Project Management Principles and Practices

Is the Coursera "Project Management Principles and Practices" certification worthwhile?

I am trying to gain a basic understanding of project management. I just don't know if there would be enough benefit to spend $248.

Here is a link to the certification: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management

Coursera has a pretty decent introduction specialization deal for PM.

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management

Coursera has a great Project Management series, it will lead you into the hows/whats/whys of project management. Even as a researcher and scientist, I took a lot of value out of this series. It helped me better understand the diverse needs and requirements of a good project manager. It also helped me implement some of these principles even within my own projects. I did not do the Capstone but for someone in the field it might have a bit of use.

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management#about

Remember, at the end of the day being a successful project manager is about managing needs, managing workloads, managing demands, organizing differing personalities, holding individuals accountable, and keeping things focused on a common goal. A good project manager manages the needs and expectations of the project and all stakeholders (including management). This can sometimes mean they tell management they are unrealistic (often not by saying so, but by indicating what must be sacrificed to meet managements demands), other times it can mean herding a team of diverse personalities to keep them on the task at hand and prevent scope creep. My favorite PM at my current company is phenomenally adept at this role, she's also the head of the PM division for a company of 8000. When you interact with her one on one, she often comes across as very grandmotherly, but she can flip that switch and turn into a pitbull when the situation requires it. She demands accountability, demands workloads are managed appropriately, fights scope creep, and most importantly on teams with many scientists fights what I call the "oh-shiny" aspect. Where someone gives an idea and everyone jumps on board so much that we end up putting all of our eggs in one basket, rather than methodically pursuing multiple ideas and designing experiments to ascertain which one is actually correct. Sorry for the long ramble but this job (and this PM in particular) dramatically changed my views on the value a good PM can bring to the table for a project.

CAPM Study Strategy and Advice on Learning PM

Background: Work in IT but haven't done any PM in an official, structured capacity that anywhere near resembles PMI's methodology.

I originally decided to tackle the CAPM as a quick boost for job search but quickly realized the body of knowledge is wider and my understanding less than first anticipated. Now that I've subscribed to PMI for a year I feel like I need to still power through and get this done but I'm having trouble with a solid strategy for doing so.

Goal: Get my CAPM to help open doors. Not set on PMP at this point but will decide in the coming months/years.

What I've done so far:

A year or so ago I took the intro Coursera PM course but didn't retain much. In the last month I've gotten Joseph Phillip's Udemy course, the PMBOK 6th ed., Project Management for Dummies book, and accessed a few different other intro PM/PMP courses on Lynda.com and PluralSight.

Issue: For whatever reason I'm having a hard time putting it all together given the breadth of content one is required to understand.

Question(s):

• Other threads recommend going through the PMBOK--skimming/browse strategically or reading cover to cover? I don't have a good read on what I should be trying to retain vs. just browsing.
• Rita's book is a top recommendation here but the version covering PMBOK 6th ed isn't out yet--alternatives or just wait?
• Joseph Phillips course (to me at least) assumes a lot of prior knowledge. Given its length are there any recommendations on whether to complete this FIRST or something else?

Thanks for your help!

Great, thanks for answering. I've planned to join this one on Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management. I wonder how much impact that course can cause on my resume. Do you think is worth it in order to get a job as PM?

There you go

Also, keep in mind that Coursera (and probably edX too) offer specialization certificates in project management. If you are unemployed, apply for financial assistance . . . your cost will be exactly $0.

Anyone took any of these courses form Coursera ??

I will be able to take one of these courses from Coursera on a discount, I'm an industrial engineering student and need some feedback if anyone took any of these courses, which one of these courses are beneficial and actually valuable?

1- Key Technologies for business (IBM)

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/key-technologies-for-business?

2- Supply chain management (Rutgers)

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/supply-chain-management

3- Six sigma yellow belt (University system of Georgia)

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/six-sigma-fundamentals

4- Project Management principles and practices (University of California, Irvine)

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management

From all of these supply chain management and yellow six sigma seems the most beneficial in terms of depth of content, the key technologies for business course seems to offer pretty basic knowledge and foundations. Would appreciate the feedback.

There are tons of online Project Management trainings from beginner to advanced. I have used and based on my personal experience (no $ endorsements) recommend the following:

• Joseph Phillips on Udemy: Various levels here. I used "Cram Session" before my PMP
• LinkedIn Learning (subscription required, but can do free trial)
• Project Management Principals and Practices from UCI Division of Continuing Education

Best, Kevin

I was looking at these myself:

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/six-sigma-fundamentals
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/project-management
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/supply-chain-management
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/procurement-sourcing
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/strategic-management-competitive-advantage

Hopefully there is something there that can help?

It's a difficult time, hopefully you will still achieve your goals!