Fundamentals of Project Management

Program Overview

Develop real-world skills for success in project management. Project management is becoming increasingly important to the modern business enterprise as an engine of change. Rapid innovation and adaptation have become increasingly vital to achieving success in the marketplace, and project management concepts and frameworks are a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Professionals who take these courses acquire concrete skills and an understanding of project management processes that can immediately be applied to their work. Completion of this professional certificate program does meet the 23-hour project management education requirement for Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification. Students will need to take the exams through the Project Management Institute (PMI). 

Career Outcome

Our courses introduce students to the Project Management Institute’s ten knowledge areas and five process groups while offering opportunities to put the techniques learned into practice. Those who complete the four courses will understand project portfolio management, organizational structures, portfolio planning, and project alignment, along with topics that contribute to effective project management like structured thinking, business and technology architecture, organizational change management, estimation, risk management, and communications. In addition to earning a professional certificate upon completion of this program, you will also earn a digital badge to showcase your skills on platforms like LinkedIn. These credentials show your network the concrete and in-demand skills you earned from taking this Kelley program.

What You'll Learn

• Recognize the core principles of a modern project management approach that integrates people with technology solutions.
• Grasp how projects align with strategic goals and the overall structure of an enterprise.
• Describe at least two frameworks from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and an industry-standard Agile framework (Scrum).
• Utilize fundamental project management methods for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects.
• Comprehend and implement advanced project management concepts.

Curriculum Details

Here’s a detailed overview of the courses in list format:

• The Origin and Role of Projects in the Enterprise

  • Understand where projects fit into the enterprise landscape.
  • Learn how projects link to corporate strategy to articulate justification and value.
  • Gain a broader context for defining project value and visibility to related initiatives.
  • Ensure project alignment with existing enterprise standards and support capabilities.

• Understanding the Project Manager Mindset

  • Learn critical elements for anticipating project impacts and understanding project needs.
  • Set expectations to position projects for success.
  • Focus on articulating a project’s purpose while engaging stakeholders and minimizing resistance.
  • Explore unique approaches for different problems and identify the right methods and teams for implementation.

• Predictive and Adaptive Methodologies

  • Understand how to deploy appropriate product management approaches.
  • Learn the basics of predictive/waterfall project methodology for planning, executing, controlling, and closing projects.
  • Gain insights into adaptive/agile methodology for managing and closing projects.

• Real-World Project Management Survival Skills

  • Understand methods to assess and engage project stakeholders for ongoing support and acceptance.
  • Learn techniques for ensuring smooth project flow and preparing for potential pitfalls.
  • Build credibility as a leader and stay updated on industry developments that impact project management practices.