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Software Project Management Foundations

Beginner 0.9 hours English Course Certificate
SkillsSoftware project managementSDLCWaterfall vs agileSoftware deliveryRisk management

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Why do software projects go wrong so often? This LinkedIn Learning course is about what to do differently.

Good for: Understanding what makes software projects distinct and how to run them.

Skip if: You want general project management or deep methodology.

In its short run it covers the software development life cycle, the real trade-offs between waterfall and agile, and the specific ways software work drifts off track. It's pitched at people managing or joining software projects who want the parts that generic project management misses, so it's the wrong fit if you want general PM or a deep methodology. Access comes with a LinkedIn Learning subscription (usually a free trial first; free through many libraries), and adds a completion certificate to your profile — evidence of the learning, not a qualification. The distinction it draws between software and other project work stays true (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

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About this course

Software Project Management Foundations focuses on what makes software delivery different — and so often troubled. In under an hour it covers the software development life cycle, the trade-offs between waterfall and agile, and the specific skills needed to steer technical work to a successful finish.

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Instructor

KO
Kelley O'Connell
LinkedIn Learning instructor

Taught by Kelley O'Connell, a project-management practitioner experienced in leading and coaching software delivery teams.

Frequently asked questions

It applies project-management principles specifically to software, addressing realities that general PM courses skip — changing requirements, technical uncertainty, working with developers, and approaches like Agile that suit software's iterative nature. The core discipline (planning, scope, risk, stakeholders) is shared, but this course frames it for the particular messiness of building software, which behaves differently from, say, construction or event projects.

No. It is a foundational course, not a certification like PMI's PMP or a Scrum credential. It teaches the fundamentals of managing software projects, which is useful groundwork before pursuing such credentials, but completing it gives you knowledge and a course certificate rather than a recognised professional qualification. Treat it as a solid starting point rather than a formal credential in itself.

It is a relatively short LinkedIn Learning course — typically a couple of hours — so most people finish it over a sitting or two. That makes it an efficient way to grasp the essentials of software project management, whether you are moving into the role or a developer wanting to understand how projects around you are run, without a big time commitment.

Not by default — it runs on LinkedIn Learning, which is subscription-based — but a free trial is common, and many public libraries and universities give members full access at no cost. Check whether a library card or an institution you belong to already provides LinkedIn Learning before paying, since that quietly unlocks this course and the whole catalogue.

Yes, you earn a LinkedIn Learning completion certificate for your profile. Treat it as a signal of professional development rather than a formal qualification — software project management is judged by delivered projects and how well you run them. The real value is the practical grounding in managing software work, which matters more than the certificate when you actually lead a project.
Paid
LinkedIn Learning subscription
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