Study Guide

Objective

After completing the course, the student is able to:
-understand frameworks and standardized processes for project life-time management and different implementation models
-identify and cope with the challenges of managing demanding and wide projects
-develop project activity from business perspective and act in different roles in projects, eg. project manager, steering group member and project sponsor
-communicate effectively about project developments and issues with all the relevant stakeholders including multicultural project teams
-understand the principles of program and portfolio management and alignment with the organization’s strategy

Content

-Theoretical frameworks for project management
-The role of international project management organizations, key competencies, roles of certification of individuals and organizations
-Project and project management key concepts and phases from project initiation to closing. Project charter, stakeholder management and roles, requirements development, project planning techniques. Different execution models, monitoring, controlling management areas and styles
-Management and leadership of projects with multicultural teams; the importance of communication
-Basics of program and portfolio project management and alignment with strategy

Materials

• Cynthia Stackpole Snyder, 2013. A User's Manual to the PMBOK Guide, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Joseph Heagney, 2012. Fundamentals of Project Management, American Management Association, 4th ed
• Kerzner, Harold, 2013. Project Management : A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, John Wiley & Sons.
• Turner, J. Rodney, 2014. Gower Handbook of Project Management, Gower, ISBN 978-1-4724-2297-2 (epub)
• Artto K., Martinsuo M., Kujala J., 2011. Project business. Helsinki, Finland, ISBN 978-952-92-8535-8
http://pbgroup.aalto.fi/en/the_book_and_the_glossary/project_business_2011.pdf
Additional literature and materials in Optima (learning platform) and during lectures.

Teaching methods

Webinars, individual and group learning assignments, peer reviews.

International connections

Innovation pedagogy via constructionist learning method. Problem solving by applying new theories and practices to individuals prior knowledge. During the webinars and with proactive self-learning the theories and practices of modern project management are addressed and discussed within the student group. Students will apply their own professional experiences to expand and apply the theories to solve real world problems in assignments.

Student workload

Total, average student work is about 133h. Webinars cover 4-6h, all remaining in individual learning, assignment works including student group collaboration.

Content scheduling

Learning platform, Optima, opens on 28.2. The course starts with a self-assessment during 28.2 - 6.3.2020. After reading a short text about project management based competences, all students MUST complete self-assessment and return it latest 6.3.2019. The assessment instructions are sent to students via email in 28.2.
There is one contact day, Monday 9.3.2020 klo 9.00 - 16.15, where the course topics are introduced and students start working on their assignments.
Online webinars introducing topics and assignments further will take place on following Mondays at 6-7pm: 9.3., 23.3., 6.4. and Wed 22.4. 6-7pm. The webinar videos will be saved in Optima for later viewing.
Students will learn and understand basic concepts and practices of project management. The course is focusing on project management topics which can be found and are common to most projects independent on project’s domain, type, size or management style. Key areas include project initialization, planning, execution phases as well as management, control and closing phases. Different project processes are discussed. Students will learn to understand stakeholder management and different roles in project framework, roles emphasizing project manager skills, duties and responsibilities in different phases of the project life-cycle.
International project management frameworks, including ISO standardization body, PMI, PMBoK and IPMA will be discussed. Few examples of specific modern project management methodologies are addressed as best practices for certain project types. Program and Portfolio management and alignment to organization strategy will be addressed.
The course is fully virtual (except the one contact day). It consists of webinar sessions, individual and group assignments work with written and/or video reports and discussions as well as peer reviews. Individual and group works are very intense during the course period with several assignment deadlines to be followed.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Student has not completed assignments work acceptably in due time.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The assignment work shows that student is managing the basic concepts and theories of project management.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Student is managing well the theories and concepts of project management and is applying the knowledge to the benefit of the organization and other stakeholders. Student is using well the given literature and apply it to given assignments.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student is managing well the theories and concepts of project management and is applying the knowledge to the benefit of the organization and other stakeholders. Student is able to use the given literature in excellent way and is capable finding and applying relevant additional professional and scientific information sources creating new valuable viewpoints.