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

• 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

Contact day sessions, online meetings, individual and group learning assignments, peer reviews. PMAF foundation4 certification test.

Exam schedules

PMAF foundation4 project certification test passed.

International connections

Innovation pedagogy via constructionist learning method. Problem solving by applying new theories and practices to individuals prior knowledge. During the lectures 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 135h. Contact days and online review meetings cover 18h. All remaining hours are individual learning, assignment works including student group collaboration and the foundation4 certification test.

Content scheduling

Course learning platform, ItsLearning, opens on 9.1.2025 with pre-assignment. All students MUST return the pre-assignment latest 27.1. (to ItsLearning).

There are two contact days,
Fri 31.1. klo 9.00 - 16.15, and
Fri 9.5. klo 9.00 - 16.15.
Between the contact days there are few online status meetings (dates ToBeDefined).
PMAF Foundation4 project certification test (online, date TBD)

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 the importance of 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 consists of pre-assignment, contact day sessions, online review meetings, individual assignments, group assignments and peer reviews. Requirements also include PMAF foundation4 project certification test passed.

Further information

ItsLearning platform and email.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Student has not completed assignments work acceptably in due time.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The assignments work show 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.