Capstone Applying Project Management in the Real World

In this final, capstone course of the Google Project Management Certificate, you will practice applying the project management knowledge and skills you have learned so far. We encourage learners to complete Courses 1-5 before beginning the final course, as they provide the foundation necessary to complete the activities in this course. As you progress through this course, you will “observe” a project manager in a real-world scenario and complete dozens of hands-on activities. You will:

• analyze project documents to identify project requirements and evaluate stakeholders
• complete a project charter and use it as a tool to align project scope and goals among stakeholders
• identify tasks and milestones and document and prioritize them in a project plan
• define quality management standards and explore how to effectively share qualitative data
• demonstrate your project’s impact through effective reporting

By the end of this course, you will have developed a portfolio of project management artifacts that will demonstrate the skills you have learned throughout the entire program, such as your ability to manage stakeholders and teams, organize plans, and communicate project details. These artifacts can exhibit your career readiness when applying for jobs in the field. To further prepare you to interview for project management jobs, you will reflect on past projects, develop an “elevator pitch,” and anticipate common interview questions. Current Google project managers will continue to instruct and provide you with the strategies, tools, and resources to meet your goals.

After completing this program, you should be equipped to apply for introductory-level jobs as a project manager. You will also have the opportunity to claim a certification of completion badge that will be recognizable to employers.

• Complete a project charter, filling out key information including a project summary, SMART goals, scope, benefits, and costs.

• Examine project documentation and conduct research to identify tasks for a project and organize those project tasks and milestones in a project plan.

• Determine quality standards and evaluate against those standards to ensure that the project is achieving the required level of quality.

• Develop effective stakeholder reports by applying storytelling strategies to describe data.

Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Initiating a project
Week 2
Building out a project plan
Week 3
Maintaining quality
Week 4
Effective stakeholder communication

FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Certificate?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

What is a project manager?

A project manager is someone who helps manage projects for organizations in an orderly and  efficient fashion. Project managers oversee plans, budgets, and resources, and they use data to make well-informed decisions. Companies rely on project managers to build workflow processes, launch new projects, and deliver cost savings.

Why start a career in project management?

Project managers are in high demand. In fact, a study by the Project Management Institute found that, by the year 2027, employers will need 87.7 million people to fill project management-related roles. As the workplace continues to grow and evolve, project managers serve as a pivotal piece of an organization’s ability to adapt and remain agile.

Project managers are natural problem-solvers. In addition to setting the plan and guiding teammates through the project, they are tasked with managing changes and risks. Each day is dynamic and different for a project manager because they are at the center of the project, building relationships, prioritizing tasks, and delivering results! Using various tools and templates, as well as a unique skill set, the project manager brings order to chaos.

Which jobs will this certificate help me prepare for?

One of the most exciting parts about joining the field of project management is the large number of job opportunities available. In fact, the Project Management Institute estimates that employers will need to fill nearly 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027. 

The Google Project Management Certificate helps you develop essential project management skill sets and business acumen. By learning and practicing the project management approaches included in this program, you’ll prepare yourself for introductory-level project manager roles across a variety of industries. Some common titles include Program Manager, Junior Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Scrum Master, and more. Project management is a skill that lends itself to many different types of roles in numerous industries with many opportunities for career growth. 

What tools and platforms are taught in the curriculum?

Spreadsheets (e.g., Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, etc.), word processing applications (e.g., Google Docs, Microsoft Word, etc.), and presentation applications (e.g., Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.) will be used. Additionally, learners will have the option to use Asana and to learn about other common work management tools.

Do I need to take the course in a certain order?

We highly recommend completing the courses in the order presented because the content in each course builds on information from earlier lessons. This is the sixth and final course in the Google Project Management Certificate.

Will completing this certificate help prepare me for Project Management Institute certifications?

Google is an approved member of the Project Management Institute’s Authorized Training Partner Program, which ensures practitioners have access to consistent and high-quality training experiences. Those who complete the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that apply directly to requirements for globally-recognized PMI credentials, like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification.

Reviews

The applied concepts, techniques and hands-on experience I gained are so spectacular! But I found it slightly hard to go through all of these reading materials to complete the required assignments.

This is very nice course. It not only helped me in learning project management skill but gave me platform to put to use knowledge I gained during the entire course. Thanks Google and Coursera

very comprehensive course with a lot of hands on and assignment to do. I could rate it 5 if the assignment graded by instructors but it get graded by other fellow learner who use wide range metric.

I have never been fond of online education programs before, usually they are mediocre at best. This was different, and far better, very flexible as well which for me was very important.