New online course allows learners to apply project-management skills to real-world situations
BOSTON, MA (March 14, 2024) –
MindEdge Learning, the groundbreaking online learning firm, today announced the launch of PM Skills® Simulation: Cuff-It Clothing, an online simulation course designed to help experienced and aspiring project managers strengthen their interpersonal skills and apply them in a project setting.
Like MindEdge’s other innovative simulation courses, the PM Skills® Simulation focuses on the application of previously learned skills and concepts. It presents learners with real-world situations and asks them to draw on their knowledge, experience, and judgment to make a series of decisions. Each decision triggers a different set of potential outcomes, and learners are graded on the results of every decision they make.
In the course, the learner has just begun work as a project-management consultant at the fictional Cuff-It Clothing, a recent start-up that has experienced rapid growth and now faces major organizational growing pains. As an outsider, the learner needs to assess the corporate environment, take the measure of the organization’s leaders, and help Cuff-It navigate through a period of profound change.
Over the course of the 10-hour simulation, learners are asked to apply specific project-management skills to different situations, in each case looking to maximize the benefit for Cuff-It. Learners will earn (or lose) points for the decisions they make in six skill areas: change management, communication, conflict management, leadership, team development, and critical thinking/decision-making.
“There’s no way to earn a perfect score in this course,” said Daniel Picard, editorial director of PM Skills®. “Some decisions will move you forward in one or two areas, but others will force you to lose some ground. Many other decisions involve explicit trade-offs: you win some points in this area, but it will cost you points in some other area. That’s how real project management works—so learning how to balance all these factors will give learners valuable training in real-world decision-making.”
The course features a Decision Dashboard, which tracks learners’ overall performance, and a Simulation Stats page that reflects the impact of each decision on Cuff-It’s overall success. It also provides “Ask the Expert” interactive support, which allows learners to reach out to subject matter experts for guidance.
MindEdge’s decision to develop the PM Skills® Simulation course is a response to the burgeoning demand for highly skilled project managers. According to a 2021 report by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the global economy will need 25 million new project managers by 2030, just to keep pace with economic growth in technology and related fields.
“The PM Skills® Simulation course is being added to our growing catalog of PM Skills® courses, which are focused on helping project leaders develop and then practice strong skills in real-world situations,” said Jennifer Adams, managing director of MindEdge’s skills brands. “After learners have completed our skills-training courses, the simulation makes them apply each of those skills in practical situations—so they can see how they measure up.”
The simulation is tailored to the individual learner who is already familiar with the basics of project management. But it is also well-suited for use by companies as a tool for assessing and improving the skills of their in-house project management corps.
“In today’s tight job market, high-quality skills training is essential for businesses who want to compete at the highest level,” said Brad Neuenhaus, chief business officer of MindEdge Learning. “Being able to offer the most innovative and sophisticated training tools around—courses like the PM Skills® Simulation—gives companies a leg up when it comes to attracting top-level talent.”
Learners who complete the PM Skills® simulation course earn one IACET Continuing Education Unit. The course is available on two of MindEdge Learning’s brand platforms: MindEdge Online and PM Skills®.
About MindEdge Learning
MindEdge’s mission is to improve the way the world learns. Since its founding in 1998 by Harvard and MIT educators, the company has served some four million learners. With a focus on digital-first learning resources—from academic courseware to professional development courses—MindEdge’s approach to best practices in online education focuses on learners’ needs across the spectrum of higher education, professional development, skills training, and continuing education. MindEdge is based in Waltham, Mass. Find out more at https://www.mindedge.com.
About PM Skills™
PM Skills® and the PMSCP® certification is about going beyond abstract concepts. The training provides the practical application of the skills, tools, and organizational behaviors that have the strongest impact on team performance and project success. Backed by MindEdge Learning’s 15 years of experience in offering high-quality project-management training, PM Skills® brings the human factor into the world of project management and project leader training. Visit the PM Skills® website to learn more.
Media Contact:
Frank Connolly (fconnolly@mindedge.com)