Foundations of Project Management Week 1

Example of project Methodologies

Agile Scrum Waterfall

Common Buzzwords

Analytical Assertive Assessing outcomes Assessing progress Attention to detail Conflict resolution Collaborative Coordination Communication Development Evaluation Executing plans Financial analysis Impact assessment Leadership engagement Managing meetings Managing client expectations Managing conflicts Managing relationships with stakeholders Managing vendors Meeting deadlines Monitoring Multitasking Planning Prioritizing Problem-solving Process development Process improvement Project coordination Project implementation Project initialization Project planning Project reporting Quality control Risk assessment Risk management Solution development Strategic planning Strong interpersonal skills Strong verbal communication Strong written communication

Leadership

Being able to lead a group of people. You may see phrases like "strong leadership qualities" or "ability to lead" in job descriptions. A project manager needs to display leadership in a number of ways, including effective planning, efficient task coordination, inspiring team members, and key decision-making. You are working on many of the skills needed to become a great leader in this program!

Example of software tools used

Example of software tools used

Coordination

Getting people and teams to work together. You may see responsibilities in job descriptions such as "coordination of efforts to achieve project deliverable" or "coordinate internal resources to ensure successful project completion." Being a project manager is essentially managing the coordination of resources to achieve your end goal. Coordination is one of the top skills a project manager should have, so searching for this term can lead you to appropriate positions.

Project

It is a unique endeavor, and usually includes a set of unique deliverables It is also a temporary pursuit, it has a defined beginning and end A project is a series of tasks that need to be completed to reach a desired outcome. This takes collaboration and careful planning that keeps the project on track and on budget

Introductory Level Project Management Roles

Junior Project Manager: Performs all aspects of being a project manager alongside a more experienced professional. Project Administrator: Assists the rest of the project team with administrative tasks. Project/Program Assistant: Supports team members working on a project and offers administrative support. May perform research or create training documents along with other jobs as assigned by program leaders. Project/Program Coordinator: Participates in hands-on project work and administrative tasks. Works under a project manager to make sure projects are completed on time and within budget. Project Support Specialist: Works alongside a project manager and team members to oversee assigned projects. May also be responsible for training and developing employees to perform designated tasks.

Program managers

Manage a group of projects that are related or similar to one another and handle the coordination of these projects. They facilitate effective communication between individual project managers and provide support where necessary. They also help create and manage long-term goals for their organization.

Operational Manager Roles

Operational management roles allow you to work alongside peers and management from various business segments, giving you an appreciation for what each segment does on a daily basis. Key elements of project management include making sure a project is on budget and on schedule. Operations Analyst: Manages and coordinates research, investigates workflows, creates business procedures, and recommends changes to improve the project and company. Operations Manager: Oversees strategic decision-making and rolls out plans of action based on financial, schedule, and resource reporting. Chief Operating Officer: Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of a business.

Example of Project Management Tasks

Organize the project in the first place Budget accordingly for whatever is needed Maintain strong communication with all parties involved

Traits of a project manager

Organized, action oriented, diligent, and strategic

Program and Portfolio Manager Roles

PM's are responsible for day to day management of projects. They shepherd a project from start to finish using the right tools, techniques, and processes to successfully complete the project in time and within budget. After you are comfortable with a Project, next step for you might be a Program Manager position Program: Is a collection of projects Successfully implementing programs as a program managers can help lead to more senior positions (senior program manager or portfolio manager) Portfolio: collection of projects and programs across an organization Portfolio managers are responsible for portfolios of projects or programs for one client. While project, program, and portfolio managers hold different types and levels of responsibility, they are all project managers.

What does a Project Manager do?

PM's usually follow a process that involves planning and organizing, managing tasks, budgeting, and controlling costs and other factors PM's also need to make sure the project outcome is bringing value to the organization. The project needs to be both valuable and successful PM's responsibilities can vary depending on the project, the industry, and the company they are working in

What are the core concepts of project management?

Planning and organizing Managing tasks Budgeting and controlling costs

A general overview in the day to day of a PM is the following

Planning and organizing (what exactly are we trying to accomplish) Creating project plans (helps set tone and keeps everyone on pace) Managing Tasks Helps manage tasks for team members and communicates key milestones to the larger team or customers Budgeting and controlling costs and other factors Managing budget and controlling costs is a common responsibility of a PM Helps keep project on track and within budget Full time job because things are always changing with a project Most important thing to know about day to day of a PM is that you'll use different tools, techniques, and methodologies every single day

Transferrable Project Management Skills

Planning and organizing, managing tasks, budgeting with cost constraints. Handling tasks simultaneously Examples - Working in retail space or service industry - In charge of managing employee schedules (employee workstyles) - All duties and responsibilities covered during each shift Relocating for a new job - Planning a big move - Successfully coordinating for a new move - Budgeting costs for moving company - Labeling and organizing items

Traditional Project Management Roles

Project Manager: Responsible for the initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing of a project. Includes industry-specific titles like IT project manager, construction project manager, or engineering project manager, which utilize skills that are transferable among industries. Project Analyst: Moves a project along by sharing information, providing support through data analysis, and contributing to strategy and performance. Project Leader/Director: Drives core decision-making and sets the direction for the project. Usually knowledgeable about the product or deliverable. Project Controller: Primarily responsible for project planning. You are likely to see this job title in industries like engineering and construction. Technical Project Manager: Conducts project planning and management for identified goals within a company. Ensures that projects are completed to the requirements within a defined time frame and budget. Project Management Office (PMO) Analyst: Manages the progress of complex projects to ensure timely execution and completion.

What is project management?

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet the project requirements and achieve the desired outcomes Valuable to business because it helps ensure that a project delivers the expected outcomes(both on time and within budget) Project has several tasks and each one has to be planned out in order for the project to be completed

Tips on completing the courses

Reflect on skills I already have As I keep going through program, think about the skills I already have What parts of project management am I attracted to? As I go through the program, keep this in mind Try to keep track of lessons and activities I prefer and the ones I didn't like as much This will help narrow choices as I go through job search later on

Key Takeaway 1

Regardless of the industry you currently work, you have TRANSFERABLE SKILLS Transferable skills are abilities that can be used in many different jobs and career paths. Your transferable skills can likely be utilized in project management roles in many other industries.

Portfolio managers

Responsible for managing a group of related programs within the same organization. They coordinate various programs in order to ensure they are on track and that the organization is meeting its strategic initiatives. Portfolio managers look at all projects and programs within the organization and prioritize work as necessary.

Agile Roles

Scrum Master: Coordinates and guides the Scrum team. Knowledgeable in Agile framework and Scrum and is able to teach others about the Scrum values and principles. Product Owner: Drives the direction of product development and progress.

Organization

The ability to stay focused on different tasks. You may come across phrases like "solid organizational skills, including attention to detail and multitasking skills" or something as simple as "highly organized." Organization is key to being a great project manager. We will discuss many ways to sharpen this skill in the upcoming lessons.

What is a project management

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet the project requirements and achieve the desired outcome

buzzwords

words or phrases that are popular for a period of time or in a particular industry