Project Management (5cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to project management with a strong emphasis on the software project business. It begins with course introduction and team-building activities, followed by a Scrum simulation that immerses students in agile project management practices. The Scrum framework is studied in depth, including its principles, roles, events, and artifacts, with a focus on how agile methods support customer value creation and rapid delivery in software projects.

The course then addresses the waterfall project management methodology and its relevance in software business contexts where predictability, compliance, or large-scale integration is required. Students learn how to prepare work breakdown structure (WBS) and schedules, as well as how to identify and manage risks in software-intensive projects. Special attention is given to scope management, resource allocation, division of work, and estimation techniques, all tailored to the specific demands of software project business.

In addition, students practice risk management and risk analysis in detail, learning to anticipate uncertainties that are common in software development, such as evolving requirements, technological dependencies, or external constraints. Quality management in software engineering is also explored through lectures and teamwork, emphasizing methods to ensure project outcomes meet both technical standards and business goals.

Finally, the course introduces project management institutions and professionalization in the field. The International Project Management Association (IPMA) and other global actors are presented, alongside professional certifications, competitions, and the IPMA Individual Competence Baseline as a key international standard.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

- Understand the role of project management in the software project business and its link to customer value creation.

- Apply agile practices, particularly Scrum, in software project contexts to support flexibility and continuous delivery.

- Design project plans using the waterfall methodology, including WBS, scheduling, and scope control for software projects.

- Manage project resources and work distribution in order to deliver sustainable and business-relevant outcomes.

- Apply advanced risk management and risk analysis techniques relevant to software-intensive projects.

- Implement quality management methods in software engineering to ensure that deliverables meet defined standards.

- Recognize the role of project management institutions and certifications (especially IPMA and the Individual Competence Baseline) in the professional development of project managers and scrum masters.

Objective

After completing the course the student can:
Describe different project management methods and frameworks and their feasibility to different projects.
Ability to function as a project manager in different phases of a project and produce the project related specifications and documents.
Describe different project management association and certifications.
Risk analysis and quality assurance.

Content

The course covers aspects of different project management methods, such as waterfall and agile as well as different project management associations and certifications. Furthermore, the course covers topics about project management, including project planning, budgeting, scheduling and WBS, risk assessment and quality assurance.

Materials

Various internet sources, links & descriptions online.
Lecture slides.
theFIRMA's and course's Itslearning.

Teaching methods

Lectures, scrum simulation, group work and independent work, assignment-based learning, project work, online activities and ICT guest lectures.

Exam schedules

No exam.

If a student does not pass the course, they are required to re-enroll and participate in the course during the next available offering, typically the following academic year.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Practical assignments and reports
Project work
Team learning
Self study

Completion alternatives

No optional ways for implementation

Student workload

Lectures and on-site activities: 62 hours
Assignments and self study: 63 hours
Guest lectures + report: 10 hours
TOTAL 135 hours

Course includes 8 assignments: 2 individual assignments and 6 group assignments.

In addition, students participate to 4 guest lectures and write a reflection report.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assignments and reports: diagnostic assessment.

Course includes 8 assignments: 2 individual assignments and 6 group assignments. Maximum points of assignments 1-7 is 20 points each. Maximum points of assignment 8 is 50 points. Thus, the maximum amount of points from assignments is 190. Late submission for the assignments will reduce the points by 50%.

In addition, the course includes guest lectures of which the student is required to write a report. The report is evaluated with the scale 0 – 30 points.

The presence on lectures, Scrum simulation and Sprint Review meetings are marked down. In total, there are 30 points from presence:
- Less than 50%=0 points
- 50-59,9%=10 points
- 60-69,9%=15 points
- 70-79,9%=20 points
- 80-100%=30 points

Altogether these will give the students the maximum of 250 points. These points are evaluated in the following way:
Fail: 0 – 99 points
grade 1: 100 – 129 points
grade 2: 130 – 159 points
grade 3: 160 – 189 points
grade 4: 190 – 219 points
grade 5: 220 – 250 points.

Failed (0)

Less than 99 points.

No show, not carrying out responsibilities, disappearing from teamwork, lack of communication with other team members.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Grade 1: 100-129 points
Grade 2: 130-159 points

Poor, but satisfactory performance both in independent work and teamwork. Low participation on lectures and other activities. Satisfactory guest lecture report.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Grade 3: 160-189 points
Grade 4: 190-219 points

Good performance both in teamwork and independent work. Active participation on lectures and other activities. Good guest lecture report.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Grade 5: 219-250 points

Excellent performance both in teamwork and independent work. Active participation on lectures and other activities. Excellent guest lecture report.

Further information

The course's and theFIRMA itslearning and Microsoft Teams.