Effective Communication for Program and Project Stakeholders and Teams from edX

“Everyone communicates, but few connect” is a famous book and message by John C. Maxwell on leadership. The meaning behind this message is that as leaders of programs and projects, we need to be not just communicators, but effective communicators.

Obtaining your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or similar project management certificate is the first step. But, as you gain program management and project management experience, you realize that effective communication goes beyond what you learned in "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK).

Gaining a program management certification or project management certification (such as the PMP certification) equips you with the necessary project management tools to begin your project or project management career. There is more to effective program and project communication than what is on the PMP exam.

For communication from program managers and project managers to be truly effective, there must be understanding beyond what you learned from your professional certification. The communicator and the receiver must use feedback to determine how the message was received and if the communicator created the intended level of understanding in the receiver for the communication to succeed.

In this course, you will learn about the Understanding Triad - know-what, know-how, and know-why. The Understanding Triad aids you in crafting just the right level of explanation for all your audiences. The Understanding Triad will make you a more effective program manager, traditional project manager, agile project manager, or certified scrum master.

The Project Management Institute, Inc (PMI) teaches that project management communication is the transfer of information. The project or program manager sends messages to their project teams, stakeholders, customers, and executive sponsors. If the program manager or project manager believes that communicating a clear message is enough for good communication, then the manager may be fooled into thinking their communication efforts are complete. Even if there is feedback, the feedback is usually limited to confirming that the message was received as intended. However, communication is not merely the transmission of information. The difference can be days, months, or years of wasted time and effort; or successful, early delivery.

Certified program and certified project managers earn 10 professional development units (PDU) as they learn how communication can make a difference in every interaction, and become a truly effective program or project manager. Gain the power skill of communication in this certificate program.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Explain how to craft a clear and effective message.
The understanding triad: know-what, know-how, and know-why.

Design feedback so that you can test for understanding by your audience.
Analyze your audience to determine the optimum balance of know-what, know-how, and know-why in your message design.

Explain how to craft a clear and effective message.
The understanding triad: know-what, know-how, and know-why.
Design feedback so that you can test for understanding by your audience.
Analyze your audience to determine the optimum balance of know-what, know-how, and know-why in your message design.

Syllabus

Week One - Defining Communication

Module One - The Transmission Model of Communication

Module Two - The Emergence Model of Communication

Module Three - Program and Project Management Communication - Tasks, Resources, and Schedules

Module Four - Program and Project Management Communication - Visioning and Building a Team

Week Two - Creating Messages to be Understood

Module One - The Building Blocks of a Message

Module Two - What is Understanding - Know-What

Module Three - What is Understanding - Know-How

Module Four - What is Understanding - Know-Why

Module Five - Putting It All Together With Building Blocks

Week Three - Feedback and Understanding

Module One - What is Good Feedback?

Module Two - How to Give Good Feedback

Module Three - How to Use Feedback for Testing Understanding

Module Four - Incorporating Continuous Feedback into Your Project

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

Week Four - Audience Analysis

Module One - The Different Audiences in a Program or Project

Module Two - What Information Does Each Audience Need

Module Three - Balancing the Understanding Triad in Your Message

Module Four - Troubleshooting Understanding

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in crafting clear and effective messages

Expands upon project management communication, known only in industriespecific terms

Examines communication from a leadership standpoint

Focuses on program managers and project managers, exploring communication tasks

Reviews summary

Well-received communication course for project teams

Learners say this course is largely positive and provides valuable insights into effective communication for program and project teams. Key features include: engaging videos, clear explanations, and practical examples. Students appreciate the emphasis on stakeholder analysis, understanding levels of understanding, and the Emergence Model of Communication. While some learners note occasional typos and technical glitches, the overall quality of the course is considered high.

The course features a mix of videos and written material, catering to different learning preferences.

"The format and structure of the course are great."

"You can watch the video or focus on the take-out."

"Having both videos and text is helpful."

The course provides guidance on conducting stakeholder analysis.

"I have a better knowledge of how to conduct a stakeholder analysis."

The course introduces the Emergence Model of Communication.

"The Emergence Model of Communication can give better feedback when doing evaluations."

The course emphasizes the importance of understanding different levels of understanding.

"This course helped me understand how to better communicate with others involved in a project."

"The understanding triad is key to ensuring successful project management."

The instructor delivers explanations in a clear manner.

"The instructor is very clear and knowledgeable."

"The videos are well done and help visualize the concepts."

The course provides real-world examples to reinforce concepts.

"The use of historical/real-life examples is interesting and contributes to learning."

"I really enjoyed the section on feedback."

"The videos use illustrations that help stay focused."

There were reports of typos in the course materials.

"There were typos, which is ironic for a communications course."

"There are typos both in the transcript of the video and in the text afterwards."

Some learners experienced technical issues with videos.

"2 videos did not match the transcript."

"It took several weeks to get it fixed for the first one."

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 Effective Communication for Program and Project Stakeholders and Teams with these activities:

Attend Project Management Networking Event

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Connect with other project managers and professionals to expand your knowledge and network.

Browse courses on Project Management

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Find a project management networking event in your area.
Attend the event and introduce yourself to other attendees.

Read 'Crucial Conversations' by Kerry Patterson

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Gain insights into effective communication strategies for crucial conversations, especially in project management.

View Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book 'Crucial Conversations'.
Read the book and take notes on key principles and techniques.

Watch Video Tutorial on Audience Analysis

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Develop a strong understanding of audience analysis techniques to tailor messages effectively.

Browse courses on Audience Analysis

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Find a video tutorial on audience analysis.
Watch the tutorial and take notes on key concepts.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Practice Active Listening Exercises

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Improve active listening skills through regular practice to enhance comprehension and communication.

Browse courses on Active Listening

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Find a partner for active listening exercises.
Practice listening to your partner without interrupting.

Design an Infographic on the Understanding Triad

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Reinforce understanding of the Understanding Triad by creating a visual representation of its components.

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Gather information on the Understanding Triad (know-what, know-how, know-why).
Design an infographic that clearly illustrates the concept.

Join a Study Group for Program Management

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Engage in collaborative learning by joining a study group to discuss and reinforce program management concepts.

Browse courses on Program Management

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Find or create a study group with peers enrolled in the program management course.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, assignments, and concepts.

Create a Short Presentation for Different Audiences

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Practice crafting messages tailored to specific audiences by creating custom presentations.

Browse courses on Effective Communication

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Identify three distinct audience types relevant to your project or program.
Develop a brief presentation that addresses the needs and interests of each audience.

Develop a Communication Plan for a Project

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Apply knowledge of communication principles by creating a comprehensive communication plan for a project.

Browse courses on Communication Plan

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Identify the stakeholders for the project.
Determine the communication needs of each stakeholder.
Develop a communication strategy that addresses the needs of all stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete Effective Communication for Program and Project Stakeholders and Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Program Manager

A Program Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing large-scale projects, often involving multiple teams and stakeholders. This course can help Program Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively lead and motivate their teams, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Program Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone has the information they need to make informed decisions and contribute effectively to the project's success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can help Project Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively manage their projects, including communicating with stakeholders, team members, and clients. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Project Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Communications Manager

Communications Managers are responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies for organizations, ensuring that key messages are communicated effectively to target audiences. This course can help Communications Managers develop the skills necessary to create and deliver clear and concise messages that resonate with their audience. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Communications Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone understands the key messages and is motivated to take action.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns to promote products or services to target audiences. This course can help Marketing Managers develop the communication skills necessary to create and deliver effective marketing messages that resonate with their audience. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Marketing Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone understands the key messages and is motivated to take action.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements to help organizations improve their processes and systems. This course can help Business Analysts develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with stakeholders and gather the information they need to complete their analysis. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Business Analysts to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for creating and maintaining technical documentation, such as user manuals, training materials, and white papers. This course can help Technical Writers develop the communication skills necessary to create clear and concise documentation that is easy to understand for their target audience. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Technical Writers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone understands the key messages and is motivated to take action.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of organizations, developing and implementing public relations campaigns, and responding to media inquiries. This course can help Public Relations Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with the media and the public. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Public Relations Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone understands the key messages and is motivated to take action.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading sales teams and developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue goals. This course can help Sales Managers develop the communication skills necessary to motivate and lead their teams, as well as effectively communicate with customers and clients. The Understanding Triad framework taught in the course will enable Sales Managers to tailor their communication to the specific needs of their audience, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

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Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers are responsible for ensuring that customers are satisfied with their products or services and are getting the most value out of them. This course can help Customer Success Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with customers and understand their needs.

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Event Planner

Event Planners are responsible for planning and executing events, such as conferences, meetings, and parties. This course may help Event Planners develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with clients and vendors, as well as manage their teams.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources function of an organization, including recruiting, hiring, training, and employee relations. This course may help Human Resources Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with employees and managers.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operations of an organization, including production, logistics, and customer service. This course may help Operations Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with employees and customers.

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Executive Assistant

Executive Assistants are responsible for providing administrative and operational support to executives and senior managers. This course may help Executive Assistants develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with their executives and other stakeholders.

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Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistants are responsible for providing administrative and operational support to managers and other employees. This course may help Administrative Assistants develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with their managers and other stakeholders.

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Office Manager

Office Managers are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of an office, including facilities, supplies, and personnel. This course may help Office Managers develop the communication skills necessary to effectively communicate with employees and other stakeholders.

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