THE PROJECT

MANAGEMENT:
LEADING
ORGANIZATIONS TO

MIT
SUCCESS
Gain an extensive
understanding of all phases of
project organization while you

WAY
learn to strategize by using
information to your advantage
in this 8-week online course.

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 1

 THE MIT WAY
Leverage your management abilities and take your
organization’s projects to the next level.

Project leaders are responsible for the planning,

execution, monitoring, control, and success of entire
projects. They need to be true leaders, motivators and
organizers keeping all timelines, dependencies, and
responsibilities on track. Modern theories of project
management are changing as are the industries that use
them. This course presents an integrated framework for
setting up organizations and projects for success, while
setting realistic expectations and commitments.

Throughout the project lifecycle, project managers

need to process large amounts of information. Project
management is rooted in gathering and organizing
information. From collecting project requirements and
setting up a team to tracking the progress of the project
and reporting it’s financial status and value delivered,
this process can easily become overwhelming.

In this novel course backed by the reputation of MIT, one

of the world’s leading research institutions, participants
will gain the ability to design and manage complex
technology projects in a holistic way. The fundamental
project management skills acquired will make them
more effective project leaders​.

THIS COURSE IS AIMED AT

Team leaders Middle and senior-level

Senior executives who are
across industries managers who want
looking to adapt project
who are looking to to acquire practical,
organizations at the
develop their project readily applicable
forefront of a continously
management abilities project management
evolving business and
as part of a larger tools and ability to setup
technology environment.
management team. successful teams.

Although having prior project management experience is

advisable, there are no prerequisites for this program.

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 2

 THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Pr oject
Project Project
Preparing
Planning Monitoring
Pr oject
Control

Enterprise has
chosen what endeavor
to undertake Project
Adapting

Project
Completion
Organizational
Next Learning
Pr oject
Pr oject
START Learning

Project Preparing: After deciding on a project, the next thing you

need to do is prepare it by talking to stakeholders, seeking necessary
funding, getting people excited about the project, and making sure that
the expectations are realistic and feasible.

Project Control: After that, you will enter the project planning phase,
which takes up most of your time and result in the project kickoff. You
will monitor the project as it progresses and make necessary changes,
and adaptations, to schedule, scope, and cost.

Project Completion: Finally, you will complete the project, at which

point you should make sure to learn from it and infuse that new
knowledge into the next one.

Organizational Learning: The best organizations have a great handle on

the inner and outer loop of the project management framework in order
to keep improving and making each project better than the last one.

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 3

 LEARN ABOUT RECENT AND HISTORIC PROJECTS

In this online course you will be introduced to different case studies of both
successful and unsuccessful projects that have had a lasting impact on society.
These case studies come from different domains where projects are critical for
success.

Aerospace Infrastructure

Airbus Projects Copenhagen Climate Plan

Consumer Products Software

GLAD, The Force Flex Program Jibo, Social Robot

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 4

 Duration Commitment Format CEU

8 weeks 6-8 hours/ Online 4,8

week

THROUGHOUT THIS COURSE, YOU WILL:

Gain a deeper understanding of the various phases of project management
and organizational issues while maintaining a comprehensive overview of
the project life cycle in context as you explore:

√ Initial project strategy and conception: choosing the right

projects for positive impact, defining strategy, and managing
the project setup phase.

√ Project planning: developing a practical, executable plan

by scheduling and deconstructing the project into carefully
analyzed work packages and tasks.

√ Project execution: ensuring the project is carried out

according to planning strategy, building the right team, and
keeping to schedule and budget.

√ Risk management: dealing with unexpected opportunities

and risk, adapting the project, preparing a “plan B” and
mitigation strategies, and allowing for margins in both time
and resources.

√ Project conclusion: leveraging post-project assessment

and organizational learning to adjust and reuse project
management strategies in future projects.

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 5

 PROGRAM OUTLINE

This course will take you through the different steps of the project management framework. In
each module, you will learn more about critical elements in project management covering diverse
methods and tools. These methods are taught in an integrated and holistic way.

WBS OBS
People

Planning

Task List Budgeting

Sc ope
Meta Cost
CPM DSM Tasks

Schedu le EVM
Critical Chain
PERT Monitoring Value

Project Risk
Simulation Management

Adapting

WBS = Work Breakdown Structure DSM = Dependency Structure Matrix

CPM = Critical Path Method OBS = Organizational Breakdown Structure
PERT = Program Evaluation and Review Technique EVM = Earned Value Management

MODULE 1 INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Key Project Management acronyms and concepts

• Project scope
• Defining the scope of a project
• Conducting project research
• Fact-finding
• The human aspect: Stakeholders (internal and external)
• Project Simulation
• Case study

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 6

 PROJECT BIRTH: CORPORATE
MODULE 2
FINANCE AND PORTFOLIOS

• Strategic planning and how projects are born

• Financial discussion: Net Present Value (NPV) analysis for
organizations
• Program versus project management
• Positive and negative examples
• Stakeholders (internal and external)

SCHEDULING: GANTT CHARTS AND

MODULE 3
THE CRITICAL PATH METHOD

• WBS (The Word Breakdown Structure)

• Mind mapping
• Iron Triangle, PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique),
OBS (Organizational Breakdown Structure), EVM (Earned Value
Management)
• Gantt charts
• CPM (Critical Path Method)/Critical Path Identification
• Critical Chain Method
• Examining Parallel and Sequential Task Dependencies
• Total slack and free slack
• Project crashing (accelerating projects from their optimal pace)

MODULE 4 ITERATIONS AND REWORK

• The Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM)

• Sequential and Parallel Iteration Models
• Process Analysis and Redesign
• Establishing metatasks
• Project and Rework simulation

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 7

 MODULE 5 AGILE PROJECTS AND SOFTWARE

• Project dynamics
• The rework cycle
• Cause-effect relationships
• Productivity and quality
• Case study
• Explanation of Scrum, Sprints, Scalable, and Agile

PROJECT FINANCE - BUDGETING

MODULE 6
AND EARNED VALUE MANAGEMENT

• Proper Project Budgeting Process

• Cost, time, and progress monitoring
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Role of the Management Reserve
• Case study

RISK MANAGEMENT
MODULE 7
AND UNCERTAINTY

• Identifying, tracking, and mitigating risks, sources of uncertainty

• Risk Matrix and Risk Register
• Rescuing failing projects
• Case study

HUMAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL

MODULE 8
ASPECTS OF PROJECTS

• Requirements and capabilities of successful project managers

• Leadership styles
• Personality tests and profiles
• MBTI test
• Project Organizations and impact of corporate culture and
incentive structures
• Talent Pipeline: selection, training, and assignment of project
leaders

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 8

 WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT LEADER ARE YOU?

Autocracy (N)

Tell
Instruct
Dictate
EXPLORER DRIVER
IMAGINATIVE ASSERTIVE
(B-M 9,9) Directive (B-M 9,1)

Focus

Thoughtful Fr ank
Inward- Outgoing
looking (I)
Knowledgeable Problem VERSUS People Demostrative
Analytical Outspoken (E)

Receptive
COORDINATOR ADMINISTRATOR
CATALYST PROFESSIONAL
(B-M 5,5) (B-M 1,9)
Approach

Ask
Seek
Consent

Adhocracy (S) Notes: “Adhocracy” describes a loose, flexible,

exploratory project environment. The bracketed
words refer to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Grid.
“B-M” refers to the Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid
descriptions.

“Focus reflects the choice between “Problem” versus “People”, while Approach reflects the choice between
being “Receptive” versus “Directive. Adapted from “Dominant Personality Traits Suited to Running Projects
Successfully (And What Type are You?), by R. Max Wideman

Explorer
Coordinator
• Bold vision for the future, constant search
• Works as a facilitator, responsive to views of
of opportunities
team members​
• Exudes confidence and charisma, good
• Good at conflict resolution, humble, sensitive
networking
• Derives power from persuasion of others​
• Little time for day-to-day issues

Driver Administrator
• Distinctly action oriented, focus on project • Optimizes productivity through repetition,
mission data-driven​
• Pragmatic, realistic, resourceful, resolute, • Derives power from intellectual logic,
uses authority organizational prowess​

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022 9

MIT xPRO AND GLOBAL ALUMNI: Continuing education
programs for professionals around the world
About MIT and MIT xPRO
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, more
commonly referred to as MIT, is a private American
university founded in 1861. The Intitute’s faculty has
included 97 Nobel Prize laureates, 58 National Medal of
Science winners, 58 Rhodes Scholars, and 45 MacArthur
Fellows.
MIT xPRO offers online continuing education courses
for professionals at all levels from the fields of science,
engineering, and technology. All courses are led and
supervised by MIT faculty.
USA +1 617 778 2938 | Spain +34 679 492 128
globalalumni@xpro.mit.edu
More Information
Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022
Collaboration with Global Alumni
Our collaboration with Global Alumni has driven the
launch of MIT xPRO in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
This EdTech is dedicated to expanding access to the
knowledge of the world’s top universities, helping break
down both geographical and language barriers.
Their focus on innovation, technology, and user
experience, along with their extensive understanding
of our goals as an institution, ensure that the quality
of our teaching is upheld as we expand our offering to
professionals around the globe.
This collaboration offers these professionals the
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in their own language.
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