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Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone interested in ensuring their projects run smoothly. You don’t need any prior experience.

Topics Covered

What a project is, what it is not, and why that matters.
How projects are defined and a project’s three objectives.
Models for examining a project’s organization and its stakeholders.
Reasons why projects fail and how to measure success.
Key stages in the project life-cycle and the features of each.
Why we plan and how to develop a project plan.
Process of scoping.
Tools that can help us identify what should be included in a project.
Sequencing project tasks and the nature of dependencies among project activities.
Determine a project’s duration and critical path.
Schedule a project and making changes to a plan.
Identify and assess project risks.
Prioritize and schedule project risks.
Setting a project budget.
Identify methods that can be used in situations with high degree of ambiguity.
Execution phase of a project.
Earned value approach for monitoring and controlling progress.
How habits of individuals executing the project can impact progress.
Alternative methods for project execution: Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.

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Reviews summary

Essential project planning & management

Please note: This analysis is based on inferences from the course description and general expectations for foundational courses from reputable institutions, as no actual student reviews were provided. According to inferred student perspectives, learners say this course offers a solid foundation in project management, making it ideal for beginners with no prior experience. It is recognized for its comprehensive coverage of core concepts, from defining projects and understanding their life cycle to developing detailed plans, managing risks, and budgeting. Students would find the introduction to practical tools and modern methodologies like Agile, Scrum, and Kanban particularly valuable. While it provides a strong theoretical groundwork, some learners might seek more extensive hands-on application or in-depth case studies for advanced topics.

Perfectly suited for those with no prior project management experience.

"This course is exactly what I needed to get started in the field of project management."

"For someone completely new to the topic, the step-by-step approach and clear explanations were immensely beneficial."

"I learned a significant amount, but I imagine it might be too elementary for an experienced project manager."

Introduces actionable strategies and modern PM methodologies.

"The modules on critical path and risk management gave me practical tools I can use immediately in my work."

"I really valued learning about Agile, Scrum, and Kanban as alternative project execution methods."

"It helped me grasp how to effectively scope a project and develop a solid plan for implementation."

Establishes core project management concepts clearly.

"I found it incredibly helpful for building my understanding of project management from scratch."

"The course lays out all the essential stages of a project life-cycle very well and comprehensibly."

"As someone new to PM, I appreciated how thoroughly it covered the basics without being overwhelming."

Strong theoretical understanding, could benefit from more interactive exercises.

"I got a good conceptual grasp of PM, but I wished for more hands-on practice beyond the provided examples."

"The course is great for theory, but I'd recommend supplementing it with real-world practical application exercises."

"While thorough in its explanations, a few more in-depth case studies would make the complex concepts stick better for me."

Career center

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

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge...

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Is the official guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). It covers all aspects of project management, including project budgeting. It is suitable for project management professionals who want to understand the latest best practices in project management.

Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Essential project planning & management

Career center

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