# Foundations of Project Management Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/foundations-of-project-management-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Many professionals manage projects daily, whether as task leads, team leads, or coordinators, often without formal training. This one-day course introduces standardized project management principles and best practices, equipping you with practical tools to manage projects efficiently and confidently. Through small group discussions and case study exercises, you’ll learn how to apply foundational project management concepts, analyze project initiation components, evaluate risks, as well as manage project progress and closure effectively. Whether you're new to project management or looking to formalize your skills, this course will help you navigate key project challenges and improve your ability to deliver successful outcomes.

## What you'll learn

- Identify foundational project management concepts.
- Analyze project initiation components, including business cases, project charter, and stakeholders.
- Explain how to use a Project Scope statement and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
- Recognize the importance of managing risk, uncertainty, and change on a project.
- Recognize the importance of measuring a project’s progress.
- Explain typical activities when closing out a project.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Foundational Concepts

- Project management standards and the PMBOK® Guide (7th Edition)
- Project management principles
- Project performance domains
- Predictive, adaptive, and hybrid project approaches

#### Module 2: Starting a Project

- Why organizations initiate projects
- Business case and project charter
- Initial project information and assumptions
- Stakeholder identification and engagement

#### Module 3: Project Planning

- Importance of planning for project success
- Planning performance domain
- Project scope definition
- Work breakdown structure (WBS)

#### Module 4: Project Execution

- Role of the project manager during execution
- Managing project work and delivery
- Communications and quality considerations

#### Module 5: Monitoring and Controlling Project Progress

- Measuring project performance
- Project baselines and variances
- Monitoring and controlling work
- Communicating project status

#### Module 6: Best Practices for Closing Out a Project

- Administrative and contractual project closure
- Final deliverables and stakeholder handoff
- Lessons learned and documentation

#### Module 7: Standards and Development Approaches

- Internal and external factors influencing projects
- Stewardship and systems thinking principles
- Selecting predictive, adaptive, or hybrid approaches

#### Module 8: Initiating and Planning Strategy

- Developing a project charter
- Defining scope, assumptions, and quality metrics
- Stakeholder analysis and prioritization
- Identifying and prioritizing risks

#### Module 9: Planning Baselines

- Decomposing scope using a work breakdown structure
- Sequencing activities and identifying the critical path
- Establishing schedule and cost baselines

#### Module 10: Executing Work and Managing Risk

- Balancing scope, schedule, cost, and quality
- Communications management planning
- Risk response strategies for threats and opportunities

#### Module 11: Team Performance

- Acquiring and managing project resources
- Stages of team development
- Leadership behaviors for high-performing teams
- Conflict management techniques

#### Module 12: Monitoring, Controlling, and Closing

- Leading and lagging performance indicators
- Formal change control processes
- Project closeout activities and archival

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $849