Engineering Project Management: Scope, Time and Cost Management from Coursera

Scope, time, and cost management are at the heart of successful project management. This course will give you the tools to develop a project scope, schedule and budget and then status them to predict project performance. Throughout the course, you will learn about change management and techniques to implement it.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Create a requirements document

• Create a Project Scope Statement

• Identify ways to control the scope of the project

• Decompose the work and develop work packages

• Create a Work Breakdown Structure

• Develop a Critical Path Schedule

• Review types of cost estimates and identify whether they are “top down or bottom up”

• Review budgets, contingencies and reserves

• Calculate planned and earned values to compare with actual cost

• Perform a cost and schedule analysis

Each week you will prepare a key deliverable for the project plan based on a provided Case Study. These deliverables include:

• Project Scope Statement

• Project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS dictionary

• Critical Path schedule sequence diagram

• Bar Chart Schedule (Gantt Chart)

• Project Cost Estimate

• Project Status using an Earned Value Calculation

All of this will position you to set up a plan to control your next assignment or your next project whether this is as the project manager or as an area leader.

Rice Center for Engineering Leadership is a Registered Education Provider through the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. Learners who complete this course on the Certificate track will be awarded 14 hours of Profession Development Units. These are recognized by PMI for continuing education or can be applied toward the 35 hours of education required for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification.

PMI and PMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

Project Scope Management

Project Schedule Management

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Project Planning and Control is a crucial module in Project Management, equipping you with essential tools for project success

Structured course design takes you through essential stages, from defining scope to managing costs and schedules

Gain practical hands-on experience in project control through real-time application in case studies

Integrates industry best practices, ensuring alignment with real-world project management methodologies

Taught by experienced instructors, Tom Phalen and Kazimir Karwowski, recognized for their expertise in project management

Provides valuable preparation for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification

Reviews summary

Practical project management foundations

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in the core principles of Scope, Time, and Cost Management for engineering projects. Many students found the case study-based assignments to be particularly practical and helpful for applying the concepts learned. The course is frequently highlighted for its value in providing PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs), making it relevant for those pursuing or maintaining PMP certification. While some reviewers found the lectures clear, others felt certain topics could benefit from greater depth or more varied examples beyond the central case study. The overall sentiment suggests a generally positive learning experience focused on key project management deliverables.

Instructor explains concepts clearly.

"Good job breaking down potentially complex topics into manageable parts."

"The instructor explained the concepts clearly and logically."

"Found the lectures easy to follow and understand."

Useful for PMI certification goals.

"Very useful for gaining PDUs needed for my PMP certification."

"The course content is relevant to the PMP exam material, especially for these core areas."

"Highly recommend this course if you are looking to earn PDUs and reinforce foundational PM knowledge."

Focuses on Scope, Time, and Cost management.

"The course content aligned well with the fundamental areas of project management I needed to understand."

"It provided a clear overview of how to manage scope, create schedules, and estimate costs."

"This course is a good introduction to the essential project management knowledge areas: scope, time, and cost."

Applying concepts via a consistent case study.

"The case study approach helped immensely in applying the theoretical concepts to a practical scenario."

"I found the weekly assignments based on the case study extremely valuable for reinforcing the material."

"Working through the project plan deliverables step-by-step using the case study made the concepts stick."

Some topics need more in-depth coverage.

"While it covers the basics well, I felt some sections could have gone into more detail."

"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics or optimization techniques."

"The pace was sometimes too fast for certain concepts, leaving me wanting more detailed explanations."

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 Engineering Project Management: Scope, Time and Cost Management with these activities:

Review: The Art of Project Management

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Comprehend foundational PM concepts, providing a strong base for the topics covered in the course.

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Read each chapter thoroughly, taking notes of key concepts and examples.
Summarize the main ideas of each chapter in your own words.
Identify areas where your current project management practices align or differ from the book's recommendations.

Earned Value Management Calculations

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Regular practice of EVM calculations will improve your accuracy and speed in tracking project progress and financial performance.

Browse courses on Earned Value Management

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Review the formulas for calculating earned value, cost variance, and schedule variance.
Practice calculating these values using sample project data.
Analyze the results of your calculations to identify areas for improvement.

Agile Project Management with Jira

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Understanding and utilizing agile methodologies in Jira will enhance your ability to manage projects in a flexible and iterative manner.

Browse courses on Agile Project Management

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Enroll in online tutorials on Agile project management and Jira.
Follow the tutorials to set up a Jira project and configure it for your team.
Practice using Jira to manage tasks, track progress, and collaborate with team members.

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Create a Personal Project Plan

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Applying course principles to a personal project will deepen your understanding of scope, time, and cost management.

Browse courses on Project Charter

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Define the project goal, scope, and deliverables.
Develop a detailed work breakdown structure (WBS).
Create a project timeline, including milestones and dependencies.
Estimate the project budget and identify potential risks.
Monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Project Schedule Analysis

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Creating a project schedule analysis will enhance your ability to estimate project durations and identify potential bottlenecks.

Browse courses on Project Scheduling

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Gather data on project tasks and dependencies.
Develop a Gantt chart or other scheduling tool.
Identify the critical path and any potential risks.
Analyze the schedule for potential improvements.
Present your analysis to stakeholders.

Project Management Simulation Workshop

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Participating in a project management simulation will provide you with hands-on experience in managing a project under realistic constraints.

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Enroll in a project management simulation workshop offered by a reputable organization.
Actively participate in the simulation, making decisions and managing your project's progress.
Reflect on the experience and identify areas for improvement in your project management skills.

Develop a Project Scope Management Guide

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Creating a guide will reinforce your understanding of project scope management principles and their practical application.

Browse courses on Project Scope

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Outline the key concepts of project scope management.
Provide examples and case studies to illustrate the importance of scope management.
Include tips and best practices for effective scope management.
Share your guide with others for feedback.

Project Management Resource Collection

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Compiling a repository of useful PM resources will serve as a valuable reference throughout your project management career.

Browse courses on Project Management Tools

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Identify and gather relevant resources such as articles, books, templates, and software.
Organize and categorize the resources based on topic or type.
Share your resource collection with others for collaboration.

Career center

Learners who complete Engineering Project Management: Scope, Time and Cost Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project managers can help organizations meet their goals by leading the planning, execution, and closure of projects. They are responsible for defining the project scope, developing the project schedule, and managing the project budget. This course provides a solid foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project managers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project managers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Construction Manager

Construction managers oversee the planning, design, and construction of buildings and other structures. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help construction managers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for construction managers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager

Program Manager

Program managers oversee the planning, execution, and closure of programs. They are responsible for ensuring that programs are aligned with the organization's strategic goals and that they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course provides a solid foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help program managers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for program managers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio managers are responsible for managing a portfolio of projects or programs. They are responsible for ensuring that the portfolio is aligned with the organization's strategic goals and that it is delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course provides a solid foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help portfolio managers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for portfolio managers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Risk Manager

Risk managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to develop risk management plans and to ensure that risks are managed effectively. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help risk managers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for risk managers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Business Analyst

Business analysts work with stakeholders to define and document business requirements. They also work with project managers to ensure that the project scope is aligned with the business requirements. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help business analysts succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for business analysts who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts work with stakeholders to define and document system requirements. They also work with project managers to ensure that the project scope is aligned with the system requirements. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help systems analysts succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for systems analysts who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality assurance analysts are responsible for ensuring that products or services meet the required quality standards. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to develop quality assurance plans and to ensure that quality standards are met. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help quality assurance analysts succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for quality assurance analysts who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Project Scheduler

Project schedulers are responsible for developing and maintaining project schedules. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to ensure that the project schedule is realistic and achievable. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project schedulers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project schedulers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Scheduler

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators are responsible for estimating the cost of projects or programs. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to develop cost estimates and to ensure that the project budget is realistic and achievable. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help cost estimators succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for cost estimators who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cost Estimator

Project Controls Engineer

Project controls engineers are responsible for managing the cost and schedule of projects. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to develop project controls plans and to ensure that the project is on track. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project controls engineers succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project controls engineers who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Controls Engineer

Project Administrator

Project administrators are responsible for providing administrative support to project managers and other project team members. They perform a variety of tasks, such as scheduling meetings, taking minutes, and managing project documentation. This course provides a solid foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project administrators succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project administrators who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Administrator

Project Coordinator

Project coordinators are responsible for coordinating the activities of project team members. They work with project managers and other stakeholders to ensure that the project is on track and that all project deliverables are completed on time. This course provides a strong foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project coordinators succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project coordinators who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Coordinator

Project Management Consultant

Project management consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on project management best practices. They work with organizations to develop project management plans and to improve project performance. This course provides a solid foundation in project management principles and practices, and it can help project management consultants succeed in their roles. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics are essential for project management consultants who want to be successful in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Management Consultant

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products or services. They work with cross-functional teams to ensure that products are aligned with customer needs and that they are launched on time and within budget. This course may be useful for product managers who want to gain a better understanding of project management principles and practices. For example, the course covers topics such as project scope management, project time management, cost estimation, and earned value management. These topics can help product managers succeed in their roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager