Intro to Project Management

In this introductory course, students learn the basics behind managing projects. This course is designed to be an engaging, interactive workshop where participation is encouraged throughout. Students will receive a workbook that contains both practical knowledge along with a large variety of exercises to be completed during class.

After a brief introduction to project management as a science, students will begin to explore the first two phases of the project management process. While learning about the Initiation phase, students will be both identifying and selecting projects. They will learn how to create a project charter and how to accurately compose a project scope document.

Then, it is a deep dive into the Planning phase, where a large degree of project success is determined. In the first part of the Planning phase, students will create diagrams and charts while learning the value in interpreting them. In the second part, students will gain technical experience by using strategy to determine such concepts as float and resource management.

The last part of the course is a facilitated discussion on project managers and what it takes to become a successful one. Students will explore the most relevant skills and traits, discuss the vital importance of delegation, and the best strategies for managing change.

This one-day workshop concludes with a brief overview of Project Management software/apps, Project Management associations, and Project Management certifications.

Course Overview

• Learn how to manage stakeholders and tasks
• Discern scope, time, and cost
• Master project management vocabulary
• Discover positions, duties, and qualities of a project manager

Full Course Syllabus

I. Introduction

• What is a Project?
• Characteristics of Projects
• The Project Triangle
• The Project Lifecycle

II. The Initiating phase

• Project Identification
• Project Selection
• Project Charter
• Project Scope

III. The Planning phase I

• Work Breakdown Structure
• Task Responsibility
• Defining Activities
• Sequencing Activities
• Network Diagram
• Estimating Activity Resources

IV. The Planning phase II

• Establishing Project Start and Completion Times
• Critical Path
• Total Slack
• Free Slack
• Resource Management

V. The Project Manager

• Project Managers
• Project Managers Skills
• Delegation
• Managing Change