Project development course

Lesson 1 • Roles and Responsibilities in Projects

Identifies the key players in a project environment and their accountabilities. Clarifies how roles interact to deliver project outcomes.

Lesson 2 • The Project Lifecycle Model

Introduces the standard phases a project moves through from initiation to closure. Students map real examples to each phase to reinforce understanding.

Lesson 3 • Project Success Criteria and Constraints

Defines what project success means beyond on-time delivery and introduces the triple constraint model. Students practice setting measurable success criteria.

Lesson 1 • Defining the Business Case

Covers how to articulate the problem or opportunity that justifies the project investment. Students learn to link project goals to organisational strategy.

Lesson 2 • Developing the Project Charter

Guides students through drafting the document that formally authorises a project. The charter becomes the reference point for all subsequent planning decisions.

Lesson 3 • Setting Up the Project Environment

Addresses the administrative and logistical setup needed before planning begins. Ensures teams have tools, access, and governance structures in place.

Lesson 1 • Writing the Project Scope Statement

Teaches how to formally document project boundaries, deliverables, and exclusions. The scope statement becomes the baseline against which changes are measured.

Lesson 2 • Collecting and Documenting Requirements

Introduces structured techniques for eliciting stakeholder needs and translating them into documented requirements. Accurate requirements prevent costly rework later.

Lesson 3 • Creating the Work Breakdown Structure

Covers decomposing project scope into manageable work packages using a WBS. This structure underpins scheduling, costing, and resource planning.

Lesson 1 • Developing the Project Schedule

Combines activity sequences and durations into a formal schedule using critical path analysis. Students identify the critical path and calculate float.

Lesson 2 • Estimating Activity Durations

Presents multiple estimation techniques and their appropriate contexts. Accurate duration estimates are the foundation of a credible schedule.

Lesson 3 • Defining and Sequencing Activities

Breaks WBS work packages into schedulable activities and establishes their logical order. Correct sequencing prevents downstream delays and resource conflicts.

Lesson 1 • Earned Value Management Fundamentals

Introduces EVM as an integrated cost and schedule performance measurement system. Students calculate PV, EV, AC, and derive key performance indices.

Lesson 2 • Cost Control and Financial Reporting

Establishes processes for monitoring expenditures and communicating financial status. Students practice producing a cost performance report for stakeholders.

Lesson 3 • Developing the Project Budget

Guides students from cost estimates to a time-phased budget and cost baseline. The baseline enables performance measurement throughout execution.

Lesson 1 • Risk Response Planning and Monitoring

Covers the five response strategies for threats and opportunities and how to assign ownership. Students update the risk register and track residual risks during execution.

Lesson 2 • Risk Identification Techniques

Presents structured methods for surfacing threats and opportunities across all project areas. Comprehensive identification is the prerequisite for effective risk response.

Lesson 3 • Quantitative Risk Analysis

Introduces numerical techniques for modelling risk exposure on cost and schedule. Students interpret simulation outputs to inform contingency decisions.

Lesson 1 • Directing and Managing Project Execution

Covers the day-to-day activities of leading a team through planned work. Effective execution converts approved plans into tangible deliverables.

Lesson 2 • Quality Assurance and Control

Distinguishes quality assurance (process audits) from quality control (deliverable inspection). Students apply basic quality tools to detect and correct defects.

Lesson 3 • Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Establishes a monitoring cadence using key performance indicators and status reports. Timely reporting enables early corrective action before variances escalate.

Lesson 4 • Managing Project Communications

Applies the communication plan to real execution scenarios including meetings and written updates. Consistent communication sustains stakeholder trust and team alignment.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Project Success and Benefits

Compares final outcomes against the original success criteria and business case. Students practice writing a post-project evaluation report for sponsors.

Lesson 2 • Transitioning Deliverables to Operations

Addresses the handover of project outputs to the teams that will operate or maintain them. A structured transition prevents knowledge loss and operational disruption.

Lesson 3 • Formal Project Closure Activities

Covers the administrative and contractual steps required to officially close a project. Proper closure prevents lingering obligations and resource conflicts.