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Frank Schultmann, Noel Lindsay, Anton Jordaan, John Sing, and Stella Bachtis

Project management is an essential skill-set for many careers and in many contexts in our lives. Introduction to Project Management is an ideal starting point if you need to manage projects at work or at home, while not necessarily being a formally trained project manager. It is also suitable if you are considering undertaking a project in the near future and are seeking to learn and apply essential project management knowledge and skills.

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Project management is an essential skill-set for many careers and in many contexts in our lives. Introduction to Project Management is an ideal starting point if you need to manage projects at work or at home, while not necessarily being a formally trained project manager. It is also suitable if you are considering undertaking a project in the near future and are seeking to learn and apply essential project management knowledge and skills.

To deliver a project successfully, it’s important to start by clearly identifying what the project is, and what its outcomes will be. In the course, we will show you practical ways to explore and understand your goals from the outset of your project, and to consider all the factors that may affect its execution. Step by step you will learn how to plan, scope, schedule, cost and manage your project from beginning to end. Since every project relies on the people who are delivering it, the course also enables you to explore how you can effectively communicate, manage people and employ leadership skills to successfully deliver your own project.

In Introduction to Project Management, you will learn practical ways to use project management skills, whether your project is large or small. Join us to explore how you can benefit from using project management techniques in your own projects.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Core knowledge and applied skills in project management
  • Essential communication skills to help you manage a project
  • An understanding of why today’s projects are more complex

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Establishes a foundation for practical application of project management principles, which are used across many industries and roles
Provides learners with step-by-step guidance throughout the project management process, from planning to delivery
Focuses on developing essential communication and leadership skills, which are crucial for successful project management
Course instructors have extensive experience in project management, providing learners with access to valuable insights
Suitable for individuals with varying levels of project management experience, making it accessible to a wider audience
Emphasizes the importance of understanding project goals and considering all relevant factors, which is essential for effective project execution

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Reviews summary

Theory based overview

Learners say that even with only 2-3 hours of content a week, this course provides a largely positive overview of project management fundamentals. Engaging assignments help with assessing students' strengths and weaknesses in this field. Frameworks such as PESTLE and WBS are used throughout the course, so students should have familiarity with these.
Interactive activities engage students.
"Even with an audit there are a lot of interactive activities to help learn more about your strengths and weaknesses, as well as active forums if you decide to participate in those."
Course uses helpful frameworks.
"This course also doesn't cover the Project Management Lifecycle - something another edX course from RITx covers."
"Lastly, I'd say the content doesn't quite map out to what's being used in the real world - it's all very theoretical."
Material is too theoretical.
"Being 2-3 hours a week, it's less of an actual course than a crash course workshop on project management."
"Lastly, I'd say the content doesn't quite map out to what's being used in the real world - it's all very theoretical."

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 Introduction to Project Management with these activities:
Review key concepts in project management
Refreshes your understanding of project management concepts, preparing you for the course
Browse courses on Project Management
Show steps
  • Read the course syllabus and module overviews
  • Reread your notes or textbooks from previous project management courses
  • Create a list of the key concepts in project management
  • Summarize each concept in your own words
Watch a video tutorial on a project management topic
Watching video tutorials on project management can help you to learn new concepts and techniques.
Show steps
  • Find a video tutorial on a project management topic
  • Watch the video tutorial
  • Take notes on the key points
Create a project charter
A project charter is an important document that defines the scope, goals, and stakeholders of a project. Creating one will help you to understand the basics of project management.
Show steps
  • Gather information about the project
  • Identify the project stakeholders
  • Define the project scope
  • Develop the project charter
Seven other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all ten activities
Practice project management exercises
Solving project management exercises will help you to apply your knowledge and to develop your problem-solving skills.
Show steps
  • Find project management exercises online
  • Solve the exercises
  • Check your answers
Read and understand the Five Process Groups
The PMBOK Guide is the foundation of project management processes. Read all five of them to understand how they work both independently and as a whole.
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 4 of the PMBOK Guide
  • Identify the five process groups
  • Describe the purpose of each process group
Create a presentation on a project management topic
Giving a presentation on a project management topic will force you to distill the most important information and to understand it well.
Browse courses on Risk Management Plan
Show steps
  • Choose a project management topic
  • Research the topic
  • Develop an outline for your presentation
  • Create the presentation slides
  • Practice your presentation
Start a small project of your own
Putting project management into practice is the best way to learn it. Start a small project today to understand how to apply what you're learning.
Show steps
  • Identify a project idea
  • Define the project scope
  • Develop a project plan
  • Execute the project plan
  • Close the project
Attend a project management workshop
Attending a project management workshop can help you to learn new project management techniques and to network with other project managers.
Show steps
  • Find a project management workshop
  • Attend the workshop
  • Participate in the exercises and discussions
  • Network with other project managers
Attend a project management networking event
Networking with other project managers can help you to learn about new project management trends and to find new job opportunities.
Show steps
  • Find a project management networking event
  • Attend the event
  • Introduce yourself to other project managers
  • Share your knowledge and experience
  • Learn from others
Volunteer on a project management project
Volunteering on a project management project can help you to gain practical experience and to build your resume.
Show steps
  • Find a project management volunteer opportunity
  • Apply for the volunteer position
  • Work on the project management project
  • Learn from the other volunteers
  • Make a difference in your community

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Project Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course provides a comprehensive overview of project management principles and practices, which can help Project Managers succeed in their roles. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management, which are all essential skills for Project Managers.
Program Manager
Program Managers are responsible for managing complex programs that involve multiple projects. This course provides a comprehensive overview of program management principles and practices, which can help Program Managers succeed in their roles. The course covers topics such as program planning, budgeting, and risk management, which are all essential skills for Program Managers.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Product Managers successfully manage product development projects. The course covers topics such as product planning, market research, and financial analysis, which are all important for Product Managers.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to clients on a variety of business issues, including project management. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Consultants provide better advice to their clients. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Consultants.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts help organizations improve their business processes. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Business Analysts successfully manage projects to improve business processes. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Business Analysts.
Operations Manager
Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Operations Managers successfully manage projects to improve operations. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Operations Managers.
Quality Manager
Quality Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of quality management plans. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Quality Managers successfully manage quality management plans. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Quality Managers.
Event Manager
Event Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of events. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Event Managers successfully manage events. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Event Managers.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of human resources plans. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Human Resources Managers successfully manage human resources plans. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Human Resources Managers.
Finance Manager
Finance Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of financial plans. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Finance Managers successfully manage financial plans. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Finance Managers.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of marketing campaigns. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Marketing Managers successfully manage marketing campaigns. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Marketing Managers.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of sales campaigns. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Sales Managers successfully manage sales campaigns. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Sales Managers.
IT Project Manager
IT Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing IT projects. This course provides a comprehensive overview of project management principles and practices, which can help IT Project Managers succeed in their roles. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management, which are all essential skills for IT Project Managers.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of risk management plans. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Risk Managers successfully manage risk management plans. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Risk Managers.
Construction Manager
Construction Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of construction projects. This course provides a foundation in project management principles and practices, which can help Construction Managers successfully manage construction projects. The course covers topics such as project planning, scheduling, and risk management, which are all important for Construction Managers.

Reading list

We've selected 14 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 Introduction to Project Management.
Comprehensive and in-depth guide to project management. It covers all aspects of project management, from project initiation to project closure.
Is the official guide to project management from the Project Management Institute (PMI). It provides a comprehensive overview of project management best practices.
Provides a comprehensive overview of project management, covering both traditional and agile approaches. It good choice for students who want to learn about different project management methodologies.
Comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to project management. It covers all the essential concepts, from planning and scheduling to risk management and communication.
Practical guide to design thinking. It good choice for students who want to learn about how to use design thinking to solve problems and create innovative solutions.
Classic work on innovation. It provides a framework for understanding why large companies often fail to innovate.
Practical guide to strategy. It provides a framework for developing good strategies and avoiding bad strategies.
Thought-provoking exploration of the role of uncertainty in our lives. It good choice for students who want to learn about how to deal with uncertainty in project management.
Practical guide to the lean startup methodology. It good choice for students who want to learn about how to validate their business ideas quickly and cheaply.
Comprehensive guide to risk management. It covers all aspects of risk management, from risk identification to risk mitigation.
Practical guide to communication skills for project managers. It covers all aspects of communication, from verbal communication to written communication.
Practical guide to leadership skills for project managers. It covers all aspects of leadership, from motivating teams to resolving conflicts.

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