Coursera – Foundations of Project Management

You will learn how the program is structured, what project management is and what a project manager does, how to apply your skills from previous work experience to project management roles, what types of project management roles you could pursue after completing this certificate, and how to search for those positions.

Week1

Practice Quiz: Test your knowledge: Learning about careers in project management

Question 1. When you review a job listing, which section offers the most insight when deciding if the role is well-suited for you?

Answer. Job description

Question 2. Which of the following might be part of a job description for an entry-level project manager role?

Answer. Our North Coast branch needs a new Junior Project Manager who can channel drive and enthusiasm. You’ll be front and center, hands-on, and contributing your creative energy to high-impact projects.

Question 3. Which of the following best exemplifies the progression of a project management career?

Answer. Project manager to program manager to portfolio manager

Question 4. What terms can be helpful to include in your search for project management roles? Select all that apply

Weekly Challenge 1

Question 1 Fill in the blank: In addition to a job title, many companies list project management as a desired _.

Answer skill

Question 2 Which of the following best describes why there is increasing demand for project management roles in today’s job market?

Answer Project management roles are designed to adapt to changes and handle new processes as they come up.

Question 3 Fill in the blank: A/An _ allows you to work for a company on a project-by-project basis but not as a full-time employee.

Answer contract

Question 4 Throughout a project, project managers have to keep project expenses within an expected range. What is this project management responsibility called?

Answer Budgeting and controlling costs

Question 5 Which of the following is a way to define a project? Select all that apply.

Answer A series of tasks that need to be completed to reach a desired outcome, A unique, temporary pursuit that has a defined beginning and end

Question 6 Project managers need to meet each project’s requirements and achieve the desired outcome. To do this, should project managers use the same tools, techniques, and methodologies every day on their projects?

Answer No. Project managers should use varying tools, techniques, and methodologies throughout a project—this is key to supporting and adapting to a project team.

Question 7 Which of the following responsibilities involves overseeing activities that team members do on a daily or weekly basis?

Answer Managing tasks

Question 8 Fill in the blank: Typically, projects have a(n) _ beginning and end.

Answer defined

Question 9 Which of the following tasks or roles could one use to demonstrate project management experience during a job interview? Select all that apply.

Answer Managing a retail store’s inventory changes, Planning a surprise party, Organizing a big move

Question 10 What required skills are typically listed in project management job postings? Select all that apply.

Answer Organizational management, Communication skills, Budget preparation and monitoring

Week 2

Practice Quiz: Test your knowledge: Learning more about project manager roles and responsibilities

Question 1 Fill in the blank: _ is how a project manager makes use of productivity tools and creates processes. The project manager may need to use certain tools and processes to do tasks like create a schedule and share information.

Answer Planning and organizing

Question 2 Fill in the blank: _ is how a project manager has their team complete activities within a set period of time.

Answer Managing tasks

Question 3 Fill in the blank: _ is how a project manager oversees the financial components of a project and mitigates project issues and risks as they come up.

Answer Budgeting and controlling costs

Question 4 Fill in the blank: A cross-functional project team is a team that has _.

Answer diverse skill sets and works toward a common goal

Weekly Challenge 2

Question 1 Suppose that as a project manager, you provide detailed plans and frequent project updates to both the team and stakeholders. What project management value does this represent?

Answer Effective communication

Question 2 As a project manager, you direct the activities your team needs to accomplish within a set period of time. You also control the team’s workload to ensure the activities are getting done on time. Which project management responsibility does this represent?

Answer Managing tasks

Question 3 As a project manager, you choose the best project management methodology for your team and ensure they adhere to it throughout the project. What project management responsibility does this represent?

Answer Help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles.

Question 4 How can a project manager better communicate and clarify goals for a cross-functional team?

Answer Define key items and encourage team members to ask questions.

Question 5 You’re a project manager on a team that is improving a product. When inspecting the project, you discover a defect. What action can you take that will simultaneously communicate and escalate the newly-found problem?

Answer Have a meeting with stakeholders to make them aware of product problems.

Question 6 As a project manager, you learn that the stakeholders are changing the nature of the project and the team’s deliverables will change as a result. You aren’t sure how this will affect the team’s tasks. How will you handle this ambiguity and deliver the news to the team?

Answer Tell them you care about the challenges they are facing and are there to support them

Question 7 Suppose you are trying to figure out how a team member prefers to receive positive recognition. Which interpersonal skill can you use to make this determination?

Answer Understanding motivations

Question 8 As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to break down barriers to help your team succeed. Which of the following would a project manager do to break down barriers?

Answer Provide support for the team as they try new approaches to find solutions.

Question 9 Fill in the blank: In project management, a _ is a person or an organization that defines the project requirements. They also may set important guidelines, such as the budget and deadlines.

Answer customer

Question 10 As a project manager, how can you protect the team from changes to the project? Select all that apply.

Answer -Document initial expectations of the project., Let the stakeholders know how changes impact the budget and schedule., Clearly identify any project changes.

Question 11 To be an effective project manager, what important actions/steps should you take?

Answer Ensure team members understand the team’s objectives and their individual tasks

Week 3

Practice Quiz: Test your knowledge: Understanding the project life cycle

Question 1 What are some potential consequences of rushing through the initiation phase of a project? Select all that apply.

Answer Impact to the timeline, Impact to quality, Impact to the budget

Question 2 Imagine that a project manager has just begun working on a project for a trucking logistics company. The customer wants to see a proposal as soon as possible, but it is taking the project manager longer than expected because he needs more input from stakeholders and the project team. What should the project manager do to turn the project into a success?

Answer Ask the customer for more time to consult with stakeholders and the project team to deliver an accurate cost and timeline proposal.

Question 3 What are the main phases of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.

Answer Initiate the project, Make a plan, Execute and complete tasks, Close the project

Question 4 What are some of the benefits of closing a project? Select all that apply.

Answer Share the team’s accomplishments with people outside the team, Evaluate what worked and what didn’t work, Celebrate the team’s success

Weekly Challenge 3

Question 1 Which of the following are phases of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.

Answer Execute and complete tasks, Initiate the project, Close the project

Question 2 Why is it important to initiate a project (phase one) before making a plan (phase two)?

Answer Because understanding scope, cost, and timeline is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities

Question 3 What is the term for a set of guiding principles and processes for owning a project through its life cycle?

Answer Project management methodology

Question 4 Which project management methodology is organized in sequential phases (including initiating, planning, executing, and closing)?

Answer Waterfall methodology

Question 5 What is the main advantage of the Agile approach over the Waterfall methodology?

Answer Agile takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go.

Question 6 Which project management approach includes the following phases: define, measure, analyze, improve, control.

Answer Lean Six Sigma methodology

Question 7 Fill in the blank: Before moving into the planning phase, a project manager needs to receive _ from the decision maker(s).

Answer project approval

Question 8 Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the closing phase? Select all that apply.

Answer Ensure all tasks are complete, Reflect on lessons learned, Confirm acceptance of the project outcome

Question 9 In which project plan phase does the project manager celebrate successes and release the team to support other projects within the company?

Answer Close the project

Question 10 Which project management approach is an Agile framework that delivers products through an iterative process?

Answer Scrum

Week 4

Practice Quiz: Test your knowledge: Understanding organizational structure

Question 1 Which of the following scenarios best describes a Classic structure?

Answer Imagine you are managing an important project at a company that requires all orders to go through its shipping department. However, your project is on a tight schedule, and the shipping department has a backlog of orders. You decide to meet with your direct manager to ask for approval to place the order through a third-party vendor. Ultimately, your direct manager has to meet with a vice president to get final approval.

Question 2 Why is it important for a project manager in a Matrix organization to clearly define roles and responsibilities? Select all that apply.

Answer Because project managers can have the same level of authority as functional managers, Because employees may report to more than one person and have multiple responsibilities across teams

Question 3 What are some ways that organizational structure can impact the role of a project manager? Select all that apply.

Answer Their level of authority, Their access to resources, Their approach to getting approvals

Question 4 What are some key functions of a Project Management Office (PMO)? Select all that apply.

Answer Strategic planning and governance, Implementing project management best practices, Creating project documentation, archives, and tools

Weekly Challenge 4

Question 1 Define organizational structure.

Answer How a company is arranged, how job tasks are divided and coordinated, and how members of the organization relate to one another

Question 2 Which answer best describes a Classic organizational structure?

Answer It refers to the traditional, top-down reporting structure with a clear chain of command.

Question 3 How does a company’s organizational structure impact project management?

Answer It affects the project manager’s authority and the availability of resources.

Question 4 Define organizational culture.

Answer A company’s shared values, mission, and history

Question 5 Why should project managers learn about organizational culture? Select all that apply.
Answer So they can manage change effectively, So they can demonstrate how a project supports the company’s mission and values, So they can communicate more effectively with teams

Question 6 Which of the following statements is true of the change management process? Select all that apply.

Answer It includes the successful delivery and adoption of a completed project.,
It requires effective communication from the project manager.

Question 7 What tools can a project manager incorporate to assist in project adoption? Select all that apply.

Answer Flowcharts to illustrate the project’s development process, Culture mapping to illustrate how the company’s values, norms, and employees behavior may be affected by the project, Feedback mechanisms, such as surveys, to capture stakeholder input

Question 8 As someone interviewing for a project management role, you ask questions about sick days and vacation, working from home, and if the company supports employees sharing their identity in the workplace. Which part of a company’s culture do these questions help you learn more about?

Answer Policies

Question 9 As a project manager, you want to integrate change management into your project. To prepare for the adoption of your recommended changes and to gather information, you incorporate surveys, flowcharts, and culture mapping. These actions represent which change management best practice?

Answer Use tools

Question 10 Fill in the blank: Project governance covers _.

Answer decisions such as policies, regulations, functions, processes, and procedures