Defining Work in Software Projects

What you'll learn

Leading technical projects often means juggling unclear expectations, shifting priorities, and misaligned teams. You may be responsible for delivery — but without structure, it’s easy to lose clarity and control. In this course, Defining Work in Software Projects, you’ll learn how to create alignment, clarity, and shared understanding before the work begins. First, you’ll explore how to identify and map key stakeholders so you can manage expectations and involve the right people early. Next, you’ll discover how to capture meaningful project goals, define what’s in and out of scope, and draw clear boundaries using practical tools like MoSCoW, RACI, and story maps. Finally, you’ll learn how to surface hidden assumptions and define success criteria that reduce risk and help you track whether the work is delivering value. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have a practical, lightweight structure for planning and framing small-to-mid-sized software projects — helping you lead work more confidently, even without formal project management training.