Project Management Nanodegree (PMN) Course

Project Management
Nanodegree (PMN)

Become a Certified Professional Project Manager by learning modern and trending techniques in Project Management. Learn practical techniques and tools that will streamline your workflow help you achieve your project goals with hands-on experience.

4.9

100% Live Lectures

1,700+ Students

12 months

Mentor: Dr. Lucy Raymond (PhD)

What you'll learn

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Understand what a project is and how it differs from routine operations
Explore the key characteristics of projects including temporary nature, unique deliverables, and defined objectives
Examine the role of a Project Manager as a planner, communicator, negotiator, and strategic leader
Discover why project management is critical in organizations today across sectors
Learn key foundational concepts such as Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Risk and Stakeholders

MODULE 2: PROJECT MANAGEMENT LIFE CYCLE

Learn about the five universal phases of the project life cycle: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, Closure
Understand the purpose, key activities and deliverables of each phase
Study how information, decisions and risks flow between phases
Analyze how iteration and feedback loops are handled in both traditional and agile life cycles
Examine case examples to see how the project life cycle functions in real-world projects

MODULE 3: PROJECT INITIATION: STARTING PROJECTS RIGHT

Learn how to validate the need for a project through a business case or feasibility study
Draft and interpret a Project Charter including objectives, stakeholders, deliverables and boundaries
Identify internal and external stakeholders and understand how to map their interests and influence
Define project assumptions, dependencies, and initial risks
Learn how to set the foundation for successful stakeholder alignment and project ownership

MODULE 4: ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND SMART GOAL SETTING

Analyze how organizational structures (functional, matrix, projectized) impact project authority and workflows
Study how cultural attributes such as hierarchy, innovation tolerance and team collaboration affect delivery
Align projects with organizational strategy and leadership expectations
Learn to write effective SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound
Design project objectives that tie directly to measurable business value

MODULE 5: AGILE AND SCRUM IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Understand the core values and principles of the Agile Manifesto
Learn how Agile supports flexible, iterative delivery and stakeholder collaboration
Dive into Scrum methodology including roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team) and ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives)
Build and manage product and sprint backlogs
Compare Scrum to other agile frameworks
Learn how Agile is applied in both software and non-software environments

MODULE 6: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Develop a communication strategy that supports visibility, transparency and responsiveness
Identify different stakeholder communication needs based on influence and interest
Master formats for project reports, stand-ups, issue escalations and change notices
Practice verbal, written and visual communication for different audiences (clients, teams, execs)
Explore techniques for managing team conflict and fostering collaboration
Use digital tools to support seamless communication in hybrid and remote teams

MODULE 7: KICKOFF MEETINGS, MILESTONES & WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURES (WBS)

Learn how to conduct a high-impact project kickoff meeting that energizes stakeholders and sets expectations
Break down deliverables into manageable tasks and sub-tasks using the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Define milestones, dependencies, and acceptance criteria for all key activities
Assign roles and responsibilities across team members using RACI charts

MODULE 8: RISK MANAGEMENT

Identify internal and external project risks including technical, resource, legal and market-related threats
Assess risk probability and impact using qualitative and quantitative methods
Build risk-aware schedules and budgets
Learn how to communicate risk transparently without creating panic
Develop escalation protocols and decision frameworks for handling major issues

MODULE 9: COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND DECISION FRAMING

Conduct financial evaluations of projects using ROI
Analyze how to weigh intangible benefits against quantifiable outcomes
Use decision matrices and weighted scoring to support complex trade-offs
Evaluate the long-term value and sustainability of a project proposal
Understand how to defend budget requests with financial logic and business alignment

MODULE 10: BUDGETING AND PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT

Build top-down and bottom-up project budgets
Estimate labor, materials, contingency, overhead and administrative costs
Track actual costs against forecasts using project tracking tools
Learn how to manage vendor relationships and performance

MODULE 11: MASTERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS

This module will equip you with practical skills to use modern collaboration and task management tools effectively in managing real-world projects. This module focuses on two essential tools used across global teams: Slack for communication and Asana for planning and execution.

Sub Module 1: Slack – Communication & Collaboration for Project Teams

Overview of Slack - Understand Slack as a digital workplace for project teams, supporting real-time collaboration, updates, and cross-functional visibility

Setting Up Your Slack Workspace - Learn how to create and organize a workspace for a new project, including custom channels, user roles, and permissions

Channels, Threads and Direct Messaging - Explore how to structure communication using channels for tasks, clients, announcements, retrospectives and technical discussions

Using Threads for Structured Conversations - Practice commenting within threads to keep discussions organized and searchable

Integrating Tools and Bots - Learn how to connect Slack with Asana, Google Drive, Zoom and GitHub for seamless workflow

Setting Up Daily Stand-ups and Team Reminders - Automate daily updates and task prompts using Slackbots and custom reminders

Handling Conflict and Escalations Digitally - Use Slack etiquette for resolving conflicts, tagging the right stakeholders and escalating issues respectfully

Sub Module 2: Asana: Planning, Tracking and Task Execution

Introduction to Asana for Project Management - Understand how Asana enables you to structure and visualize project plans using lists, boards, timelines and calendars

Creating Projects and Milestones - Set up a new project with key milestones, timelines, deliverables and assigned owners

Building Tasks and Subtasks - Learn to break down complex deliverables into manageable, traceable actions

Assigning Owners, Setting Deadlines and Managing Priorities - Use Asana to allocate responsibilities, define task importance and prevent scope creep

Timeline and Gantt View for Strategic Planning - Visualize dependencies and overlaps in a timeline view to optimize planning

Project Dashboards and Reporting - Create visual progress dashboards, status updates and generate project reports for stakeholders

Collaborating with Remote Teams - Track activity logs, update team members and provide real-time task feedback via Asana comments and tags

MODULE 12: LEADING A REAL-WORLD DATA TEAM

Objective: Take full ownership of a cross-functional analytics initiative by managing the end-to-end lifecycle of a real business intelligence delivery task.

With Methodologies taught in Modules 1 - 11, You will:

Collaborate with a data analyst to scope deliverables such as KPIs, metrics, and dashboards
Conduct planning and scheduling for data sourcing, cleaning, EDA and visualization
Manage stakeholder reporting requirements and review cycles
Lead task allocation using Asana and ensure sprint objectives are met
Facilitate final data story presentations and retrospectives
Deliverables include risk log, sprint plan, weekly update memos, and a retrospective report

MODULE 13: LEADING A REAL-WORLD ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT SPRINT TEAMS

Objective: Manage and lead a complex product sprint involving multiple technical professionals working toward a feature release.

With Methodologies taught in Modules 1 - 11, You will:

Oversee the collaboration between frontend engineers, backend developers, product designers, data analysts and cybersecurity professionals
Create a synchronized WBS and Gantt chart that incorporates code reviews, design iterations, testing and security validation
Host kickoff and check-in meetings, resolve blockers, and mitigate delays across disciplines
Coordinate a release checklist, gather user feedback and present the MVP demo
Final output includes Asana project board, stakeholder engagement matrix, risk register and retrospective slide deck

MODULE 14: LEADING A REAL-WORLD ENGINEERING LAUNCH PROJECT

Objective: Drive the end-to-end management of a frontend engineering rollout focused on UI improvements, accessibility and feature enhancements.

With Methodologies taught in Modules 1 - 11, You will:

Plan feature development activities including design-to-code handoffs, QA loops and mobile responsiveness
Coordinate with design, QA and performance optimization teams
Address bug management, Figma feedback loops, user feedback reports
Organize release demos and integrate user feedback into ongoing sprints
Submit milestone timelines, decision logs, feedback analysis, and a release post-mortem

Requirements

This course has no skill prerequisites; however, having a basic familiarity with computer operations is beneficial.

Personal computer—whether it's a Mac, Windows PC, or a Linux machine

A stable internet connection is essential for engaging in virtual classes, downloading required softwares, and for individual practice.

Time

About This Course

Project Management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria. It involves the successful completion of projects, from start to finish, on time and within budget. In today's fast-paced business world, Project Management skills are more important than ever, and can help you stand out in a competitive job market. This course is designed for anyone looking to improve their project management skills, regardless of their experience level. Whether you're a beginner just starting out or an experienced professional looking to hone your skills, our course is the perfect fit.

Throughout the course, you'll learn practical techniques and tools that will streamline your workflow and help you achieve your project goals. You'll receive hands-on experience using popular Project Management software, including Asana and Slack, that will help you become a pro in no time. You'll also learn how to effectively communicate with team members, manage resources, and navigate common Project Management challenges.

By the end of this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge needed to confidently take on any project, big or small. You'll be able to:

• Initiate, plan, execute and close projects that meet specific goals and success criteria.
• Identify and manage project risks, issues and changes.
• Use popular Project Management software including Asana and Slack.
• Communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
• Manage resources, including time, budget and personnels

Instructor

Dr. Lucy Raymond (PhD)

Project Manager

4.9
1,700+ Students

Dr. Lucy, a seasoned mentor equipped with extensive knowledge in the field. Dr. Lucy possesses a wealth of experience and expertise in Project Management, seamlessly blending theoretical principles with practical applications. Her proficiency extends across a spectrum of Project Management software, including popular tools like Slack and Asana, providing a comprehensive understanding of their functionalities.

Project Management
Nanodegree (PMN)