Project Management Fundamentals
Overview
Build a strong foundation in project management with practical tools and techniques you can use in any industry. This course is ideal for beginners, new team leaders, coordinators, administrators, and anyone involved in managing tasks, teams, or timelines.
Project Management Fundamentals introduces you to the key principles, processes, and skills needed to plan, execute, and complete projects successfully. Whether you’re leading a small internal project or supporting a larger initiative, this course will help you stay organised, focused, and in control.
You will learn how to:
Plan and organise simple projects with confidence
Break down tasks, assign roles, and set realistic deadlines
Monitor progress and adjust plans as needed
Communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders
Close projects professionally and review performance
This course gives you the essential knowledge to start managing projects efficiently, helping your work stay on track, on time, and within budget.
Description
The person credited with this unit standard can begin operating in a project environment by understanding the terminology and interpreting and explaining fundamental project management concepts. This standard will also add value to learners who are running their businesses and recognise that project management forms an integral component of any business. The qualifying learner can explain the nature of a project, the nature and application of project management, the types of structures found in a project environment, the application of organisation structures in a project environment, and the major processes and activities required to manage a project.
Course Content
Unit 1: Explain the nature of a project
- The characteristics of a project are explained with examples
- The characteristics of a project are explained with examples
- A basic project life cycle is explained with examples of possible phases
- The reasons for undertaking projects are explained with practical examples
- A range of types of projects and their complexity are explained in simple terms
Unit 2: Explain the nature and application of project management
- Project management is defined and its application is explained according to recognised published standards
- The major project management processes are described and explained according to recognised best practice
- The differences between project management and general management are explained with examples of each
- The differences between project management and general management are explained with examples of each
- The difference between a project team member and the project manager is explained in accordance with role descriptions
Unit 3: Explain the types of structures that are found in a project environment
- The reasons for defining structures for a project is explained with examples
- The concept of programme and project hierarchies is explained with an example
- The purpose of decomposing a project into manageable components or parts is explained with practical examples
- The concepts of breakdown structures for product, work and cost are explained in simple terms
Unit 4: Explain the application of organisation structures in a project environment
- The basic differences between a matrix and functional organisation structure are explained with examples of each
- The project organisation structure is described and explained in a written format
- The purpose and key responsibilities of two roles on a project are described in a written format
- Stakeholders are explained with examples of at least six different stakeholders
Unit 5: Explain the major processes and activities required to manage a project
- Key processes and activities that take place to manage a project are described from beginning to end
- The supplementary management sub-processes and activities required to support the key processes and activities are briefly described with examples of each
- The reasons for planning and controlling a project are explained with examples of the consequences of not planning and controlling
Accreditation
- Non-accredited: Short course only
- Duration: 1h 30m
- Delivery: Classroom/Online/Blended
- Access Period: 12 Months
