Project ManagementLaajuus (5 cr)

Learning objectives

Students get an understanding of corporate IT projects and their implementation as disciplined and well managed projects. Practically, the course enhances students' abilities to work in business information systems investment projects and enables them to gradually take more responsibility in managing projects.

Contents

The course is accomplished during the periods 1-2 / 4-5 structured by means of five modules+ study project. Moreover, the course is run in terms of three extents of the course, which are small (four modules, restricted number of assignments), medium (five modules, less assigments compared to large one) and standard (large, five+ study project). This solution is due to varying motivation levels by students. The size is correlating the grade which are: 0-2 in small, 0-3 in medium and 0-5 in large option of the course.



Module 1 – Introduction: Rationale for IT-project failures; Project Lifecycles vs. Systems Development (IT) Life Cycles (incl agile approach); Project management as a platform -overall view on managing projects.
Module 2 – Initiation and early planning stage: Cost benefit analysis; Writing a Business case report, and communicating with sponsors.
Module 3 – Project schedule planning: Techniques involved in WBS; Effort analysis, Scheduling
Module 4 – Structures: Project organisations, Team working, Resource management
Module 5 – Change management. CM from individual, IT-expert, Organisation points of view.
Module 6 – Groupwork

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

Student has passed all 1-2 semester compulsory courses. The course Innovation and Project Work must be passed.

In addition, having completed work placement helps participation in the course, due to having some of the knowledge and experience of project work and development process of business information systems.

Students are recommended to participate in the Project Championship competition which is credited as an own course or by letting free to do some of the duties on the course (test and/or groupwork). However, crediting depends on the level the student (in team) reaches in PMC contest run in two rounds.

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

The course is run in terms of biweekly system in groups/pairs. The given assignment bundle is instructed in the beginning of the cycle (two weeks) and then reported by team/pair within next two weeks. In-between the teacher is available for supporting teams.

Learning methods are Teacher’s briefings on the topic, biweekly assignments and their reflection mutually by students, visitor lecture(s), assignments on lessons, videos plus literature (magazines, research papers), reading course books and participation on maturity test (course week 12 or so).

Focus of learning is on the information system project management methods and practices and, exercising practical project management problems. Practical project manager problems/challenges are also exercised (Integration management; Scope management; Communication; Team working practices in global settings; Project Manager roles).
- Contact hours ca. 32 h - Note! due to the pandemia, the course is run online.
- Individual assignments and team work 128 h

Recognition of prior learning (RPL):
To get a passing (P) grade and exemption from the course, student must display and demonstrate the competence by certificates from earlier studies or work experience covering the course
objectives and contents. Also, managing an IT-project or holding an active role in IT-projects is subject to the RPL. It is possible to participate in the competence demonstration only once before taking the course.

Assessment criteria - grade 1

Assessment criteria:
- Assignments
- Activity on lessons (participations, presentations, key-terms minor assignments)
- Study by free choice (just for full course students)

Grade 1
Knowledge
Has a basic knowledge of the principles of IT project management. Has a basic knowledge of the project management processes

Skills
Has passable skills 1) in demonstrating the use of some of the PMtools. 2) in presenting the student presentations and the assignments done in teams as well as in explaining project management concepts.

Competence
Possesses a rudimentary understanding of the IT-project methodology and is able to apply some of the methods and the tools learned during the course in practice.

Assessment criteria - grade 3

Knowledge
Has a good knowledge of the principles of IT project management. Is motivated in identifying and analyzing the context and the performance of successful IT projects. Has a passable knowledge of the project management processes.

Skills
Is somewhat fluent in presenting the student presentations and the assignments done in teams as well as in explaining project management concepts.

Competence
Possesses an eligible understanding of the IT-project methodology and is able to apply the methods and the tools learned during the course in practice.

Assessment criteria - grade 5

Knowledge
Has a very good knowledge of the principles of IT project management. Is highly motivated in identifying and analyzing the context and the performance of successful IT projects. Has a good knowledge of the project management processes.

Skills
Is highly fluent in presenting the student presentations and the assignments done in teams as well as in explaining project management concepts.

Competence
Possesses a solid understanding of the IT-project methodology and is very skillful in applying the methods and the tools learned during the course in practice.

Learning materials

- Marchewka, J.T. (2015), Information Technology Project Management 5th ed.
- Schwable, K., (2018) Information Technology Project Management
- PMBOK, Project Management Body Of Knowledge (2018)
- Harrin, E. Project manager
- Yooun T. 2014. Successful project management, 4th ed.
- Wysocki, Robert K. (2009): Effective project management: traditional, adaptive, extreme
- Case studies and Best Practise material taken from diverse sources (given on lessons)
- Other literature (available on Moodle)

Further information

Cooperation with the business community:
Visiting lecturer(s), events (voluntary), project management cases, magazines, videos.

International dimension:
Methods, examples and ways of working apply approved and widely used international program and project management standards and disciplines. Also the cross-national and intercultural aspects global projects are focused.