Google Project Management Certificate

. A project management methodology

. is a set of guiding principles and processes for owning a project through its life cycle. Project management methodologies help guide project managers throughout a project with steps to take, tasks to complete, and principles for managing the project overall.

What's a project deliverable?

A tangible outcome produced at the end of a task

_____ is how a project manager oversees the financial components of a project and mitigates project issues and risks as they come up.

Budgeting and controlling costs

"scope creep."

Changes, growth, and uncontrolled factors that affect a project scope at any point after the project begins are referred to as "scope creep." Scope creep is a common problem, and it's not always easy to control

Which of the following activities are part of the "execute and complete tasks" project phase? Select all that apply.

Communicate with the project team Make adjustments to the project Manage project progress

the "c" in DMAIC stands for

Controlling - is all about learning from the work you did up front to put new processes and documentation in place and continue to monitor so the company doesn't revert back to the old, inefficient way of doing things.

OKR -objective and key results

Objectives defines what needs to be achieved and describe a desirable outcome while key results define how you will measure that outcome. OKRs combine a goal and a metric to determine a measurable outcome.

Closing the project

One big reason is so your team has a moment to celebrate all of their hard work. Closing the project is also a chance to evaluate how the project went. You can make note of what worked and what didn't so you can plan better for next time. Even if the project was a massive success, it's helpful to take time to reflect. Closing the project is also a great way to connect with anyone outside your team who may have had interest in the project's goal. You can let everyone know what was completed and what you accomplished.

What needs to be done to successfully launch the product in schools?

Organize training sessions, budget for equipment, and maintain strong communication.

How do the Classic and Matrix organizational structures differ from one another?

The Classic structure follows a traditional, top-down system of reporting. The Matrix structure involves reporting to stakeholders across teams and direct managers. The Classic grouping has a clear chain of command, whereas the Matrix structure involves a more complex network of reporting.

What does project scope refer to?

The project boundaries

key components of initiation

There are several key components of initiation that you need to consider in order for your project to be successful: goals, scope, deliverables, success criteria, stakeholders and resources.

few key interpersonal skills that you can use to accomplish this and guide the project outcomes, even without the authority of being your teammates' boss.

These skills include communication, negotiation, conflict mediation, and understanding motivations.

What can provide clues to an organization's culture? Select all that apply.

Values Mission (not) Revenue

OKRs

take SMART goals a step further by combining a goal and more detailed metrics to determine a measurable outcome. OKRs help establish and clarify goals or objectives for an organization, department, project or person.

Following the DMAIC process prevents

the likelihood of skipping important steps and increases the chances of a successful project. As a way for your team to discover best practices that your client can use going forward, it uses data and focuses on the customer or end-user to solve problems in a way that builds on previous learning so that you can discover effective permanent solutions for difficult problems.

Change Management

the process of delivering your completed project and getting people to adopt it

Projects that are best suited for an Agile approach are

those where the client has an idea of what they want but doesn't have a concrete picture in mind, or they have a set of qualities they'd like to see in the end result, but aren't as concerned with exactly what it looks like. Another indicator that a project may benefit from Agile is the level of high uncertainty and risk involved with the project.

Landing

when you actually measure the success of your project using the success criteria established at the outset of the project. While the launch is when you complete your project, the landing is once you determine it works and you satisfy your success criteria.

a cost benefit analysis,

which is the process of adding up the expected value of a project(the benefits) and comparing them to the dollar costs.

In which DMAIC step do project managers begin to identify gaps and issues?

Analyze

What can help create a measurable goal? Select all that apply.

Bench marks metrics deadlines

DMAIC

DMAIC is a strategy for process improvement, meaning you're trying to figure out where the problems are in the current process and fix them so that everything runs more smoothly. The goal of each step is to ensure the best possible results for your project.

project launch

Delivering the final result of your project to the client or user

Using tools such as a digital calendar and a spreadsheet to track team tasks is evidence of what project management skill?

Effective organizational skills

When closing out the project make sure..

First, check to make sure all tasks have been completed, including any work that was added along the way. Be sure any outstanding invoices have been paid, resources are returned and accounted for, and project documentation has been submitted.

examples of the required responsibilities you might find in a job listing

First, you'll need to hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks. Managing tasks will help you hold your team members accountable by giving them ownership over specific pieces of the project. Second, you'll need to ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible, and be able to establish escalation paths. Now by escalation paths, I mean that you should know how you will communicate risks to the right people at the right time. Third, you'll need to understand and help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles. As the project manager, you'll likely have the best idea of which style is best for the work. It's your job to ensure that the team adheres to that style and the other systems in place. And fourth, you'll need to collaborate with other teams at the organization to meet the requirements based on project, scope, schedule, and budget. In other words, a project may affect not only your team, but other teams at an organization, as well as, say, the marketing or the finance team. So you'll need to work with those teams to ensure that everyone is happy with the project outcomes. You'll learn more about working with other stakeholders in a later course.

Which skill should a project manager use when dealing with change and ambiguity?

Flexibility

Make a plan

For example, a budget, a breakdown of all the tasks that you need to be completed, ways to communicate team roles and responsibilities, a schedule, resources, and what to do in case your project encounters problems or needs to change.

Lean Six Sigma

It's a combination of two parent methodologies, Lean and Six Sigma. The uses for Lean Six Sigma are common in projects that have goals to save money, improve quality, and move through processes quickly. It also focuses on team collaboration which promotes a positive work environment. The idea is that when your team feels valued, motivation and productivity increases and the whole process functions more smoothly.

Linear

Linear means the previous phase or task has to be completed before the next can start

_____ is how a project manager keeps track of the team's workload, ensures that things are getting done within a set period of time, and demonstrates progress to people outside the immediate team, like stakeholders. 1 / 1 point

Managing tasks

Which day-to-day responsibility of a project manager includes maintaining timelines and schedules to track project completion?

Planning and organizing

_____ is how a project manager makes use of productivity tools and creates processes. The project manager may need to use certain tools and processes to do tasks like create a schedule and share information.

Planning and organizing

PMO

Project Management Office is a team of project managers. We are a group that coordinates all of the different parts of a project together, including folks who work on our product, engineers, and many business functions, and we help bring all of those ideas to life.

How do project managers use delegation to add value to their team?

Project managers match tasks based upon the skills and strengths of their team members.

Which of the following is true for project managers that work in a specific industry?

Project managers work in many industries. The skills project managers learn in one industry can be applied in others. Project managers tackle a variety of projects from start to finish.

influencing without authority-

Refers to a project manager's ability to guide teammates to complete their assigned work without acting as their direct managers.

In which of the following ways can organizational structure impact project management? Select all that apply.

Resource availability Project manager authority

Stakeholder buy-in

Stakeholder buy-in is the process of involving these people in decision-making to hopefully reach a broader consensus on the organization's future.

in-scope.

Tasks that are included in the project and contribute to the project's overall goal are considered to be in-scope.

Classic and Matrix structure

The Classic structure follows a traditional, top-down system of reporting, and the Matrix structure has direct higher-ups to report to and stakeholders from other departments or programs.

There are five phases in the Lean Six Sigma approach

They are define, measure, analyze, improve, and control, commonly known as DMAIC.

Which of the following is true of project managers' experience? Select all that apply.

They need to be familiar with project management tools They need to know how to manage a budget

Initiate the project

This is the launchpad for the entire process of your project. In this phase, you'll define project goals and deliverables, identify the budget and resources you'll need, the people involved in your project, and any other details that can impact the successful completion of your project. You'll document all this information in one place to showcase the project's value, and hopefully get approval to move forward with it.

The main phases of a project are

To initiate the project, make a plan, execute and complete tasks, and finally, close the project.

Which interpersonal skill helps a project manager get to know their teammates and figure out what pushes them to do their best work?

Understanding motivations. Successful project managers should get to know their teammates. This is important for learning how team members work best, how they prefer to receive feedback, and even how to share praise.

When would you want to use a Waterfall approach to project management?

When the phases of the project are clearly defined or when there are tasks to complete before another can begin, or when changes to the project are very expensive to implement once it's started.

When would a project manager want to use the Waterfall approach?

When there are tasks to complete before another can begin When project changes are expensive to implement once it's started When the phases of the project are clearly defined

Scrum

a form of Agile

waterfall methodology

a methodology was created in the 70s, and refers to the sequential ordering of phases. they follow an ordered set of steps that are directly linked to clearly defined expectations, resources, and goals that are not likely to change.

the "a" in DMAIC stands for

analyze- begin to identify gaps and issues.

sprints in scrum

are short chunks of time usually one to four weeks where a team works together to focus on completing specific tasks

Project resources

are who and what you depend on to complete a project, including budget, materials, and people.

Agile

being able to move quickly and easily. It also refers to flexibility, which means being willing and able to change and adapt. began to emerge in the 90s as a response to the growing demand for faster delivery of products. Its more of a mindset than just a series of steps or phases.

A way organizational structure can impact the way you manage a project

by the amount of authority given to the project manager. Authority has to do with your ability to make decisions for the project that impact the organization

Resources

can include people, equipment, software programs, vendors, physical space or locations, and more. Anything you need to actually complete the project is considered a resource.

Steering committees

decide on the priorities of an organization and manage the general course of its operations. The steering committee essentially acts as an advisory board or council to help the project manager and the company make and approve strategic decisions that affect both the company and the project.

A cross-functional project team is a team that has _____.

diverse skill sets and works toward a common goal

Organizational culture example

if the company values stability and user feedback, it might encourage expanding the project timeline to allow for testing and then making decisions based on those testing results. If the company values innovation and revenue growth, it might encourage a shorter timeline to get the product out faster, and taking some risks to try out new ideas.

the "i" in DMAIC stands for

improve- present findings and start making improvements

Governance

in business is the management framework within which decisions are made and accountability and responsibility are determined. In simple terms, governance is understanding who is in charge.

In a RACI chart, which type of participation refers to people who need to know about final decisions or that a task is complete?

informed

Which two factors are determined on a stakeholder power grid? Select all that apply.

interest and influence

project proposal

is a form of documentation that comes at the very beginning of the project. This document's purpose is to persuade stakeholders that a project should begi

Organizational culture

is in part the values employees share, as well as the organization's values, mission, history, and so on. In other words, organizational culture can be thought of as the company's personality

Corporate governance

is the framework by which an organization achieves its goals and objectives.

Project governance

is the framework for how project decisions are made. Project governance helps keep projects running smoothly, on time, and within budget. Project governance involves all the key elements that make a project successful. It tells you what activities an organization does and who is responsible for those activities. Project governance covers policies, regulations, functions, processes, procedures, and responsibilities.

Scope creep

is when a project's work starts to grow beyond what was originally agreed upon during the initiation phase

iterative,

more flexible approach where some of the phases in tasks will overlap or happen at the same time that other tasks are being worked on.

Engagement

refers to how often or meaningful customer interaction and participation is over time.

Adoption

refers to how the customer uses and adopts a product or service without any issues.

Reflection when closing project

retrospective, and it's a chance to note best practices and learn how to manage your project more effectively next time, even if everything went great.

power grid

shows stakeholder interest in the project versus their influence over the project.

A change agent

someone who helps the organization transform by focusing on improving organizational effectiveness and development. You and your project will most likely affect the organization in some way.

the "m" in DMAIC stands for

t's time to measure how the current process is performing. In order to improve processes, DMAIC focuses on data. Here you want to map out the current process and locate exactly where the problems are and what kind of effect the problems have on the process.

Lean Six Sigma and the DMAIC approach are ideal when

the project goal includes improving the current process to fix complex or high risk problems like improving sales, conversions, or eliminating a bottleneck, which is when things get backed up during a process.

the "d" in DMAIC stands for

to define the project goal and what it will take to meet it. This first phase is very similar to the initiation phase of traditional project management.

Second step of the project life cycle?

to make a plan. In this phase, you'll create a budget and set the project schedule, planning for risk and change and establish communications

stakeholders are people

who are interested in and affected by the project's completion and success. Depending on the type of project, stakeholders could include a department or organization's management team, clients or customers of your product or service, users of your new tool or process, or even the community at large if you're planning a community town hall meeting

The success criteria

will tell you whether or not the project as a whole was successful. They are the specific details of your goals and deliverables that tell you whether you've accomplished what you set out to do. They are the standards by which the project will be judged once it's been delivered to stakeholders and customers.

Interview Question: discuss a time when you influenced without authority

For example, let's say you have a coworker who's constantly late to every meeting and I mean, every meeting, while you can't force them to arrive on time, it's likely that you've thought about ways to motivate them to want to be on time. In doing so, you might have also wondered how to change the way you communicate with your coworker, to influence them to be on time. Maybe you've tried asking them to arrive 15 minutes earlier than the rest of the group or maybe you've told them how this behavior impacts the rest of the team. Both of these strategies are examples of influencing without authority, and they serve to encourage specific behavior. Influencing without authority is one of the most critical and one of the most challenging aspects of project management

Examples when to use each of the three methedologies

For instance, an engineering team releasing a customer-focused product may primarily use Agile when creating the product, but decide to plug in some of the aspects of Waterfall project management for planning and documentation. A customer service team might focus on using Lean Six Sigma to improve an experience for our users like offering new features based on a recent analysis. But the team might develop parts of the code and roll out the features using Agile iterations and sprints to allow for change. Or one of our internal education and training teams may focus solely on Waterfall project management to achieve a targeted goal of having all employees complete an annual compliance training. Here, Waterfall makes sense since the requirements of the training program are fixed and so is the deadline and goal. The biggest takeaway is to know the various methods and tools to be able to confidently apply what works best for you, your team, and the end goal.

What does a project manager do in the project initiation phase of the project life cycle?

Get project approval Determine resources, people, and project details Define project goals

What is the project manager responsible for on a team?

Guides the team and makes sure they have the support that they need

Which of the following are part of organizational structure? Select all that apply.

How the different members of an organization relate to one another. How job tasks are divided and coordinated. Organizational structure refers to how the company is organized, who does what, and who reports to whom. Understanding this structure can help you figure out where you fit in!

When you are thinking about change management as it relates to your project, begin by asking yourself the following questions:

How will the organization react to change? Which influencers can affect change? What are the best means of communication? What change management practices will lead to the successful implementation of my project?

Which of the following flexible planning strategies can help a project manager during times of unpredictability? Select all that apply.

· Assess external constraints. When planning your project, take external events into account, such as national holidays and team member vacations and sick leave. Leaving extra time in the schedule for these inevitable events up front can help minimize the impact to your project. · Plan for risks and challenges. If you consider the risks that may occur, you may be able to find solutions for them in advance. For example, what if someone on your team gets sick or decides to quit? Are you able to replace them within the company? If not, can you hire an independent contractor? Come up with a list of people who may be able to join your team if one of your team members becomes unavailable. You can also assess risks by looking at historical data. Review your past projects and examine the challenges you faced. Then evaluate if similar challenges could occur in this project and prepare accordingly. We will discuss risk management at length later in this program. · Calculate "float" in your schedule. Float, or slack, refers to the amount of time you can wait to begin a task before it impacts the project schedule and threatens the project outcome. Identifying float in your schedule can help with resource management, scheduling, and keeping your project on track. You will learn more about calculating float in a later course, when we discuss creating a critical path for your project tasks.