Part 1: Project basics

Introduction

This course is the result of a partnership between The Open University (OU) and CrossKnowledge. It blends OU expertise from years of teaching project management and CrossKnowledge's elearning modules in project management.

To view a sample of one of the eLearning modules please click on the link below.

Please make sure that you have turned your sound on. You may also need to turn off your pop-up blocker, because there are some pop-up screens in the elearning modules.

Defining a project and everyone's role in it.

This is one of the four elearning modules contained in the Project basics part of the course which cover the basic principles and terms in project management. The others are:

• Using milestones to conduct a project.
• Splitting up your project.
• Organising a project and negotiating for resources.

When you study the course, you are asked to work through the four modules in turn. The modules use an example of a company moving its factory from one site to another. Even if you work in a different type of organisation delivering different types of services, you can make it work for you if you think laterally and try to relate the example to your context.

When you have worked through these four modules, the course's activities will help you make the connections between your work and your learning. The activities for this part of the course include:

• Key messages.
• Roles and titles in your organisation/experience.
• What makes a project work?
• Cost/benefit relationship

You can view the Key messages activity here as part of the taster material. The other activities associated with this part of the course, and listed above, make use of additional resources including a video interview, project manager's toolkit and related articles which you will be able to access if you register to study for the course.