Professional Project Management Course

Lesson 1 • What Is a Project

Defines projects versus operations and introduces key characteristics. Provides the conceptual baseline for all subsequent planning and execution topics.

Lesson 2 • Project Management Frameworks Overview

Surveys predictive, agile, and hybrid delivery models. Equips learners to match framework choice to project context and organizational culture.

Lesson 3 • The Project Lifecycle

Maps the standard phases from initiation through closure. Connects phase gates to decision-making authority and deliverable acceptance.

Lesson 4 • Key Roles and Responsibilities

Identifies the project manager, sponsor, team, and stakeholder roles. Clarifies accountability structures that underpin governance throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Defining Project Objectives and Scope

Applies SMART criteria to set measurable objectives and high-level scope boundaries. Prevents scope creep by establishing clear in-scope and out-of-scope statements.

Lesson 2 • Identifying Business Need and Feasibility

Translates organizational strategy into a justified project need. Grounds charter development in measurable business value and feasibility evidence.

Lesson 3 • Stakeholder Identification at Initiation

Introduces systematic techniques for identifying all parties affected by the project. Feeds directly into the stakeholder register used throughout planning.

Lesson 1 • Scope Validation and Control

Establishes formal processes for stakeholder acceptance and change management. Prevents unauthorized scope expansion that erodes project performance.

Lesson 2 • Requirements Elicitation Techniques

Covers interviews, workshops, surveys, and observation for gathering stakeholder needs. Produces a requirements traceability matrix linking needs to deliverables.

Lesson 3 • Work Breakdown Structure Creation

Decomposes scope into manageable work packages using WBS principles. Provides the structural foundation for schedule, cost, and resource planning.

Lesson 1 • Duration Estimating Methods

Applies analogous, parametric, and three-point estimating to assign realistic durations. Addresses estimation bias and uncertainty to improve schedule accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Schedule Monitoring and Control

Uses baseline comparison, variance analysis, and forecasting to keep schedules on track. Integrates with change control to maintain an accurate schedule baseline.

Lesson 3 • Critical Path Method

Calculates early/late start and finish dates to identify the critical path. Enables managers to focus control efforts on activities that directly affect the end date.

Lesson 4 • Activity Definition and Sequencing

Breaks work packages into activities and establishes logical dependencies. Creates the network diagram that drives all subsequent schedule calculations.

Lesson 1 • Budget Development and Cost Baseline

Aggregates activity estimates into a time-phased cost baseline with contingency reserves. Distinguishes management reserve from contingency and explains authorization levels.

Lesson 2 • Cost Forecasting and Control

Applies EAC and ETC formulas to project final costs and remaining spend. Integrates forecasts with change control to maintain a valid cost baseline.

Lesson 3 • EVM Variance and Index Analysis

Calculates CV, SV, CPI, and SPI to diagnose project health. Interprets index trends to distinguish temporary variances from systemic performance issues.

Lesson 4 • Earned Value Management Fundamentals

Introduces PV, EV, and AC metrics to measure cost and schedule performance simultaneously. Provides the analytical foundation for variance and index calculations.

Lesson 1 • Risk Identification Techniques

Applies brainstorming, checklists, assumption analysis, and SWOT to surface risks. Populates the risk register with clearly described cause-risk-effect statements.

Lesson 2 • Risk Management Planning

Defines risk appetite, thresholds, and the risk management plan structure. Aligns risk processes with organizational governance and project complexity.

Lesson 3 • Quantitative Risk Analysis

Uses Monte Carlo simulation and decision trees to model schedule and cost uncertainty. Produces probability distributions that inform contingency reserve sizing.

Lesson 4 • Risk Response and Monitoring

Selects avoid, transfer, mitigate, or accept strategies for threats and opportunities. Establishes triggers and ownership to ensure timely response execution.

Lesson 1 • Effective Project Reporting

Structures status reports, dashboards, and executive summaries for different audiences. Connects reporting content to earned value data and risk status.

Lesson 2 • Managing Stakeholder Expectations

Applies negotiation and conflict resolution techniques to align stakeholder expectations. Prevents scope and quality disputes through proactive engagement.

Lesson 3 • Communication Planning

Designs a communication management plan specifying format, frequency, and channel per audience. Reduces information overload while ensuring critical data reaches decision-makers.

Lesson 4 • Stakeholder Analysis and Mapping

Applies power-interest grids and salience models to classify stakeholder influence. Informs tailored engagement strategies for each stakeholder segment.

Lesson 1 • Quality Management in Execution

Applies quality assurance audits and quality control inspections to meet acceptance criteria. Links quality activities to the cost of quality and continuous improvement.

Lesson 2 • Team Development and Performance

Builds high-performing teams through motivation, conflict management, and recognition. Applies situational leadership to adapt management style to team maturity.

Lesson 3 • Project Closure and Lessons Learned

Executes formal closure activities including final acceptance, contract closeout, and archiving. Captures lessons learned to improve future project performance.

Lesson 4 • Integrated Change Control

Operates a change control board process to evaluate, approve, and implement changes. Ensures all baselines remain synchronized after approved changes are incorporated.