capstone project for project management

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Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World

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About this Course

In this final, capstone course of the Google Project Management Certificate, you will practice applying the project management knowledge and skills you have learned so far. We encourage learners to complete Courses 1-5 before beginning the final course, as they provide the foundation necessary to complete the activities in this course.

As you progress through this course, you will “observe” a project manager in a real-world scenario and complete dozens of hands-on activities. You will: - analyze project documents to identify project requirements and evaluate stakeholders - complete a project charter and use it as a tool to align project scope and goals among stakeholders - identify tasks and milestones and document and prioritize them in a project plan - define quality management standards and explore how to effectively share qualitative data - demonstrate your project’s impact through effective reporting By the end of this course, you will have developed a portfolio of project management artifacts that will demonstrate the skills you have learned throughout the entire program, such as your ability to manage stakeholders and teams, organize plans, and communicate project details. These artifacts can exhibit your career readiness when applying for jobs in the field. To further prepare you to interview for project management jobs, you will reflect on past projects, develop an “elevator pitch,” and anticipate common interview questions. Current Google project managers will continue to instruct and provide you with the strategies, tools, and resources to meet your goals. After completing this program, you should be equipped to apply for introductory-level jobs as a project manager. You will also have the opportunity to claim a certification of completion badge that will be recognizable to employers.

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What you will learn

Complete a project charter, filling out key information including a project summary, SMART goals, scope, benefits, and costs.

Examine project documentation and conduct research to identify tasks for a project and organize those project tasks and milestones in a project plan.

Determine quality standards and evaluate against those standards to ensure that the project is achieving the required level of quality.

Develop effective stakeholder reports by applying storytelling strategies to describe data.

Skills you will gain

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Initiating a project.

You will learn to analyze project documents and supporting materials to identify project requirements, evaluate stakeholders, and problem-solve. You’ll complete a project charter and use it as a tool to align project scope and goals among stakeholders. You will also add specificity to project goals to make them SMART and apply effective negotiation skills with stakeholders to prioritize project goals.

Building out a project plan

You will examine project documentation, conduct online research, and analyze key conversations to identify tasks and milestones and then document and prioritize them in a project plan. You will also demonstrate effective communication techniques for making accurate time estimates for project tasks.

Maintaining quality

You will learn to define and describe quality management standards and evaluate against those standards to ensure that the project is achieving the required level of quality. You will distinguish evaluation questions from survey questions and recognize how to effectively share qualitative data. You will also learn strategies to facilitate a productive retrospective by encouraging participation, accountability, and positivity.

Effective stakeholder communication

You will learn to communicate and escalate project problems to stakeholders and to demonstrate your impact through effective reporting strategies. Additionally, you will prepare for job interviews in the field by reflecting on past projects, developing an “elevator pitch,” and anticipating common questions.

TOP REVIEWS FROM CAPSTONE: APPLYING PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN THE REAL WORLD

The course is fine, but allowing other students to purpossly give zero point to others grade, which isdelaying people from getting there certificate and have to keep on resubmitting.

I found this course to be excellent, very comprehensive.

As part of the overall program there is, however a fair amount of overlap with the other courses, and could have been shorter.

This is very nice course. It not only helped me in learning project management skill but gave me platform to put to use knowledge I gained during the entire course. Thanks Google and Coursera

Great course! I learned so much from this course. It does take discipline to complete the course, however, it's a good one to have, even if you don't end up working as a Project Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Certificate?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

What is a project manager?

A project manager is someone who helps manage projects for organizations in an orderly and efficient fashion. Project managers oversee plans, budgets, and resources, and they use data to make well-informed decisions. Companies rely on project managers to build workflow processes, launch new projects, and deliver cost savings.

Why start a career in project management?

Project managers are in high demand. In fact, a study by the Project Management Institute found that, by the year 2027, employers will need 87.7 million people to fill project management-related roles. As the workplace continues to grow and evolve, project managers serve as a pivotal piece of an organization’s ability to adapt and remain agile.

Project managers are natural problem-solvers. In addition to setting the plan and guiding teammates through the project, they are tasked with managing changes and risks. Each day is dynamic and different for a project manager because they are at the center of the project, building relationships, prioritizing tasks, and delivering results! Using various tools and templates, as well as a unique skill set, the project manager brings order to chaos.

Which jobs will this certificate help me prepare for?

One of the most exciting parts about joining the field of project management is the large number of job opportunities available. In fact, the Project Management Institute estimates that employers will need to fill nearly 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027.

The Google Project Management Certificate helps you develop essential project management skill sets and business acumen. By learning and practicing the project management approaches included in this program, you’ll prepare yourself for introductory-level project manager roles across a variety of industries. Some common titles include Program Manager, Junior Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Scrum Master, and more. Project management is a skill that lends itself to many different types of roles in numerous industries with many opportunities for career growth.

What tools and platforms are taught in the curriculum?

Spreadsheets (e.g., Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, etc.), word processing applications (e.g., Google Docs, Microsoft Word, etc.), and presentation applications (e.g., Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.) will be used. Additionally, learners will have the option to use Asana and to learn about other common work management tools.

Do I need to take the course in a certain order?

We highly recommend completing the courses in the order presented because the content in each course builds on information from earlier lessons. This is the sixth and final course in the Google Project Management Certificate.

Will completing this certificate help prepare me for Project Management Institute certifications?

Google is an approved member of the Project Management Institute’s Authorized Training Partner Program, which ensures practitioners have access to consistent and high-quality training experiences. Those who complete the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that apply directly to requirements for globally-recognized PMI credentials, like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification .

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center .

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5 Topics for Master’s in Project Management Capstone Project

5 final project ideas for a master's in project management.

Most colleges and universities require their students to complete a comprehensive project before graduation, and students generally begin brainstorming possible capstone topics for their Master's in Project Management at the beginning of their second year. This project often takes two semesters to complete and demonstrates a student's mastery of a particular subject matter, like project management. The end product consists of a research paper, as well as a presentation illustrating how the concepts they learned can be applied to the real world. Some examples for a graduate-level project management capstone include the following.

Related Resource: 10 Most Affordable Master's in Project Management Online

1. Board Game Development

Many careers in project management involve creating a new product or product line for a company, so studying this process provides a student with relevant experience during a job search. For this project, the student would need to first identify the different team members necessary including a game engineer to plan the concept and rules, a designer, someone to determine necessary materials and how to actually manufacture the product, and a marketing team. It is also necessary to have enough people test the game to ensure that the product would be successful on the market.

2. Community Garden Planning

There are many complex parts involved in planning a community garden from determining an appropriate location and calculating overhead costs to the business-oriented aspects like determining how much to charge and writing rules governing the space. Students would also need experts in agriculture and land management as well as a lawyer to handle contracts and ensure necessary regulations are being followed. On top of that, the student needs a team responsible for recruiting and retaining gardeners. This project demonstrates a desire to improve one's community.

3. Test Preparation Website

This idea for Master's in Project Management students is another product development-based project except that it is more of a service instead of physical item. Students would gain experience working with creative and design team members, as well as technical web developers, and would learn how to create a workable plan on both levels. Plus, this project also involves dealing with administrative tasks like securing a web host and domain name. For students interested in the IT industry, this venture would be relevant in job interviews after graduation.

4. Free Clinic Process Evaluation

While not everyone has a free clinic near them, this suggestion for a master's level final project can also work with other nonprofit volunteer-led organizations. This project demonstrates a student's ability to objectively evaluate current processes and form a team with the appropriate experts to design a more efficient system and implement changes to procedures. For students looking to work as an independent consultant or in healthcare, this project will provide the real-life experience needed.

5. Project Management in Political Campaigns

According to the Project Management Institute , this is a new industry that is increasingly seeking out project managers. Students interested in this final project could study local or national elections and primaries. While there have always been campaign managers, using project management principles in this field is a newer idea.

Most graduate programs require a final project that enables a student to demonstrate their understanding of the field and get some hands-on experience. In choosing a topic for a Master's in Project Management capstone project, most students pick something that is relevant to their future career goals.

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Based in Nova Scotia, Canada, Capstone delivers exceptional value to our clients, offering “big firm” services and knowledge with a “small firm” client-centric approach. We offer flexible team options with a personalized focus on your specific goals and objectives.

We make each relationship a true partnership by working collaboratively, as an extension of your organization, assembling the right experts to integrate with your corporate culture and precisely identify your critical issues, challenges, and needs. We provide custom recommendations and solutions that are right for you – because your success is our success. As a transformational service firm, we are proud of the diverse clients we serve and the top tier projects we produce.

We work around the world from boardrooms to backyards. No business is too big or too small. We provide portfolio, program and project leadership for private business, not-for-profit groups, and government departments over multiple industry sectors including Health, IT, Telephony, GIS, Construction, Oil and Gas, Higher Education.

At Capstone we believe in and support a diversified workforce. We work with our industry partners and experts, and consider your whole business while we deliver on your projects, programs and business growth engagements.

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What is a capstone project? And why is it important?

What is a capstone project? And why is it important?

Sponsored by York University

What is a capstone project?

The capstone project has become an integral part of the university degree curriculum. It can take many various forms, but its purpose remains the same. The capstone project is a unique opportunity to carry out independent group research in order to devise an innovative solution for a real-world problem. While a project of this scope and scale can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding.

The capstone project is usually the final assignment and plays a vital role in preparing students for the world of work thanks to its practical applications and ability to help hone students’ professional knowledge and skills.

At York University in Toronto, Canada, things are a little different. In 2019, the university revised the traditional capstone project and created C4: Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom . While it still possesses the fundamentals of the traditional capstone project, C4 is a new, year-long initiative that brings students together from various degree programmes to work in interdisciplinary teams with faculty and project partners on real-world challenges pitched by non-profit organisations, start-ups and businesses to create social impact.

TopUniversities spoke to Megan Tran and Javeria Mirza, two students at York University, to find out about their capstone project and why they feel it has played an important role in not just their academic development, but their professional development as well.

What is the Purpose of a Capstone Project?

1. it prepares you for the working world.

The capstone project is designed to consolidate final-year students’ learning with valuable hands-on experience to help develop them into well-prepared and well-rounded graduates.

Students work together in small groups to come up with innovative solutions for real-life problems, all while gaining valuable insights into the demands and responsibilities of the working world. This gives students a chance to bring their leadership and management skills alive and understand the consequences of their decisions in a ‘safe space’.

C4 gives students an insight into global affairs, international relations as well as social corporate responsibility and sustainability.

Final-year bachelor’s in international studies student Megan and master’s in political science student Javeria were two of the eight interdisciplinary students, from the Faculty of Environmental Studies, the Lassonde School of Engineering, Glendon College, and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University who worked together on the ‘Solar Floatie’ project.

“As a group, we were all interested in using technology and design-thinking for good. Our collective passion for social impact brought us together as a team. CooperLab at York University led by Professor Thomas Cooper was already spearheading the idea of an inflatable solar collector,” said Javeria.

“But how we went about developing the technology and what we wanted to use it for was up to us,” added Megan.

“ The Solar Floatie was born when the engineering side of the solar collector project was merged with the anthropology side and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework to propose a sustainable implementation model,” explained Javeria.

2. It helps build your CV and help you stand out as a candidate

Undertaking a capstone project demonstrates to prospective employers that you’re more than just a potential candidate with the necessary academic qualifications. It shows your dedication to an issue which demands time and effort, as well as strict professionalism, work ethic and experience working in a practical, hands-on setting.

3. It offers valuable practical experience – something many graduates do not have

As a graduate, the reality of securing a job can be difficult as many roles demand practical experience. Many graduates are conceptually strong and suitable candidates, but a lack of applied knowledge in practical settings can make it challenging to demonstrate such experience and skills on their CV or in an interview.

The capstone project is a great solution and is something which both Megan and Javeria felt helped bridge that critical gap and has given them a competitive advantage as young professionals.

“It gave me an opportunity to learn outside a traditional academic setting and allowed me to explore my interest in sustainability and passion for social impact,” said Megan. “Since being a part of this project, I’ve been involved with a variety of organisations carrying out work that align with these passions.”

Javeria echoes Megan’s sentiments.

She said: “Bridging the lessons learnt during the capstone project such as the value of continuously learning, taking initiative, and working effectively with people from diverse disciplinary backgrounds has been invaluable in both my UN work and my graduate studies.”

4. It hones on specific skills that are highly valued by employers

The capstone project encompasses a real-life working culture which aims to instil a set of specific skills that are both highly valued by employers and will ultimately serve students well into their careers.

York University’s C4 focuses on the development of a wide range of skills, including creative, critical, and strategic thinking, effective communication, teamwork, problem solving and research analysis through diverse learning approaches and perspectives. Students deepen their sense of social and ethical responsibilities as they learn to mobilise their knowledge across disciplines and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams while engaging professionally with their peers and professors.

Lead image: Solar Floatie project team members work on assembling the solar energy collector, under Professor Thomas Cooper’s direction. Credit: York University

This article was originally published in March 2021 . It was last updated in December 2022

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As the Head of Sponsored Content for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com (until September 2021), Stephanie created and published a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. She attended the University of Portsmouth where she earned a BA in English Language and an MA in Communication and Applied Linguistics.

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Project Management Capstone

Acquire hands-on training and experience on the project management framework and foundation using a real life, single project from start to finish. Maximize your learning potential on project management processes across all 5 stages within the project life cycle.

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UCLA Extension is a Premier Authorized Training Partner (ATP) and is approved by PMI to issue professional development units (PDUs).

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capstone project for project management

Planning and managing projects effectively in today’s global economy with geographically dispersed teams requires skilled project managers with modern and effective tools and techniques. This program will help you shift from managing projects by heroics to managing by expectation using predictable and repeatable best practices.

This intensive lab experience will allow you to work on a complex project from beginning to end in a team environment. You’ll use all the skills learned in the previous programs to initiate, plan, execute, control, and close a simulated project — from developing key deliverables to facilitating meetings to justifying decisions for the benefit of key stakeholders.

Under the guidance of a senior project manager, you’ll be given direct feedback and learn techniques to increase efficiency and effectiveness on the job. You will also learn how to use project management software to help provide the needed artifacts that are commonly used in any large-scale project.

This program will help you develop realistic budgets, schedules, and resource plans to forecast demand while providing the necessary real-time insights into project status and risks to optimize the organization’s project portfolio performance and maximize the return on investment.

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COMMENTS

Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World
What you will learn · Complete a project charter, filling out key information including a project summary, SMART goals, scope, benefits, and costs. · Examine
5 Topics For Master's In Project Management Capstone Project
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