This is the final course in the certificate program, enabling students to apply what they’ve learned from previously completed project-management courses by developing a simulated yet realistic team project. Students will be provided with project management tools to facilitate the development of their projects. Emphasis will be placed on the practical application of project management principles, processes, and techniques, including project scope, schedule, cost, project control, tracking, and the build/buy/outsourcing approaches.
Students will also learn how to control project schedules, budgets, and scope, using methods that minimize or eliminate “scope creep.” Techniques such as fast-tracking, critical-path crashing, stochastic estimating, and exploiting activity lead-lag times will enable students to develop fast, accurate project schedules. In-class exercises and case studies equip students with skills they can apply immediately to their own projects.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to:
- Work in a self-organizing agile team to iteratively develop and deliver complex products.
- Define the project scope and deliverables with clear traceability to requirements.
- Define a delivery release plan using a phased-gate Work Breakdown Structure.
- Construct and use scheduling network diagrams to plan project schedules.
- Develop project schedules using critical path and critical chain processes.
- Determine the most cost-effective schedule compression techniques.
- Apply techniques for identifying and quantifying project trisks, threats, and opportunities.
- Identify and develop cost-effective risk responses.
- Apply detailed project cost analysis and future value cash flow projections.
- Monitor and control projects using the Earned Schedule management process.
- Understand how to identify and outsource portions of your project effectively.
Topics Include
- Project portfolio management techniques.
- How to estimate project costs and forecast investment returns.
- How to apply cybernetic-control techniques to schedules and budgets.
- How to use earned-value management (EVM) to track and control projects.
- How to fast-track and crash the project’s critical path.
- How to use stochastic techniques to ensure accurate project schedules.
- How to apply project management principles in a simulated team project.
Venue
This course is currently being offered at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension.
