Defining Project Scope and Managing Resources in Projects

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course is designed to help you understand and master the essential components of project scope management and resource planning. Through a comprehensive exploration of defining, managing, and adjusting project scope, you will gain the practical knowledge and skills required to ensure project success. By the end, you will be equipped to prevent scope creep, manage resources effectively, and incorporate change management into your projects. The course begins by covering the fundamentals of project scope. You'll explore key concepts, such as defining what project scope is, how to manage it, and the roles and responsibilities of project stakeholders. You’ll also learn why defining the boundaries, including “out of scope,” is critical to the success of any project. As the course progresses, we delve into practical applications, including step-by-step guidance on defining project scope and techniques to manage it successfully. You’ll learn to identify and control scope creep, and understand how project scope directly influences budget. Additionally, resource management is explored, offering insights into resource planning, identification of resourcing needs, and strategies for managing resources throughout the project lifecycle. This course is ideal for project managers, team leaders, or anyone involved in the planning and execution of projects. It will also benefit those looking to enhance their ability to handle scope, resources, and change effectively. Whether you're new to project management or have some experience, this course provides valuable strategies and best practices for managing project scope and resources to achieve desired outcomes.