Understand what project management is and how projects differ from ongoing work
Course profile · Project Management
Introduction to Practical Project Management
A free beginner course covering the fundamentals of project management, scope, schedule, risk, and all ten knowledge areas used in professional practice.
Free1h 36m32 lessonsBeginner
Outcome-focused
What You Will Learn in This Practical Project Management Course
Follow the project life cycle from initiation through planning, execution, and closing
Apply scope, schedule, and cost management tools to real project situations
Understand quality management and the key processes used in professional practice
Manage project resources, communications, and procurement
Identify project risks and apply structured risk response strategies
Manage stakeholders with practical tools and clear communication plans
Understand PMI, the PMBOK framework, and the certifications available to project managers
About this course
What This Free Practical Project Management Course Covers
This is a free introduction to project management for people with no prior experience. The course is built around the ten project management knowledge areas used in professional practice and recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). You will cover each area (from scope and schedule to risk, stakeholders, and procurement) with clear explanations and real-world context.
The course is designed for people who are new to project management and want a complete, honest overview of how the discipline works. Rather than going deep into one area, it gives you a clear map of the whole field so you can understand where things connect, how professionals approach projects, and what to study next.
By the end of the course, you will have a working understanding of the core tools and processes used in project management. You will also be familiar with the PMI framework, what the PMP certification involves, and how to continue building on this foundation. This course is free and requires no prior knowledge or software.
Is this for you?
Who this course is for
- Professionals new to project management who want to understand how it works in practice
- People who work alongside project teams and want to contribute and communicate more effectively
- Students or early-career professionals exploring project management as a career path
- Anyone preparing to study for PMP, CAPM, or other project management certifications
Before you start
Requirements
- No prior experience or knowledge required
- No software or tools needed, just an internet connection
Inside the course · 32 lessons
Course outline
Course Overview
The core areas covered and the order they come in
What Is Project Management
What the discipline actually is, stripped of jargon
Projects and Project Managers
How a project differs from ongoing work, and what the PM is accountable for
PMI and the PMBOK
Who sets the standard, what the PMBOK is, and how to use it
Anyone Can Cook
Why project management is a learnable craft rather than a personality type
Phases of a Project
The project life cycle from initiation and planning through execution and closing
Project Genesis
Where projects come from and how they get approved
A Charter and a Sponsor
What a charter authorises, and what a sponsor is actually for
Scope Management
Defining what is in and out, and holding that line
Work Breakdown Structure
Breaking the work down until each piece can be estimated and assigned
Change Management
Handling scope change deliberately instead of absorbing it quietly
Project Schedule Management
Building a schedule you can defend, and keeping it current
Estimating
Producing estimates that are useful, and saying how confident they are
Cost Management Processes
Planning, estimating and controlling what the project spends
Reserves and Budgets
Contingency and management reserve, and who is allowed to spend each
What Is Quality
What quality means on a project, as distinct from grade
Quality Management Processes
Planning quality, assuring it, and controlling it
Asking Why
Root-cause questioning applied to project problems
Lean Six Sigma
Where process improvement meets project delivery
Resource Management
Planning the people and things the project needs
Identifying Resources
Working out what the work actually requires before asking for it
Acquire Resources
Getting the people and equipment assigned to your project
Manage Resources
Keeping a team productive once it is assembled
Controlling Resources
Tracking what is being used against what was planned
Communication Management
Planning who gets what information, when, and how
Risk Management
Setting up a risk process the project will actually use
Identifying and Analyzing Risks
Finding risks, then sizing them by probability and impact
Risk Responses and Monitoring
Choosing a response to each risk and tracking it through delivery
Procurement Management
Buying goods and services, and managing the supplier once you have
Stakeholder Management
Identifying stakeholders and planning how to engage each one
Stakeholder Monitoring
Keeping engagement current as the project and the people change
Conclusion
A short close, and where to go next
Professional development
PDU information
This course lists 1.25 PDU. Review PDU guidance before claiming credit.
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