Project Planning

Name: Project Planning
Author: Derrick Walters

Learn how to best plan a project.

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Course: On-Demand

According to the Project Management Institute, a project manager has limited involvement in the project's initiation, but heavy involvement in the planning process and the balance of the project life cycle. Let's go over the project manager's role as well as project scope statements, the work breakdown structure, project cost and budgeting, and look at project scheduling, project quality and stakeholder management from a planning perspective. The project charter has been created. Stakeholders have been identified. The project manager has been assigned. And the project has moved to the planning process group. What is the project manager's role in the project now? It will vary from company to company, and from industry to industry. Generally, the project manager's role involves, assuming a leadership role, influencing and motivating individuals and the project team to achieve a common goal. A project manager's influence also extends to providing direction, performing communication roles, and utilizing soft skills. In addition, a project manager will integrate all the components of the project, for a smooth transition or handoff where needed, in the right order and at the right time. A project manager could use the network diagram to integrate the deliverables in a project. According to the PMI, the top 2% of all project managers distinguish themselves by demonstrating superior relationship and communication skills along with a positive attitude. An example of a positive attitude is being optimistic, encouraging, striving to improve upon a negative report, and always believing that the project team's end result will be a positive or favorable one. This means delivering the project on-time, under-budget and within quality standards. In addition there are competencies that a project manager should achieve and maintain. The PMI represents those competencies by using a Talent Triangle. The Talent Triangle includes the following three items, technical project management, the knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to specific domain of project, program and portfolio management. Leadership, the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to guide, motivate and direct a team to help an organization achieve its business goals. And strategic business management, the knowledge of and expertise in the industry and organization that will enhance performance and deliver business outcomes. Project managers should also be good communicators because approximately 90% of their job involves communication. When dealing with people, it will benefit both parties to be understanding of what workers want and need in the workplace. There are many qualities and skills that make a good leader. An excellent project manager should strive to be a visionary, optimistic and positive, collaborative, good relationship managers, communicative, respectful, a person of integrity, willing to give credit, a life-long learner, a critical thinker, and able to build effective teams. All of these qualities will help project managers successfully lead their teams to a positive result for their project.

Beginner Provider : Derrick Walters 8 Lessons · 39m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

This module explores the different ways that a project manager is involved in a project’s planning process. It covers the manager’s role in planning responsibilities such as creating the scope statement and the work breakdown structure (WBS). It also discusses scheduling and resources, project finances, adhering to quality standards, and engaging the plan’s stakeholders.

What You'll Learn

Understand the project manager's role and responsibilities in the project planning process
Identify the skills and qualities a project manager should have
Create a project scope statement and recognize the "enemies" of project scope
Build a work breakdown structure (WBS) and WBS dictionary
Apply various methods of managing a project schedule and estimating project completion time
Plan project cost and budgeting, quality standards, and stakeholder engagement

Key Takeaways

The project manager is involved in planning responsibilities such as creating the scope statement and the work breakdown structure (WBS).
Effective planning covers scheduling and resources, project finances, and adhering to quality standards.
Recognizing the "enemies" of project scope helps protect a project's defined boundaries.
Engaging the plan's stakeholders is part of the project manager's planning role.
Estimating project factor completion time supports managing the project schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this module cover?

It explores the project manager's role in a project's planning process, including creating the scope statement and work breakdown structure (WBS), scheduling and resources, project finances, adhering to quality standards, and engaging the plan's stakeholders.

What will I learn about the project manager's role?

You will learn the project manager's role in project planning and the skills and qualities a project manager should have.

Does the course address project scope?

Yes. It teaches you to create the project scope statement and to recognize the "enemies" of project scope, and it covers the work breakdown structure and WBS dictionary.

How does the course handle scheduling?

It teaches various methods of managing a project schedule and how to estimate project factor completion time, across two lessons on project scheduling and resources.

What lessons are included?

Lessons include Role of the Project Manager, Project Scope Statement, Work Breakdown Structure and WBS Dictionary, Project Scheduling and Resources (Parts 1 and 2), Project Cost and Budgeting, Project Quality, and Plan Stakeholder Engagement.

Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Project Management Institute (PMI®)

Professional Development Units (PDUs): 0.75

Certification Program Categories:

Ways of WorkingPower SkillsBusiness Acumen

KnowledgeCity has been reviewed and approved by the PMI® Authorized Training Partner Program. Users can maintain your PMI credentials by earning PDUs from KnowledgeCity qualified courses in Project Management, Business Management, Leadership and many others.