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There are 5 modules in this course
Practical AI Strategy and Azure Service Selection introduces the structured decision-making required before launching an AI initiative. AI projects often fail due to unclear problem framing or misaligned technology choices. This course helps you build the judgment needed to assess when AI is appropriate and how to align solutions with business objectives.
You’ll examine how to map business challenges to AI use cases and evaluate feasibility, risks, and expected value. The course explores the Microsoft Azure AI ecosystem, including Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI Service, and Azure Machine Learning, focusing on capabilities, constraints, and appropriate use-case alignment.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to assess AI opportunities with clarity, support informed service selection decisions, and establish a structured foundation for AI delivery within enterprise environments.
This module builds your ability to critically evaluate whether AI is appropriate for a given business situation before any commitment is made. You'll learn to distinguish between AI approaches at a conceptual level, recognize early warning signs that suggest AI may not be the right fit, and apply structured evaluation techniques that experienced project leaders use to avoid costly missteps. By the end of this module, you'll be able to assess AI opportunities with confidence and articulate your reasoning to stakeholders.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 15 minutes
Why AI decisions make or break projects•4 minutes
Understanding the AI approaches teams commonly consider•6 minutes
How managers evaluate AI opportunities step by step•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
A paractical guide to evaluating AI options and alternatives•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Making smart AI decisions at work•10 minutes
Turning business needs into clear AI requirements
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module develops your ability to translate vague business goals into well-defined AI requirements that teams can act on. You'll learn to structure problem statements around outcomes rather than solutions, define measurable success criteria, and surface constraints that affect feasibility. By the end of this module, you'll be able to guide stakeholder conversations from broad intent to actionable requirements, setting AI initiatives up for clarity and accountability from the start.
What's included
3 videos1 reading3 assignments
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 13 minutes
Using AI to solve the right business problem•3 minutes
Turning business goals into AI requirements•5 minutes
Business problem translation in action•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Writing problem statements for AI work•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 75 minutes
Translating business goals into AI requirements•30 minutes
Defining clear AI requirements in practice•15 minutes
Making sound AI decisions from business context•30 minutes
Defining what an AI project will and will not do
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module focuses on the critical transition from exploration to commitment in AI projects. You'll learn to recognize when a project has achieved sufficient clarity to proceed responsibly, how to facilitate go/no-go discussions that surface uncertainty rather than suppress it, and how to document decisions in ways that create accountability and enable future course correction. By the end of this module, you'll be able to assess project readiness, guide stakeholders through commitment decisions, and create defensible records of why projects were approved, paused, or stopped.
What's included
1 video1 reading2 assignments
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 4 minutes
Recognizing when an AI project is ready to proceed•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Feasibility signals and Go/No-Go criteria for AI projects•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 35 minutes
Documenting an AI commitment decision•20 minutes
Evaluating AI readiness scenarios•15 minutes
Microsoft Foundry Governance decisions and workspace design
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module focuses on how managers reason about governance decisions before and during the use of Microsoft Foundry. The emphasis is on understanding what decisions need to be made around access, oversight, risk, and cost, not on performing technical configuration. Learners develop judgment around how governance requirements vary based on project context, team structure, and risk exposure, and how those decisions are reflected in workspace design at a conceptual level.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 17 minutes
How teams decide AI governance before using the platform•4 minutes
Implementing governance decisions in Microsoft Foundry•7 minutes
A worked example of AI workspace governance•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
A Framework for making AI governance decisions•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Making governance decisions for Microsoft Foundry workspaces•30 minutes
Model deployment and performance optimization
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module focuses on how managers reason about model deployment and early optimization decisions after an AI solution goes live. Rather than teaching how to deploy or tune models, the module emphasizes how teams evaluate what is running, interpret early performance and cost signals, and decide what actions, if any, should be taken next. You will develop judgment around post-deployment oversight, expectation management, and decision timing.
What's included
2 videos2 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 11 minutes
How teams deploy models and prepare for optimization•5 minutes
How teams compare models and decide what to change•6 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
What model deployment looks like in real AI projects•10 minutes
Reviewing a deployed model in Microsoft Foundry•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
Applying model deployment and optimization decisions in practice•10 minutes
Making end-to-end Microsoft Foundry platform decisions•30 minutes
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Our goal at Microsoft is to empower every individual and organization on the planet to achieve more.
In this next revolution of digital transformation, growth is being driven by technology. Our integrated cloud approach creates an unmatched platform for digital transformation. We address the real-world needs of customers by seamlessly integrating Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, LinkedIn, GitHub, Microsoft Power Platform, and Azure to unlock business value for every organization—from large enterprises to family-run businesses. The backbone and foundation of this is Azure.
This program is designed for project managers, program managers, and business or technology professionals responsible for coordinating AI initiatives. It is ideal for those working within or alongside technical teams in the Microsoft Azure AI ecosystem who want to strengthen their ability to manage AI delivery from strategy through production.
What background knowledge is necessary?
Learners should have prior experience leading projects or cross-functional initiatives. Familiarity with project management principles and basic AI/ML terminology such as models, training, and inference will support success in this Intermediate-level program.
Do I need coding or technical AI experience to take this program?
No coding experience is required. This program focuses on managing AI initiatives rather than building models. You will learn how to coordinate data scientists, engineers, and stakeholders, oversee AI workflows, and support responsible AI governance within Azure environments.
What tools and technologies will I work with?
You will explore AI delivery within the Microsoft Azure AI ecosystem, including Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI Service, and Azure Machine Learning. The program emphasizes understanding capabilities, constraints, and use-case alignment at a manager level.
What roles does this certificate support?
This certificate strengthens readiness for AI Project Manager, AI Program Manager, and technology delivery roles involving AI oversight. It builds the structured coordination and governance skills required to manage AI initiatives in enterprise environments.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Certificate?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.