PROJ 021 - Initiating Projects

Overview

Defining and authorizing a project is a crucial phase in project management as it sets the foundation for the entire project. It requires skill to initiate projects effectively.

In Initiating Projects, you'll learn how to articulate a business case, gain agreement on a high-level plan and properly initiate your project. Based on the latest version of the Project Management Institute's (PMI's) A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide), this SAIT Micro-credential course also examines how different organizational structures impact projects and explains the commonly used project development methods, including predictive, iterative, incremental and agile approaches. 

Through hands-on activities, you'll learn how to write a project charter, perform a stakeholder analysis and create a project communications plan. You'll also explore the concepts of management, leadership and different leadership styles. You'll have access to engaging online content and assessments and the expert guidance of our industry-trained instructors, who will ensure you get the most from this applied learning experience. 

This course is ideal if you:

• are preparing for project management roles or enhancing your skills to align with PMI’s standards and best practices
• are responsible for starting or managing projects and want to ensure proper alignment of business requirements with project goals
• want to pursue PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® or Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification.

Pre-requisites and eligibility

There are no eligibility requirements for this course. Any prior or current education and work experience from any industry or sector will enhance your professional development journey.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

• describe the strategic context of a project and how to align it with the organization’s strategic goals 
• select the solution from a broad range of alternatives that best supports your organization’s strategic goals 
• use essential project analysis tools and techniques to support organizational alignment
• analyze various organizational structures and their influence on the project environment
• choose the project development approach that best supports your project type and organizational needs, ranging from predictive to agile
• initiate your project using a project charter, stakeholder engagement plan and communications plan
• apply the principles of servant leadership to support the project environment. 

To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca. 

Certificates and designations

This course may be used toward educational prerequisites for attaining PMI certifications or professional development units (PDUs) to maintain certifications. Additional education, exams and/or work experience requirements may apply.

This course aligns closely with the business competencies outlined in Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Blue Seal Certificate framework and may support your application. Learn more about earning the Blue Seal using SAIT Continuing Education courses.