Foundations of Project Management:

•       What is a project? Key definitions and principles
•       Project vs. operations
•       Overview of project management frameworks
•       Triple constraint model (scope, time, cost)
•       Role of the project manager
•       Organizational structures and project environments
•       Project success factors and challenges

Project Lifecycle and Process Groups:

•       Phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring, Closing
•       Waterfall vs. Agile lifecycle models
•       Overview of PMBOK knowledge areas
•       Deliverables and stage-gate reviews
•       Project charter and importance
•       Project baselines and control systems
•       Change control processes

Project Scope Management:

•        Scope planning and documentation
•       Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
•       Scope creep and how to manage it
•       Requirements gathering techniques
•       Scope validation and control processes
•       Use of decomposition in defining deliverables
•       Models for prioritizing scope

Time and Schedule Management:

•        Developing a project schedule
•       Critical Path Method (CPM) explained
•       Gantt charts and network diagrams
•       Resource allocation
•       Schedule compression techniques: crashing and fast-tracking
•       Float analysis and buffer strategies
•       Monitoring schedule performance

Cost Management and Budgeting:

•        Project cost estimation techniques
•       Cost baseline and budgeting
•       Earned Value Management (EVM) principles
•       Cost variance and performance indices
•       Direct vs. indirect costs
•       Forecasting and cost control systems
•       Financial risk in projects

Quality Management:

•        Definition and dimensions of quality
•       Cost of quality (COQ)
•       Quality assurance vs. quality control
•       Process improvement models (Six Sigma, PDCA, TQM)
•       Benchmarking and best practices
•       Quality metrics and measurement systems
•       ISO standards and their relevance to projects

Risk Management and Analysis:

•        Definition and categories of project risk
•       Risk identification and assessment
•       Qualitative vs. quantitative risk analysis
•       Risk response strategies: avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept
•       Risk registers and probability-impact matrices
•       The role of assumptions and constraints
•       Monitoring and controlling risks

Stakeholder and Communication Management:

•       Stakeholder identification and classification
•       Power/interest and salience models
•       Communication planning frameworks
•       Barriers to effective communication
•       Feedback loops and communication styles
•       Conflict resolution models (Thomas-Kilmann)
•       Building engagement and trust

Human Resources and Procurement Management:

•       Resource planning and organizational
•       Motivation: Maslow, Herzberg, McClelland
•       Team development stages (Tuckman model)
•       Procurement lifecycle and contract types
•       Make-or-buy decision analysis
•       Source selection criteria
•       Contractual risks and dispute resolution