PGDM Project Management Course

Lesson 1 • What Is a Project

Defines projects versus operations and introduces key characteristics. Anchors all subsequent methodology choices to a clear understanding of project boundaries.

Lesson 2 • Project Lifecycle and Phases

Breaks down initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure phases. Students map deliverables and decisions to each phase.

Lesson 3 • Project Management Frameworks Overview

Surveys predictive, agile, and hybrid delivery models. Provides the conceptual map students use to select methods throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • The Project Manager Role

Defines responsibilities, authority levels, and competency domains of a project manager. Connects role clarity to team performance and project success.

Lesson 1 • Assumptions, Constraints, and Dependencies

Teaches structured logging of assumptions, constraints, and inter-project dependencies. Accurate logs reduce planning errors and risk exposure.

Lesson 2 • Project Selection Methods

Covers scoring models, financial metrics, and portfolio alignment criteria. Students apply selection tools to prioritise competing project proposals.

Lesson 3 • Business Case and Needs Assessment

Connects organisational strategic management approach to project justification. Students analyse a problem statement and build a structured business case.

Lesson 4 • Defining Project Objectives and Success Criteria

Applies SMART criteria and key performance indicators to project goals. Clear success criteria prevent scope disputes during execution.

Lesson 1 • Scope Validation and Change Control

Establishes formal acceptance and change control processes to protect the scope baseline. Students practise evaluating and processing scope change requests.

Lesson 2 • Requirements Traceability Matrix

Links each requirement to its source, deliverable, and test case. Traceability ensures no requirement is lost or gold-plated during execution.

Lesson 3 • Work Breakdown Structure Creation

Decomposes scope into manageable work packages using WBS best practices. A well-formed WBS drives scheduling, costing, and risk identification.

Lesson 4 • Defining and Structuring Project Scope

Translates requirements into a scope statement and product description. Students distinguish in-scope from out-of-scope deliverables explicitly.

Lesson 1 • Activity Definition and Sequencing

Breaks WBS work packages into activities and establishes logical dependencies. Correct sequencing is the prerequisite for all scheduling calculations.

Lesson 2 • Critical Path Method

Calculates early/late start and finish dates and identifies the critical path. Students determine float and understand its impact on schedule flexibility.

Lesson 3 • Schedule Compression and Baseline

Applies crashing and fast-tracking to shorten the schedule when needed. Students finalise and baseline the schedule for performance measurement.

Lesson 4 • Resource Loading and Leveling

Assigns resources to activities and resolves over-allocation conflicts. Balanced resource loading prevents burnout and schedule slippage.

Lesson 1 • Cost Estimating Methods

Applies analogous, parametric, and bottom-up cost estimating to real scenarios. Accurate estimates reduce budget overruns and sponsor surprises.

Lesson 2 • Forecasting and Estimate at Completion

Uses EAC, ETC, and TCPI formulas to forecast final project cost. Students interpret forecasts and recommend corrective actions.

Lesson 3 • Cost Control and Financial Reporting

Establishes cost control processes and stakeholder financial reporting cadence. Timely reporting enables proactive budget management decisions.

Lesson 4 • Budget Development and Cost Baseline

Aggregates activity costs into a time-phased budget and establishes the cost baseline. The baseline enables variance detection throughout execution.

Lesson 1 • Quality Planning and Assurance

Defines quality standards, metrics, and audit processes aligned to project deliverables. Quality assurance prevents defects rather than detecting them after the fact.

Lesson 2 • Risk Monitoring and Control

Establishes risk review cadence, trigger monitoring, and residual risk tracking. Continuous monitoring prevents risks from becoming unmanaged issues.

Lesson 3 • Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Analysis

Applies probability-impact matrices and Monte Carlo simulation to prioritise risks. Students distinguish when qualitative analysis suffices versus when quantitative depth is needed.

Lesson 4 • Risk Identification Techniques

Uses brainstorming, checklists, SWOT, and assumption analysis to surface risks. Comprehensive identification is the foundation of effective risk management.

Lesson 1 • Performance Measurement and Status Reporting

Applies EVM data and milestone tracking to generate actionable status reports. Accurate reporting enables timely decisions by sponsors and stakeholders.

Lesson 2 • Directing and Managing Project Work

Covers work authorisation, deliverable production, and team coordination during execution. Effective direction keeps work aligned to the approved plan.

Lesson 3 • Issue and Problem Management

Distinguishes issues from risks and applies structured resolution processes. Timely issue closure prevents escalation and schedule impact.

Lesson 4 • Team Performance and Motivation

Applies motivation theories and conflict resolution techniques to sustain team performance. High-performing teams are the primary driver of execution success.

Lesson 1 • Benefits Realisation Management

Tracks whether project outputs deliver the intended business benefits post-closure. Benefits realisation links project investment to measurable organisational value.

Lesson 2 • Project Performance Evaluation

Assesses final cost, schedule, scope, and quality performance against baselines. Evaluation data feeds organisational benchmarks and PM competency development.

Lesson 3 • Lessons Learned and Knowledge Transfer

Facilitates structured retrospectives and documents lessons for organisational learning. Captured knowledge improves future project performance across the portfolio.

Lesson 4 • Project Closure Process

Covers administrative, contractual, and financial closure activities. Proper closure prevents resource leakage and ensures all obligations are fulfilled.