Overview

Save Big on Coursera Plus. 7,000+ courses at $160 off. Limited Time Only!

Grab it

Strong stakeholder and project management skills enable successful business analysts to bridge communication gaps, manage expectations, and guide initiatives to meet business goals. This course gives existing and aspiring business analysts critical skills for career success. During this course, you’ll look at the fundamental principles of project management and explore techniques for effective stakeholder analysis. You’ll learn about crucial components of project management, including defining project objectives, allocating resources, developing communication strategies, and mitigating risks. Plus, you’ll gain insights from practitioners on industry-fit tools and strategies for managing projects and stakeholders. Through interactive online labs, you’ll gain hands-on experience applying your new skills. You’ll also complete a final project that simulates a real-world scenario, such as relaunching an existing website.   If you’re looking to develop highly sought-after skills that can transform your business analysis career, ENROLL TODAY. Build the skills employers are looking for. No prior business analysis or project management experience is required.

Syllabus

Introduction to Project Management in Business Projects

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to project management, focusing on its core principles, processes, and career opportunities. You will gain insights into the business analysis process and the various functions of project management. Additionally, you will develop a foundational understanding that supports further exploration into more advanced project management topics.

Stakeholder Analysis and Management

In this module, you will explore the critical aspects of stakeholder analysis and engagement in project management. You will learn about the various techniques for identifying stakeholders, creating a stakeholder register, and the tools necessary for effective stakeholder analysis. This module also explores strategies for engaging stakeholders, developing communication plans, and monitoring engagement efforts through practical applications.

Project Planning and Execution for Business Analysts

This module provides a comprehensive overview of project planning and execution. You will explore project lifecycles and the different models, such as adaptative and predictive, and understand their suitability for various project types. Additionally, you will learn about project planning, including scope planning, schedule planning, and resource allocation. You will also learn about the execution phase, focusing on monitoring progress, team collaboration, and evaluating outcomes to ensure project success. You will also have the opportunity to build a traceability matrix, work breakdown structure (WBS), and network diagram and perform a hands-on lab that explores the reasons for the failure of a project.

Communication Strategies

In this module, you will be introduced to the communication methods and strategies that aid effective project management. You will also explore the components of a communications management plan. Additionally, you will learn the need to plan virtual communications effectively. You will also gain insights into status reporting essentials and how various communication styles can impact the quality of communications. Finally, you will create a hands-on lab on status reporting.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

In this module, you will explore defining risk and uncertainty in projects, including differentiating between opportunities and threats. You will learn how to model risk metalanguage to document risks and distinguish between cause, event, and impact. The module also explores the importance of SWOT or strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat analysis and how to develop risk management plans. Finally, you will learn about the challenges in implementing a risk program, along with qualitative risk analysis and risk exposure and score concepts.

Final Project and Course Wrap-Up

In this module, you will apply your project management skills and knowledge to complete a comprehensive, hands-on project. You will create a simulated project management plan for relaunching an existing website, incorporating all the essential elements discussed throughout the course. By completing this project, you will gain practical experience in project planning, stakeholder management, communication, and risk management.