This course is made up of four modules and is the second in the Google Project Management Certificate program. It focuses on setting your project up for success by guiding you through the first phase of the project life cycle: project initiation. In this course, you’ll explore the critical elements of this phase, learning how to define project goals, deliverables, scope, and success criteria. You’ll also discover how to use tools like stakeholder analysis grids and project charters to establish clear expectations and clarify team roles and responsibilities. Google project managers will provide hands-on instruction, demonstrating practical approaches and the best tools and resources for effective project management.

No prior experience is needed, and by completing this program, you’ll be well-prepared to apply for entry-level project management positions.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the importance of the project initiation phase in the project life cycle.
• Identify and describe the key components of project initiation.
• Evaluate the benefits and costs of a project.
• Define and create measurable project goals and deliverables.
• Establish project scope and distinguish between in-scope and out-of-scope tasks.
• Manage scope creep to prevent it from affecting project goals.
• Define and measure a project’s success criteria.
• Perform a stakeholder analysis and explain its role.
• Use RACI charts to define and communicate team member responsibilities.
• Understand the essential components of a project charter and develop one for project initiation.
• Assess different project management tools to determine which best suits the needs of the project.