Study Guide

Objective

After completing the course the student
- knows frameworks and standardized processes for project life-time management and different implementation models
- is able to identify and cope with the challenges of managing demanding and wide projects
- is able to act in different roles in projects, eg. project manager, steering group member and Project
sponsor
- is able to communicate effectively about project developments and issues to all the relevant
stakeholders including multicultural project teams
- understands the principles of program and portfolio management and how they serve and are
aligned with the organization’s strategy

Content

- Theoretical framework for project management. The role of international project management
organizations, key competencies, roles of certification of individuals and organizations
- Project 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.

Materials

• Turner, J. Rodney, 2014. Gower Handbook of Project Management, Gower, ISBN 978-1-4724-2297-2 (epub)
• 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.
• 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 ItsLearning (learning platform) and during lectures.

Teaching methods

Webinars, individual and group learning assignments, status reporting, peer reviews.

Exam schedules

PMAF Foundation certification test passed is part of the course requirements

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 135h. Webinars cover 16h, all remaining in individual learning, assignment works including student group collaboration.

Content scheduling

This course is primarily for CampusOnline students and TUAS English speaking Master School students taking the course as elective study. For TUAS Finnish speaking students, there is 3191058-3011 Projektinhallinta, for spring 2024.

The course starts on 16.1.2024, when the pre-assignment task is available in Itslearning platform for students who have enrolled and accepted to the course. All students MUST complete and return the pre-assignment latest 4.2.

The course is fully online with a strict time schedule to follow. It consists of webinar sessions, individual and group assignments work with written and spoken reports and presentations, discussions as well as peer reviews. Individual and group assignments are very intense during the course period with several assignment deadlines to be followed.

Webinars are used to introduce the topics and assignments. Course time schedule (Zoom) :
Tue 16.1. Pre-assignment available in ItsLearning
Tue 6.2. klo 9.00-12.15, webinar 1/5
Tue 27.2. klo 16.00-18.30, webinar 2/5
Tue 19.3. klo 16.00-18.30, webinar 3/5
Tue 2.4. klo 16.00-18.30, webinar 4/5
Tue 16.4. klo 16.00-18.30, webinar 5/5
Date: ToBeDefined, Foundation project certification test.

PMAF Foundation certification is part of course requirements.
The webinars' lecture presentations will be recorded for later viewing.

Students will learn and understand basic concepts and practices of project management. The course is focusing on project management topics which are common to most projects independent on project’s domain, type, size or management style. Key areas include project life-cycle, 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.

Further information

Course communication is done using student's TUAS email address and ItsLearning platform used in TUAS.
Offering 20 student places for CampusOnline students and 5 student places for Open Studies students. If places are vacated, they will be filled out from the waiting list.

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.

Qualifications

Completed Bachelor's Degree and minimum of two years working experience after the BSc Degree, eligible for Master's Degree studies in University of Applied Sciences (Finland).