Business Fundamentals: Project Management Course - The Open University

Discover project management skills, such as the Gantt chart, that will help you learn to manage a project life cycle effectively.

Learn how to visualise, plan, manage and evaluate projects successfully

Whatever the type or scale of your project, delivering great results, on time and budget, is always challenging. You’ll need to understand the full project life cycle, from planning and execution to closure.

On this project management course, you’ll discover the skills and processes to support successful project management. You’ll explore key project management tools, like the Gantt chart, and how to use them effectively.

You will also gain confidence with the project management software in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as cloud-based project management tools.

What topics will you cover?

• Project management definition.
• Project lifecycle.
• Initiation phase: scope and objectives definition, project stakeholders analysis.
• Planning phase: Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt diagram, project budget, project team creation, project risk assessment, the Critical Path Method.
• Execution phase: kick-off meeting, project monitoring and control, project team meetings, earned value analysis, project team motivation, evaluation and incentives.
• Closure phase: project review and learning from closed projects.

Who is this accredited by?

EOCCS: This course is accredited by EOCCS, the first international quality benchmark for online courses in business and management education.

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.

• Date to be announced

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:

• Describe the main aspects of each phase of the project lifecycle.
• Identify models and templates to assist project management.
• Apply principles and techniques of effective project management.
• Develop time management, prioritisation, communication, and team management skills.

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at those already or likely to be involved in projects whether professional or personal. It assumes no prior project management or business knowledge, though an interest in the topic would be beneficial.

Whether you’re at the start of your career and need an introduction to the subject, or you’ve been managing projects for years and are seeking to reflect on your experiences, you will get a lot out of this formal, yet practice-oriented, learning experience.

For further information about registration, the final assessment course, your eligibility and the BA in Business Management, visit the Open University website.

This course is supported by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession. APM is committed to developing and promoting project and programme management through its FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism.

Who will you learn with?

Giacomo Carli

Giacomo is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management at The Open University Business School. He holds work experience in project management both in consulting companies and in EU research projects.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

The Open University (OU) is the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible distance learning, with a mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas.

The Open University Business School

A pioneer in flexible learning for over 30 years, The Open University Business School delivers transformational, high-quality business and management education which is quality assured.