Welcome to BUS402: Project Management

Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.

Course Description

Explore the steps and processes businesses follow to complete tasks and meet deadlines by focusing on the role project managers play in initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing projects.

Course Introduction

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (7th Edition) defines a project as 'a temporary endeavor that aims to create a unique product, service or result. The temporary nature of the projects indicates a beginning and end to the project work or phase of the product work. Projects can stand alone or be part of a portfolio or program.' This is different from operations because operations focus on ongoing and repetitive activities that maintain the day-to-day functioning of an organization. A project, however, is temporary, and it aims to achieve specific goals to bring about change or improvements. The discipline of project management has various definitions. Some describe it as a systematic method of planning and guiding a project from start to finish, while others have defined it as a methodical approach to achieving targets and goals while optimizing the use of resources such as people, money, time, and space. Some have referred to project management as the ability to be open and to elicit commitments through effective communication regarding how team members are willing to participate. Project management is therefore accomplished through the appropriate application and integration of systematic and logically grouped project management processes within five process groups: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Good project managers should be able to understand the Talent Triangle, which consists of ways of working, business acumen, and power skills, according to PMI (Project Management Institute). The Talent Triangle addresses the way a project manager gets the work done; power skills address interpersonal skills, such as communication and leadership, while business acumen means understanding the internal and external influences of their business and industry to make good decisions. Project management procedures are integrated into some aspects of most occupations. Today, in addition to their normal duties, employees are often expected to take on additional assignments to get the job done on time and under budget. While we often think of project management in information technology, software development, and construction fields, project management applies to nearly every industry and every field, so developing project management skills can help you be successful in your chosen career. This course will walk you through the nuts and bolts of project management. We will first define project management and address terminology used in project management; then we will address each phase of project management, including how to effectively define a project through a scope statement, how to plan budgets and schedules for a project, how to execute and monitor the project to closing out the project. Are you ready to get started and learn more about project management, its importance, and the skills needed for today's workplace? Let's get started!

This course includes the following units:

Unit 1: Introduction to Project Management. Unit 2: Initiation and Planning Phases. Unit 3: Executing and Monitoring Phases. Unit 4: Closing Phase. Unit 5: People Skills for Successful Project Management

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

[1] define terminology as it relates to projects and project management; [2] describe the elements of process groups and knowledge areas in project management; [3] identify the tasks necessary in each process group, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing; [4] explain the skills and tools needed for effective project management

Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.

Course Materials

This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos.

All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course by clicking on Resources in the navigation bar.

Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score

Only the final examination is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn 70% or higher on the final exam. The exam will be password-protected and requires a proctor.

Your score on the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. There is a 14 days waiting period between each attempt. You may only attempt the final exam a maximum of 3 times. Be sure to study in between each attempt! If you do not pass the exam after 3 attempts, you will not complete this course.

There is also a practice exam that you may take as many times as you want to help you prepare for the final exam. The course also contains end-of-unit assessments in this course. The end-of-unit assessments are designed to help you study and do not factor into your final course grade. You can take these as many times as you want to until you understand the concepts and material covered. You can see all of these assessments by clicking on Quizzes in the course's navigation bar.

Tips for Success

BUS402: Project Management is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take 52 hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.

Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:

  • Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
  • Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.

Technical Requirements

This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.

To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require login.

For additional guidance, check out Saylor Academy's FAQ.

Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App

You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

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Fees

This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and course completion certificate.

Last modified: Thursday, 1 May 2025, 1:56 PM