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Project Planning

Approx. 44 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Learn the fundamentals of project planning and management with this course. Understand project scope, timelines, resources, and risk management to successfully execute projects.

Key Learning Points

Understand the importance of project planning
Learn to create a project scope and timeline
Identify and manage project resources
Develop risk management strategies
Learn to execute projects successfully

Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of project planning
Learn to create a project scope and timeline
Identify and manage project resources

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of project management
Access to project management software (optional)

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online self-paced
Video lectures
Quizzes and assignments

Similar Courses

Agile Project Management
Project Management Essentials

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Director, Otobos Consultants Ltd
President, OSP International LLC

Related Books

Description

Successful projects do not just happen. They are planned. Understanding what success for a specific project means is part of the plan. Take the opportunity to understand how you will measure success. Does your project require assistance or materials from the outside? If it does, will you know what type of contract will support your success? When you understand these basics and you know how to identify the risks you face and how all of this information shapes your estimates, then you are ready to consider committing to a schedule and a budget. This course will take you through critical project planning basics so that when it is time for your schedule and budget, you are well informed.

Outline

Introduction, Quality Metrics, and Contracts
Course Welcome
About the Class Project
Module Overview
The New Restaurant Project
Examples of Quality Metrics
Hints from Margaret: Project and Product Quality Objectives 1
Hints from Margaret: Project and Product Quality Objectives 2
Project and Product Quality
More on Contracts (1.070)
Risk Management (1.080)
When All Goes Well... (1.090)
Hints from Margaret: Contracts
Course Information and Syllabus
Course Deferral and Cancellation Policies
Coursera Technical Support
About the Instructor
Reminder: Live Session - Week 1
Module Readings
Interactive Video: Types of Contracts
Module Wrap-Up
Ungraded Quiz: What is a Quality Metric?
Quality Metrics and Contracts

Risks and Estimates
How to Identify Risk (2.030)
Now What? Risk Responses (2.050)
Successful Project Managers Manage Risks
Hints from Margaret: Risk
Estimating Challenges (2.070)
Overview: Types of Estimates (2.080)
Parametric Estimating (2.100)
Basis of Estimates (2.110)
What Is a Cost Baseline? (2.120)
Hints from Margaret: Getting Ready to Estimate
Hints from Margaret: Detailed Estimating
Module Introduction
Required Reading
Interactive Presentation: What is Risk?
Reminder: Live Session - Week 2
Interactive: Identifying and Analyzing Project Risks
Video Presentation on Analogous Estimating
Module Wrap-Up
Risks and Estimates

More on Estimates
Progressive Elaboration and Estimating (3.020)
Déjà Vu: Approaches Used to Estimate Time
Three Point Estimates: What's the Point?
Estimating Duration Is Just the Beginning of Your Schedule
Effort Versus Duration: Real Life Examples (3.080)
Hints from Margaret: Making Estimates for Work Packages
Hints from Margaret: Effort and Duration Estimates
Module Overview
Required Readings
Reminder: Live Session - Week 3
Link to Video: What Exactly Are You Estimating?
Video: Effort Versus Duration
Module Wrap-Up;
Midterm Survey
More on Estimating

Network Diagram, Critical Path, and Scheduling Software
What is a Network Diagram?
Creating a Diagram: The Forward Pass
Creating a Diagram: The Backward Pass
Hints from Margaret: Sequencing the Work
The Critical Path and Float
Gantt Chart
History of Scheduling
Factors to Consider When Selecting Scheduling Software
Hints from Margaret: Scheduling Software
Hints from Margaret: Creating a Network Diagram
Module Overview
Required Reading
Reminder: Live Session - Week 4
Interactive Scenario: Making Project Scheduling Decisions
Module Wrap-Up
Network Diagram, Critical Path, and Scheduling Software

Project Milestones, Project Schedule, and Resource Constraints
The What and How of Project Milestones
Hints from Margaret
When is it Time to Create Your Project Schedule?
The Path to Your Project Schedule
Assigning Project Resources
What is Resource Leveling?
Resource Based Scheduling (5.070)
Hints from Margaret: Resource Overallocation
Hints from Margaret: Developing a Project Schedule
Module Overview
Required Readings
Reminder: Live Session - Week 5
A Note about Your Cumulative Grade
Video: Project Schedule Baseline
Module Wrap-Up
Project Milestones, Project Schedule, and Resource Constraints

Kanban, Agile, Tuckman Model, and Negotiating
What is Kanban? (6.010)
Benefits of Kanban (W6.020)
Hints from Margaret: The Burndown Chart
Planning with Agile: A High-Level Discussion (6.030)
Hints from Margaret: Using Agile
The Tuckman Model of Team Development (6.050)
Leading Your Team Through Planning (6.060)
Managing Conflict (6.070)
Hints from Margaret: The Tuckman Model
Preparing for a Negotiation
Module Overview
Required Readings
Reminder: Live Session - Week 6
Estimating with Agile
Interactive Scenario: Agile Estimating
Module Wrap-Up
Final Course Evaluation
Kanban, Agile, Tuckman Model, and Negotiating

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the best practices for project planning in this highly-rated course on Coursera. Many users appreciate the practical approach and real-world examples provided in the course.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Practical approach and real-world examples

Pros from User Reviews

Well-structured course content
Great instructor with industry experience
Useful tips and tools for project planning
Engaging and interactive course materials

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the pace of the course too slow
Limited opportunities for hands-on practice
Not suitable for advanced project managers

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