Evidence-Based Project Management

Overview

Project management has emerged as a critical organizational capability in recent years. In parallel with this increased prominence has been the emergence of the “professional project manager,” supported by a sophisticated suite of project management tools and techniques.

Evidence-based project management will evaluate the accumulated data, evidence and research in support of different project management strategies, tools and techniques.

The critical thinking abilities, knowledge and decision-making skills developed in this course are particularly valuable for project managers, emergent leaders, and established managers.

This course is part of the Evidence-Based Management MicroMasters Program.

Syllabus

Week 1: Portfolio, program and project management
Introduction to the key considerations impacting organizations as they manage portfolios, programs and projects.

Week 2: Project benefits and initiation
Introduction to how organizations identify project benefits and translate these into effective initiation strategies.

Week 3: Processes to create project outputs
Introduction to the relationship between different process and project related outputs.

Week 4: Monitoring and control
Introduction to tools for monitoring and controlling project resources.

Week 5: Project performance and evaluation
Introduction of tools for the collection, synthesis and analysis of different project objectives.

Week 6: Contingency and context
Review and reflect on the limitations of different project management strategies in different contexts, and the importance of contingency strategies to limit risk.