Project Management (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Schedule

The overall timeline is 16 weeks and the theme-wise bundles (seven) and the deadlines for them are:
- week before the start of the course: doing the pre-assignment which is submitted by the course week 1
- Module 1 assignments given on the 1st course week assignments submitted within the third course week
- Module 2 -assignments given on the 3rd course week and submission by 5th course week
- Module 3 assignments, given on 5th course week, submission by 7th course week
- Module 4 assignments, given on 7th course week, submission by 9th course week
- Module 5 assignments, given on 9th course week, submission by 11 the course week
- Study by free choice; proposal submitted by 9 the week, kick-off on the course week 11, submission by course w.14
- Presentations and sharing the studies course week 15
- Closing course week 16

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.

Materials

A Main reference(s)
- Schwalbe, K. 2018. Information Technology Project Management. ed.8
B Other key references (in general about Project management)
- Olson, D. 2014. Information Systems Project Management. Business Expert Press.
- PMBOK, 2018
- Young, T. 2013. Successful Project Management. Kogan.
- Wells, K., Kloppenborg, T. 2015. Project Management Essentials. Business Expert Press.
B Key readings on a specific theme
- Burke, R. & Barron, S. 2014. Project Management Leadership: Building Creative Teams. Wiley & Sons.
- Harrin, E. 2018. Project Manager: Careers in IT Project Management. BCS Learning & Development.
- Wysocki, R. 2013. Effective Project Management : Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Wiley & Sons.

Articles are found within the related folder of the main theme on Moodle

Teaching methods and instruction

The course is allocated on periods 1-2 and 3-4, lectured during two periods. The course could be passed on two ways, (1) the passing grade option, a short course, where the done work is less and the grade will stay lower compared to (2) the standard course. The grade achieved by doing the short course is typically 1-2/5 but could be pushed up by doing some extra work.

The lecturing is held online on every second, students preparing meanwhile the given assignments in pairs (or small groups if more than 40 participants). The overall timeline of the short course is 10 weeks. The course is started by a pre-assignment which will ensure your seat on the course.

Each of the module (see on next) is holding four assigments yet there are too, four short assignments of the project management key concepts (individual).
The nominal output of writing essays is ca. max 4 pages per week plus the short key term assignments each of them could be answered on 1-1,5 pages.

Working life connections

Due to the nature of course, there is no working life connections if not the videos concerned here by people from business companies.

Exam dates and re-exam possibilities

No exam

Internationality

(1) International aspect is considered in terms of cases stemming from international companies. (2) The references (books, articles) stand for the global main stream of project management literature. (3) Some videos by international "stars"

Completion alternatives

So far no alternative way of learning available on this course except the RPL

Learning assignments

Studying on the course is based on the 5 modules and study by free choice yet the short course is holding just four modules.
Each module is featuring a key theme dividing into four assignments
Module 1: Project lifecycle and other key concepts; Characteristics of unsuccessful IT-projects; Controlling of unsuccessful projects etc. *)
Module 2: Initializing a project - tools and methods and practices involved in initializing phase, the very first stage
Module 3: Planning a project - learning tools and methods and practices related to the planning a project
Module 4: Executing a project - this module is dominantly about human perspective of projects such as project manager role and responsibilities, controlling of projects; stakeholder management; team working
Module 5: After the project - benefits realization management; change management and portfolio management
Module 6/ study by free choice - the topic could be anything within the project management - 5 pages long text per student, in pairs, double.

Some examples of the given assignments:
1) Studies on given assignments are focusing on certain themes, for example establishing a project organization. Then the study by a student shall provide the suggested number of viewpoints on given theme based on given/found references and if possible on own experiences and ponderings. The instructions is holding a more detailed quidelines for example teacher's advises and tiplist to help the student in finding the relevant viewpoints and references

2) Practical project management problems, events where the student shall give his/her best understanding by writing an essaybabout solution for relaxing a troublesome situation or a minor project management case (for example how to manage scope creep or leaving expert or such). Writing the answer is supported by tips and guidelines to give some ideas for a starting point.

3) Hands-on tasks would be nice but they are highly difficult to fulfill due the type/format of the course (so far they are as options left to be fulfilled in future)

Assessment methods

Evaluation is based on done assignments (studies) A more accurate info is available on the course pages.

Grade 5
The studies are holding insightful text which is inspired by the suggested references and own findings. The quality of the text is more like a synthesis underpinned by the data from various sources rather than reporting the facts found from the references. The study is holding too a conclusions part and rationale as an introduction. Length as required. In general, the quality of the text is excellent and rich in facts. Submissions are done in time.

Grade 3
The studies are based on the suggested references, no own findings essentially. Besides the findings/facts from the references, some own thoughts are present on text related to the subject. A short conclusion part at the end and sense making in the beginning are found but the text is more like driven by references (producing the text in a reporting manner). Length close to the required size. In general, the quality of the text is nice offering somewhat an effortless reading experience. Submissions are done in time.

Grade 1
The study is based just on a one of the given references, if any. The text is typically hastily composed by picking some of the facts from the references and the integrity of the study is modest.
Submission is in time or slightly delayed. The learning of the given subject is partial which is evidenced by the quality and the general impression (gut feeling) of the study.

Note! The characterization above doesn't bring forth the alternative ways of producing studies like writing the study fully based on own experiences provided with a thin theory part which could be an excellent study. That's why certain characteristics may give a push up by teacher in scoring which is explained on the Course Moodle pages and shortly here: relevance of the facts and the size of study; synthetic analysis type of approach in producing the text, insightful findings/own ponderings, use of examples and linkage to project management practicalities, richness of facts (and relevance); the ideas and flow of the text are easy to follow, no plagiarism (a subject to fine)