Project Management Full Course Notes

Overview

• Introduction to project management.
• Topics include:
  • What project management is.
  • Project planning using Excel.
  • Cost, quality, communication, and other forms of management.
  • Best project management tools.
  • Preparation for the PMP exam.
  • Role of a project manager and interview questions.

What is Project Management?

• Defined by PMI as the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.
• Objectives: Deliverables within a finite time and budget.
• Key aspects:
  • Resource management (human, technical, financial).
  • Managing six constraints: scope, time, quality, cost, risk, and resources.

Project Components

• Definition of Project:
  • Temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result.
  • Has a definite beginning and end.

Key Terms

• Project Life Cycle:
  • Five phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Closure.
  • Importance of understanding project scope, timelines, and deliverables.

Project Management Knowledge Areas

1. Integration Management
2. Scope Management
3. Schedule Management
4. Cost Management
5. Quality Management
6. Resource Management
7. Communication Management
8. Risk Management
9. Procurement Management
10. Stakeholder Management

Project Management Processes

• Initiating Process Group:

  • Develop project charter.
  • Identify stakeholders.

• Planning Process Group:

  • 24 processes including scope, schedule, and cost management.

• Executing Process Group:

  • Direct and manage project work.
  • Manage project knowledge.

• Monitoring and Controlling Process Group:

  • Monitor and control project work.
  • Perform integrated change control.

• Closing Process Group:

  • Close project or phase.

Key Skills for Project Managers

• Strong communication.
• Effective leadership.
• Team management skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Critical thinking.
• Risk management.

Tools and Techniques

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):
  • Hierarchical decomposition of deliverables.
• Gantt Charts:
  • Visual representation of project tasks over time.
• Critical Path Method (CPM):
  • Method for determining the longest stretch of dependent tasks.

Risk Management

• Risk register: Document risks and responses.
• Types of risks include scope, resource, schedule, and cost risks.

Agile Project Management

• Flexible approach focusing on iterative development.
• Steps include:
  1. Project planning.
  2. Roadmap creation.
  3. Release planning.
  4. Sprint planning.
  5. Daily meetings.
  6. Sprint review and retrospective.

PMP Certification

• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Secondary degree with 7500 hours leading projects or a four-year degree with 4500 hours leading projects and 35 hours of project management education.
• Exam Pattern:
  • 200 questions, 4 hours, various question types.
• Cost:
  • $555 for non-members, $405 for PMI members.
• Validity:
  • Certification is valid for three years, requires 60 PDUs for renewal.

Conclusion

• Importance of project management tools.
• Continual skill development in project management for successful project delivery.
• Emphasis on effective communication and stakeholder management to ensure project success.