Project Management Foundations, Initiation, and Planning
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Project Management Foundations, Initiation, and Planning
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructors: SkillUp
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What you'll learn
Compare and contrast predictive and adaptive project management models
Investigate how to lead effective meetings and how motivating your team can lead to project success
Create planning documents and others that help you scope a project, plan project schedules, and create accurate budgets
Apply processes and tools that drive project initiation
Skills you'll gain
- Meeting Facilitation
- Stakeholder Analysis
- Program Standards
- Quality Management
- Project Management Life Cycle
- Initiative and Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Agile Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Project Management
- Earned Value Management
- Team Motivation
- Project Documentation
- Project Scoping
- Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology
- Stakeholder Communications
- Stakeholder Management
- Project Planning
Details to know
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 6 modules in this course
To navigate today’s complex and rapidly changing work environments, many organizations divide work into projects. Project management provides a structured approach to plan and manage projects in order to achieve on-time, within-budget, and scope as planned delivery.
Compare and contrast predictive and adaptive project management models. Learn to avoid common causes of project failure. Investigate how to lead effective meetings and how motivating your team can lead to project success. Create essential documents required during the project initiation phase like the business case, project charter, project brief, stakeholder register, and stakeholder engagement plan. Prepare other project documents to help you scope a project and plan accurate project schedules and budgets. You will gain practical experience with hands-on labs. Upon completion, you will have a portfolio of widely used project initiation and planning assets to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. This course is set up to help you succeed as a project manager. It is well-suited for those looking to step up their careers or new graduates seeking to establish their project management careers. This course is part of series of courses intended to help you prepare for CAPM and PMP certification exam. RECOMMENDED: It is good for everyone gearing toward a career in Project Management to have basic to intermediate skills in an Office Productivity Suite, such as Microsoft Office 365. We highly recommend enrolling in the SkillUp EdTech Office Productivity Software Specialization, which covers Word Processing, Spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Messaging, and Email.
Welcome to Module 1, which introduces the three-course project management series and the importance of project management in any career path. This module will summarize what you can expect to learn in this three-course series and what the first course will cover. You will also learn the three constraints in project management, how to get the most out of this series, and the project management certifications for which we prepare you.
What's included
8 videos4 readings1 discussion prompt
8 videos•Total 31 minutes
- Course Introduction•4 minutes
- What Inspired Us to Create this Course?•2 minutes
- How to Make the Most Out of this Course•3 minutes
- Instructor Introductions•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Importance of Project Management•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project Management - The Journey •7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project Management - The Journey Example•5 minutes
- How is this Course Different?•3 minutes
4 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Welcome•5 minutes
- Introduction to Project Management Certification•1 minute
- Prerequisites and Course Syllabus•5 minutes
- Module 1 Summary and Highlights•2 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 5 minutes
- Your Interests•5 minutes
Welcome to Module 2, which introduces traditional project management terms, models, and methodologies. In this module, you will learn about predictive and adaptive project management models and the importance of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) model. You will also learn how organizations impact and influence projects, the importance of the Project Management Office (PMO), and fitting the project to the customer’s needs.
What's included
6 videos4 readings3 assignments1 plugin
6 videos•Total 37 minutes
- Traditional Project Management•7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Lifecycle Selection•7 minutes
- Project Management Phases•4 minutes
- Different Types of Organizations•6 minutes
- The Project Management Office•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: The Project Management Office•7 minutes
4 readings•Total 27 minutes
- Overview of Key Project Management Models•10 minutes
- Traditional Project Management in Action•5 minutes
- Stacey Diagram Analysis•10 minutes
- Module 2 Summary and Highlights: Traditional Project Management•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 53 minutes
- Module 2 Graded Quiz: Traditional Project Management•30 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Best Lifecycle Approach •15 minutes
- Project Management Models and Methodologies•8 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Stacey Diagram Analysis•15 minutes
Welcome to Module 3, which introduces topics on modern project management techniques. In this module, you will learn the Project Management Body of Knowledge’s (PMBOK) 12 principles and how to apply them to a project. You will learn how to avoid common causes of project failure, the importance of organizing and leading effective meetings, how motivation and influencing your team can lead to project success, and the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) quality process.
What's included
9 videos4 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin
9 videos•Total 60 minutes
- The 12 Principles of Project Management•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Principles of Project Management•8 minutes
- Project Management in the Virtual Environment•5 minutes
- Effective Meeting Management•6 minutes
- Influencing for Results Part 1•4 minutes
- Influencing for Results Part 2•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Developing and Managing a Team•7 minutes
- Leading Change•7 minutes
- Managing Quality •8 minutes
4 readings•Total 24 minutes
- The 12 Principles of Project Management: Project Scenario•7 minutes
- Key Knowledge Areas and Essential Steps in Project Management•7 minutes
- Creating a Meeting Agenda and Minutes•7 minutes
- Module 3 Summary and Highlights: Modern Project Management•3 minutes
3 assignments•Total 52 minutes
- Module 3 Graded Quiz: Modern Project Management•30 minutes
- Managing Projects in Today's Environment•10 minutes
- Project Management Tools, Techniques, and Challenges•12 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 5 minutes
- Project Management in the Virtual Environment•5 minutes
1 plugin•Total 30 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: The Dysfunctional Team•30 minutes
Welcome to Module 4, where the focus is on the project initiating phase and the many tools and techniques you need to know to be a successful project manager. In this module, you will learn about the processes and tools that drive the initiation phase and the purpose and structure of essential documents like the business case, project charter, project brief, stakeholder register, and stakeholder engagement plan. You will also learn the importance of decision-making in project management and be able to summarize the Project Management Institute's (PMI) decision-making methods. You will interact with labs and Subject Matter Expert (SME) videos to discover the importance of the stakeholder register, analyze a simulated stakeholder engagement plan, and learn tips and tricks to identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities and how to initiate a project.
What's included
10 videos1 reading4 assignments3 plugins
10 videos•Total 64 minutes
- The Project Initiation Phase•3 minutes
- Key Project Management Modeling Tools, Part 1•6 minutes
- Key Project Management Modeling Tools, Part 2•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project Initiation•8 minutes
- Stakeholder Register•6 minutes
- Decision Making•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Stakeholder Identification and Management •8 minutes
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan•4 minutes
- Key Financial Metrics•8 minutes
- Project Budgets•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 3 minutes
- Module 4 Summary and Highlights: Setting Up the Project for Success•3 minutes
4 assignments•Total 62 minutes
- Module 4 Graded Quiz: Setting up the project for success•30 minutes
- Kicking Off the Project: The Initiating Process Group•12 minutes
- Stakeholder Identification •10 minutes
- Stakeholder Management and Project Financial Analysis•10 minutes
3 plugins•Total 120 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Develop a Project Charter and Project Brief•60 minutes
- Lab: Develop a Stakeholder Register•40 minutes
- Lab: Develop a Stakeholder Engagement Plan•20 minutes
Welcome to Module 5, which covers project planning processes, documents, and tips. In this module, you will learn end-to-end scope, schedule, budget, support planning techniques, and documents and tips supporting these processes. You will also understand the importance of earned value management and the project management plan approval process.
What's included
10 videos7 readings3 assignments3 plugins
10 videos•Total 64 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Role of a Business Analyst•8 minutes
- Scope Planning•7 minutes
- Schedule Planning•8 minutes
- Demo: Budget Planning Part 1•6 minutes
- Demo: Budget Planning Part 2•7 minutes
- Project Support Planning•5 minutes
- Demo: Planning Earned Value Management Part 1•4 minutes
- Demo: Planning Earned Value Management Part 2•7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project Support Planning•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project Support Planning Tips•7 minutes
7 readings•Total 36 minutes
- Project Planning•7 minutes
- Project Planning: Role of a Business Analyst Expanded•4 minutes
- Budget Planning•5 minutes
- Project Manager’s Role in Procurement Planning•4 minutes
- Planning Earned Value Management•5 minutes
- Gaining Project Approval and Acceptance•6 minutes
- Module 5 Summary and Highlights•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 58 minutes
- Module 5 Graded Quiz: Project Planning•30 minutes
- Developing the Project Management Plan•14 minutes
- Project Support Planning•14 minutes
3 plugins•Total 70 minutes
- Lab: Build a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Network Diagram•20 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Budget Planning•20 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Earned Value Management (EVM)•30 minutes
In this module, you will complete a final exam that tests your knowledge on the course content. The exam will include questions on topics including but not limited to: project management concepts, principles, terminology, and methodologies, designing effective project management templates, improving project management results, setting up and initiating projects, and planning the project. You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and proficiency in initiating and planning projects through a AI-graded final project.
What's included
6 videos5 readings2 assignments5 plugins
6 videos•Total 34 minutes
- Demo: Develop a Project Charter•6 minutes
- Demo: Develop a Stakeholder Register•3 minutes
- Demo: Develop a Work Breakdown Structure•4 minutes
- Demo: Develop a Network Diagram•7 minutes
- Demo: Develop a High-Level Budget Part 1•6 minutes
- Demo: Develop a High-Level Budget Part 2•8 minutes
5 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Final Project Overview and Instructions•3 minutes
- Course Glossary: Project Management Foundations Initiation and Planning•15 minutes
- Key Takeaways•5 minutes
- Congratulations and Next Steps•5 minutes
- Course Team and Acknowledgements•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 135 minutes
- The Strategic Project Management Portfolio•60 minutes
- Final Exam: Project Management Foundations Initiation and Planning•75 minutes
5 plugins•Total 180 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Develop a Project Charter•30 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Develop a Stakeholder Register •30 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Build a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)•30 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Develop a Project Network Diagram•45 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Develop a High-Level Budget•45 minutes
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Reviewed on Jan 20, 2024
Detailed and well done course. Yeoman and the rest of the team did an mazing job.
Reviewed on Nov 29, 2025
Gives a good understanding in how to run effective projects and how to keep stakeholders engaged and accountable.
Reviewed on Oct 6, 2025
The course provides well-thought-out information for beginners, making it easy to understand the concepts.
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
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