Project Launch

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/project-management

Introduction

### Course Review and Recommendation: Project Launch on Coursera In an ever-evolving business landscape characterized by rapid change and fierce competition, project management has emerged as a vital discipline. Enter "Project Launch," a comprehensive course offered on Coursera designed to equip learners with the essential skills needed to lead successful projects in resource-constrained environments. Having explored this course in detail, I am excited to share my insights and recommendations. #### Course Overview "Project Launch" addresses the pressing need for increased project development efficiency while utilizing fewer resources. Through a series of thoughtfully structured modules, participants learn how to select and justify projects, understand the influence of stakeholders, and define project scope effectively. The course emphasizes the importance of communication and clear responsibilities, culminating in a well-rounded understanding of project planning fundamentals. #### Syllabus Breakdown The syllabus is robust and covers a wide range of key project management topics. Here’s a brief overview of each module: 1. **Introduction to Project Management**: This foundational module introduces project justification and stakeholder influence, emphasizing the critical importance of establishing project scope and outlining tasks. 2. **Project Leadership**: Learners will closely examine the distinction between leadership and management. Leadership's role in creating a vision and fostering team inspiration is highlighted, ensuring participants grasp why both elements are essential for project success. 3. **Project Selection and Justification**: This module dives into the intricacies of how organizations select projects, exploring the downstream impacts of those decisions. 4. **The Project Charter**: Here, participants learn how to develop a project charter that sets the stage for success, outlining the essential steps following project approval. 5. **Project Kickoff, PM Plan, and Agile PM**: After establishing the project charter, it’s time to learn how to engage the team and formulate a comprehensive project management plan. This module also introduces Agile methodologies. 6. **Requirements Gathering**: Focusing on the requirements-gathering process, this section teaches learners how to define project deliverables effectively. 7. **The Statement of Work**: Participants explore how to create a Statement of Work (SOW) that outlines deliverables and the work necessary for completion, using insights from the previous requirements-gathering module. 8. **Work Breakdown Structure**: A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a central tool in project management, and this module enables students to translate requirements into actionable project tasks. 9. **Project Scope**: The course culminates in developing a project scope management plan, emphasizing that effective planning saves time and resources in later stages. 10. **Stakeholders**: Learners will identify stakeholders and discover how to manage their engagement, critical for project success. 11. **Communication**: This module stresses the importance of effective project communication and guides participants in creating a project communication plan. 12. **RAM and RACI**: The course also touches upon Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and RACI charts, emphasizing clear role definitions crucial for project accountability. #### Learning Experience One of the significant strengths of the "Project Launch" course is the hands-on learning approach facilitated through a simulation project. By allowing participants to apply the key concepts they learn in real-time, the course fosters deeper understanding and mastery of essential project management practices. This practical experience not only reinforces the theoretical knowledge but also builds confidence in applying these skills in the workplace. The course is structured to accommodate various learning styles, utilizing a combination of video lectures, reading materials, quizzes, and project applications. With clear objectives and progressive complexity, learners are guided through their journey from foundational concepts to advanced project management strategies. #### Recommendation I wholeheartedly recommend the "Project Launch" course for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of project management, whether you’re a budding project manager, a team member looking to enhance your skills, or a seasoned professional seeking to refine your expertise. The modular format, practical approach, and emphasis on stakeholder engagement and communication make it an invaluable resource in today’s project-driven environments. With project management being an essential skill across industries, "Project Launch" offers a timely opportunity to upgrade your skills and enhance your career prospects. Enroll today and begin your journey toward becoming a proficient project leader!

Syllabus

Introduction to Project Management

Learn how to justify and select projects and how stakeholders influence projects. Develop requirements necessary to define project scope and create a list of tasks necessary to accomplish the scope. Create effective communication plans and assign responsibilities. Today’s fast track business and global environment places emphasis on how to increase project production efficiency with limited available resources. Gain an understanding of fundamentals of project planning. Establish project requirements, objectives, and goals before defining the total project scope with the use of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). This course uses a simulation project— students will start the development of a project plan as demonstration of mastery of key project management practices from this course. The simulation project will continue into the follow-on classes of this program.

Leadership involves inspiring people while management involves managing things. Both are essential for successful project completion, but many project “managers” don’t know the difference between the two. Leaders provide a vision and a sense of direction; they inspire their team to adopt the vision as their own; they take risks where appropriate; and they see opportunities where others only see problems. Leaders create a safe space for their team members to thrive and produce their best work. This module shows you precisely the difference between “leading” and “managing,” and why knowing the difference is critical for project success.

Ever wonder how firms select projects and what is expected from the project? We will review the project selection process, impacts, and implications downstream of project selection.

What is the first thing that should happen after a project is selected? We will delve into the essentials of developing a success-oriented project charter.

Now that you have an approved project with a project charter, what’s next? In this module, you will learn how to kick-off a project and review methods in which to engage the project team. We will also review the process of creating a project management plan. And finally, you will learn the fundamentals of the Agile project management approach.

Planning with the end product as the starting point is an effective and efficient way of developing a project plan. Learn how the requirements gathering process will help you more successfully define your project deliverables.

The Statement of Work (SOW) may be one of the most powerful tools for project managers. The SOW defines the product or service to be delivered to the customer at the completion of the project as well as defines the work necessary to complete the project. In this module, you will learn to use the information from requirements gathering to create a SOW.

It has been said a picture call tell a thousand words. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) can be just the picture you need to tell the project team what they need to do on a project. This module will be focused on the structure and formats of a WBS and how to create a WBS including the WBS dictionary. You will be able to translate requirements into actionable activities in a WBS.

Some say an hour spent in planning results in two hours saved during implementation. Learn how proper planning can reduce the overall level effort for a project. You will have an opportunity to develop a project scope management plan which will be the culminating activity of this course.

Stakeholders can have a significant impact to the success of projects. In the module, you will develop skills for identifying stakeholders and ways to manage engagements, activities, and communication with stakeholders.

The majority of a project manager’s time is devoted to project communication. In this module, you will be exposed to the importance of project communication towards project success. You will have an opportunity to develop a project communication plan.