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Project Initiation and Planning

Project Initiation and Planning

This course is part of Business Value and Project Management Specialization

Instructor: Ismail Kirci, Ph.D., PMP

16,461 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

149 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

149 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Describe the concepts of project management, the key activities in the project life cycle and understand how AI is used in project management
Develop a project management plan that documents the actions necessary to define, coordinate, and measure all project activities
Identify necessary labor and material resources, estimate the required units to meet expectations, and demonstrate impact of changes to project scope
Demonstrate how teams are assigned and formed, describe the stages of team development, and optimize the project schedule

Details to know

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Assessments

37 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Business Value and Project Management Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

In today’s competitive environment, learning to manage projects effectively is a critical skill. This course will focus on initiating and planning projects. The course will cover the more traditional linear process, such as the waterfall approach, as well as the dynamic, iterative approaches of agile and hybrid models, so learners can decide when one approach is more suitable for their projects to maximize the chances of a successful outcome. The course will also help you understand how AI is used in project management to support faster and better decision-making, and explore practical applications of AI chatbots in project initiation and planning.

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. In module 1, you will learn about the life cycle of a project when using the traditional model for project management. Why is it called waterfall, and how does that dictate the process? The focus will be on the first state of the project life cycle, project initiation.

What's included

26 videos8 readings11 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

26 videosTotal 134 minutes

Welcome to Project Initiation and Planning12 minutes
Learn on Your Terms1 minute
Module 1 Overview1 minute
Introduction4 minutes
What is a Project?8 minutes
Waterfall Approach to Project Management3 minutes
Initiating a Project7 minutes
Meet Our Expert - Harshad Desai, Senior Manager at a Technology Company2 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Waterfall Approach2 minutes
Stakeholder Management10 minutes
Meet Our Expert - Garrett Whitsitt, Managing Consultant at Point b1 minute
Insight From an Expert on Managing Stakeholders3 minutes
Project Scope11 minutes
Scope Example7 minutes
Project Priorities14 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Project Priorities1 minute
Work Breakdown Structure9 minutes
Insight From an Expert on the Importance of Planning5 minutes
How to Use Sticky Notes to Create a Work Breakdown Structure3 minutes
Introduction to ProjectLibre - How to Install for Mac4 minutes
Introduction to ProjectLibre - How to Install for PC2 minutes
Creating a Work Breakdown Structure Using ProjectLibre5 minutes
Organizational and Team Structure10 minutes
Meet Our Experts - Sean Bauer, Senior Director and Andrew Howard, Senior Manager at Walgreens3 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Structuring the Project Team5 minutes
Module 1 Takeaways1 minute

8 readingsTotal 114 minutes

Syllabus10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums4 minutes
Glossary5 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business10 minutes
Updating Your Profile10 minutes
Module 1 Overview5 minutes
Module 1 Readings60 minutes
ProjectLibre and Excel Files Used in Examples10 minutes

11 assignmentsTotal 150 minutes

Orientation Quiz30 minutes
What is a Project? Practice Quiz10 minutes
Waterfall Approach to Project Management Practice Quiz10 minutes
Initiating a Project Practice Quiz10 minutes
Stakeholder Management Practice Quiz10 minutes
Project Scope Practice Quiz10 minutes
Scope Example Practice Quiz10 minutes
Project Priorities Practice Quiz10 minutes
Work Breakdown Structure Practice Quiz10 minutes
Organizational and Team Structure Practice Quiz10 minutes
Waterfall Approach - The Basics: Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates10 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Welcome! Please Tell Us About Yourself15 minutes

In this module, you will learn about the planning phase of the project when using a waterfall approach - getting the team on board and collaboratively building a plan for managing tasks, stakeholders, and risks. You will learn about how to create the foundation for developing a detailed project plan which includes budget and schedule.

What's included

18 videos2 readings11 assignments

18 videosTotal 118 minutes

Module 2 Overview2 minutes
Project Kick-Off5 minutes
Kick-Off Meeting3 minutes
Communication Planning7 minutes
Responsibility Matrix4 minutes
Risk Planning15 minutes
Risk Response11 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Risk Planning4 minutes
Mission Creep9 minutes
Task Dependencies9 minutes
Illustration of Precedence Relationship Types in ProjectLibre4 minutes
Estimating Time9 minutes
Estimating Cost8 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Time and Cost Estimation4 minutes
Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)7 minutes
Creating a Network Diagram in Excel7 minutes
Creating a Precedence Diagram Using ProjectLibre7 minutes
Module 2 Takeaways2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 65 minutes

Module 2 Overview5 minutes
Module 2 Readings60 minutes

11 assignmentsTotal 130 minutes

Project Kick-Off Practice Quiz10 minutes
Communication Planning Practice Quiz10 minutes
Responsibility Matrix Practice Quiz10 minutes
Risk Planning Practice Quiz10 minutes
Risk Response Practice Quiz10 minutes
Mission Creep Practice Quiz10 minutes
Task Dependencies Practice Quiz10 minutes
Estimating Time Practice Quiz10 minutes
Estimating Cost Practice Quiz10 minutes
Precedence Diagramming Method Practice Quiz10 minutes
Waterfall Approach - Get the Project Going: Quiz30 minutes

In this module, you will learn several techniques that will help you develop a detailed project plan. The project plan will reveal the critical tasks. Managing projects using a waterfall approach is a start-to-finish approach to getting things done, and making projects more successful. The critical path has a significant impact on both the cost and schedule of a project.

What's included

15 videos2 readings7 assignments1 peer review

15 videosTotal 100 minutes

Module 3 Overview2 minutes
Gantt Chart3 minutes
Using Excel to Create a Gantt Chart (Stacked Bar Method)6 minutes
Using Excel to Create a Gantt Chart (Calendar Method)14 minutes
ProjectLibre Basic Operations6 minutes
Critical Path Method (CPM) - Forward Pass7 minutes
Critical Path Method (CPM) - Backward Pass7 minutes
Critical Path Method (CPM) - Float7 minutes
CPM - An Illustrated Example in Excel11 minutes
CPM - An Illustrated Example in ProjectLibre3 minutes
PERT - Program Evaluation and Review Technique10 minutes
PERT - Example13 minutes
PERT - Calculating Expected Time and Standard Deviation3 minutes
PERT - Project Completion Time Analysis5 minutes
Module 3 Takeaways2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 65 minutes

Module 3 Overview5 minutes
Module 3 Readings60 minutes

7 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Gantt Chart Practice Quiz10 minutes
Critical Path Method - Forward Pass Practice Quiz10 minutes
Critical Path Method - Backward Pass Practice Quiz10 minutes
Critical Path Method - Float Practice Quiz10 minutes
PERT Practice Quiz10 minutes
PERT Example Practice Quiz10 minutes
Waterfall Approach - Create a Plan for Action: Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Waterfall Approach - Create a Plan for Action: Peer Review Assignment60 minutes

In this module, you will learn about agile project management - the methodology best used when project requirements are not well defined and nd change frequently. This module will focus on the roots of agile and show how to initiate and plan projects using scrum.

What's included

13 videos4 readings8 assignments1 plugin

13 videosTotal 85 minutes

Module 4 Overview2 minutes
Agile Project Management9 minutes
Agile and Lean10 minutes
Agile Methodologies - Kanban Framework10 minutes
Agile Methodologies - Scrum Framework9 minutes
Scrum - Initiating a Project10 minutes
Insight From an Expert on the Role of the Product Owner3 minutes
Scrum - Sprint Planning12 minutes
Story Point Meeting4 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Story Points5 minutes
Project Manager vs Scrum Master7 minutes
Insight From an Expert on Servant Leadership3 minutes
Module 4 Takeaways2 minutes

4 readingsTotal 85 minutes

Module 4 Overview5 minutes
Module 4 Readings60 minutes
Congratulations on completing the course!10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate10 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 100 minutes

Agile Project Management Practice Quiz10 minutes
Agile and Lean Practice Quiz10 minutes
Agile Methodologies - Kanban Framework Practice Quiz10 minutes
Agile Methodologies - Scrum Practice Quiz10 minutes
Scrum - Initiating a Project Practice Quiz10 minutes
Scrum-Sprint Planning Practice Quiz10 minutes
Project Manager vs Scrum Master Practice Quiz10 minutes
Agile - Initiating and Planning for Dynamic Projects: Quiz30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

How Was the Course?15 minutes

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Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(64 ratings)

Ismail Kirci, Ph.D., PMP

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 Courses19,095 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Feb 16, 2022

The teacher was very good. Well stated information and enthusiasm. The tests were a little odd sometimes.

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2021

Very insightful material. A must have course for anyone interested in project management. Taught by esteemed UIUC faculty - the material is world class and educational at its best.

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2022

5 star course........Fataneh Taghaboni-Dutta, Ph.D., PMP is one kind of a teacher........it was an honour being impacted by her wealth of knowledge in this course................

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