I took the ‘Google Project Management’ course online
And why you should too …
I switched from being a developer to a developer agency a few weeks ago. During that period, I found myself juggling multiple projects simultaneously (and failing).
Each new project sparked a fire of excitement, aiming to surpass the last in terms of efficiency and management.
Each project went like this:
The first few weeks were on track, motivations were high, and deadlines were being met.
Until we hit a setback!
Like a cascade of dominos, our project management efforts crumbled in the face of adversity. Suddenly, we found ourselves doing re-works, straying off course, and drowning in unnecessary meetings.
Therefore, I concluded that we needed a Professional Project Manager to handle the situation and (hopefully) save the day.
Agency owners need to know project management despite having hired a project manager
My initial urge to take this course did not stem from the chaotic environment within my agency.
Instead, I enrolled in the course driven by the need to prepare for the upcoming Project Manager’s interview. I will talk about the interviewing experience in this post.
More importantly, like most agency owners, I had experienced the consequences of Management by Abdication — a concept beautifully elaborated in the book The E-Myth Revisited. To avoid falling into this trap again, I realized the importance of having a solid grasp of project management fundamentals before hiring someone else to do it for me.
After all, it’s the owner’s responsibility to oversee both the project manager and the agency as a whole.
How to get enrolled?
Let’s get the technicals out of the way.
The course is available online on the Coursera platform via their Plus membership, priced at around $60 per month. They offer a complimentary one-week trial. There are no prerequisite requirements, making it accessible to everyone interested in enrolling.
Click here to land directly on the course’s page.
What did I learn?
The course consists of 4 modules. They suggest that each module should be studied in one week.
I was able to finish one module in one day.
Module 1: Illustrating how project management principles are directly applicable in real-world scenarios.
Module 2: Covering topics ranging from the core responsibilities of a PM to essential skills and areas for improvement.
Module 3: Exploring various project management methodologies, including waterfall, agile, Six Sigma, and lean project management.
Module 4: Discussing Organizational Culture and Change Management.
This is the first part of 6 courses that lead to the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate.
What to expect?
Although the course is structured for four weeks, it can be completed in a shorter timeframe.
It offers flexibility for different learning speeds and preferences.
The course imparts universally applicable skills and insights. Therefore, Individuals (like me) not currently in project management roles can benefit.
You will be given Regular quizzes to ensure active engagement with the material and reinforce key learning objectives.
Who should get enrolled and why?
Project management is a valuable life skill applicable to diverse personal and professional contexts, making the course relevant to a broad audience.
Students, entrepreneurs, team leaders, and anyone seeking to improve their organizational and management abilities can significantly benefit from the course’s content and practical insights.
The course sheds light on ‘how to do things more systematically’. I believe this is something each of us can benefit from, in our professional as well as personal life.
Here is the certificate
Knowing that a certificate awaits upon completing a course is a real game-changer for me. It is like having a finish line in sight that amps up my motivation to power through.
Being able to easily share the certificate, just like I am doing on this post, adds a whole new level of value.
I hope that by studying this course, I can make both my contractors’ and my project manager’s lives easier.
I am Syeda, the owner of yourdeveloper.io.
Just a month ago, I transitioned from being a freelance developer to running a development agency.
I am documenting my learning journey on Medium.
So feel free to follow me, clap, and leave comments if you enjoy this content.
