

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Form a study group with 2-3 classmates.
Choose a time and location for your study sessions.
Review the course materials together.
Discuss concepts and ask questions.
Practice problem-solving and simulations.

Complete practice exercises on project scheduling and budgeting

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Reinforce your project scheduling and budgeting skills through targeted practice exercises.

Browse courses on Project Scheduling

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Find practice exercises from textbooks, online platforms, or your instructor.
Allocate time for practicing regularly.
Review your answers and identify areas for improvement.

Create an infographic summarizing project management concepts

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Enhance your comprehension and reinforce your learning by visually representing key project management concepts.

Browse courses on Project Management Concepts

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Identify the key concepts to include.
Design the infographic using tools like Canva or Piktochart.
Share your infographic with classmates or online communities.

Create a project plan for a real-world scenario

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Apply your project management skills by developing a comprehensive plan for a project you are involved in or interested in.

Browse courses on Project Planning

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Identify a project idea and define the scope.
Develop a project schedule and budget.
Identify and assess potential risks.
Create a communication plan.
Submit your project plan for feedback.

Contribute to open-source project management tools

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Engage with the community and contribute your skills by participating in open-source project management projects.

Browse courses on Project Management

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Identify open-source project management tools.
Join the project community and discuss potential contributions.
Identify and complete tasks or submit improvements.

Career center

Learners who complete Project Planning and Execution will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers set the direction of projects, define objectives, and make decisions about how to carry them out. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as project schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and quality management. These skills can be essential for Project Managers as they need to plan and execute projects on time and on budget.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers have a wide range of responsibilities related to the planning, execution, and oversight of projects and programs. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as project schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and quality management. Developing these skills is important for this role as Program Managers are expected to manage multiple projects at once.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Construction Manager

Construction Managers oversee the planning and execution of construction projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course, Project Planning and Execution, provides learners in this career path with the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as project schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and quality management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager

Project Engineer

Project Engineers are responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of engineering projects. They are involved in all aspects of the project lifecycle, from the initial planning stages to the final closeout. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as project schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and quality management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Engineer

Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for developing and implementing quality assurance programs for products and services. They work to ensure that products and services meet the required quality standards. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as quality management and compliance which are important for roles where you must ensure strong quality assurance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Procurement Manager

Procurement Managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of the procurement process. They are involved in all aspects of the procurement lifecycle, from the initial planning stages to the final closeout. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as project budgets and procurement which are important for those in procurement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Procurement Manager

Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify, assess, and mitigate risks to organizations. They work to develop and implement risk management plans. This course, Project Planning and Execution, can give learners in this career path the skills they need to succeed. It covers key topics such as risk planning and management which are important for roles where you will manage risk and compliance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of the supply chain. They are involved in all aspects of the supply chain, from the initial planning stages to the final delivery of products and services. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project budgets and procurement which can be useful for managing a supply chain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of an organization. They are involved in all aspects of the business, from finance and accounting to human resources and marketing. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project schedules and budgets which can be useful for managing daily operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. They use their expertise to help businesses improve their operations, solve problems, and achieve their goals. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project schedules and budgets which can be useful for consulting on project management and business operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They use their analytical skills to gather and interpret data, and then develop recommendations for improvement. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as risk planning and management which can be useful for solving problems and developing improvement plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use their skills in financial analysis to help businesses make better decisions. They collect, clean, and analyze financial data, and then develop insights and recommendations. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project budgets which can be useful for managing financial resources and developing budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use their skills in data analysis to help businesses make better decisions. They collect, clean, and analyze data, and then develop insights and recommendations. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as risk planning and management which can be useful for managing data and developing insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They use their skills in computer science to create software that meets the needs of users. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project schedules and budgets which can be useful for managing software development projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. They use their skills in web development to create websites that are visually appealing, user-friendly, and functional. This course, Project Planning and Execution, may be useful for learners in this career path. It covers key topics such as project schedules and budgets which can be useful for managing web development projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer