Project Management (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

The student understands approaches to project management and leadership, is aware of the key project management concepts, and knows how to define, plan and follow-up a project. The student is able to apply business research and development methods for the analysis of a real life case in project management. Student can critically evaluate and analyse the project results and report the project.

Content

• Project leadership, project models and methods
• Project work tools at the initiation & planning stage: project charter, statement of work, responsibility matrix, communication plan, project proposal
• Project work tools at the execution & control stage: work breakdown structure, scheduling and evaluations
• Team management, team leadership, clear communication and other project skills
• Evaluating and measuring: project progress and its success
• Project reporting and stakeholder management

Prerequisites

Completed higher education degree (Bachelor level)

Teaching methods

Learning outcomes of the course

The student understands approaches to project management and leadership, is aware of the core project management concepts, and knows how to define a project plan & control the project. Student is able to apply business research and development methods for the analysis of a real life case in project management. Student can critically evaluate and analyze the project results and report the project.

Course contents

- Project leadership; project work models and methods
- Project work tools at the Initiation & Planing stage: project charter, statement of work, responsibility matrix, communication plan, project proposal
- Project work tools at the Execution & Control stage: work breakdown structure, scheduling & accurate estimations
- Team management, team leadership, clear communication & other project skills
- Evaluating and measuring: project progress and its success
- Project reporting & stakeholder management.

Assignment outline:

Assignment part A is the analysis of 3 real life project management cases. Assignment B is a reflection-based report.

Location and time

The course is held ONLINE. Online materials will appear in OMA on:
28.01 (1st online Introduction session 29.01), 4.02, and by 18.02 ALL materials are finally uploaded.

Assignment deliveries & due dates:
27.02, Sunday (1st delivery of PM assignment, parts A+B) - you get feedback to part B and improve it for the next iteration.
27.03, Sunday (2nd delivery of PM assignment, parts A+B ) - you get feedback to part B and improve it for the next iteration.
24.04, Sunday 23.55 pm (final 3rd delivery of PM assignment, parts A+B) - final version of part B (your project).

Learning materials and recommended literature

Recommended readings:

1) 1st recommended e-book (a "must-read" book for all student and especially for those without practical PM experience):
Verzuh, Eric. (2008, 2011, or 2016). The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management: A Practical Handbook and Reference, with PM Certification Study Tips. John Wiley & Sons Inc. - Available as a paper book and e-book via MetCat, Metropolia library.

2) 2nd recommended e-book, optional (for those with advanced interests & practical PM experience):
Better Practices of Project Management: Based on IPMA Competences (2013, 2016), by John Hermarij. - Available as a paper book and e-book via MetCat, Metropolia library.

3) 3rd recommended e-book ("look-at" before the PM Certification Exam):
In English: IPMA National Competence Baseline 3.0 (available as .pdf in this workspace)
In Finnish: Projektijohdon pätevyys 3.0: https://www.pry.fi/files/108/PMAF_NCB_3.0_v1.3.pdf

Additionally, there is an e-book especially for those who plan to pass the PM Certification Exam in Finnish, written by the founders of PRY/PMAF (Exam body): Projektiliiketoiminta (with some parts in English): http://pbgroup.aalto.fi/en/the_book_and_the_glossary/projektiliiketoiminta.pdf

Alternative completion methods of implementation

Recommended videos:

The course relies heavily on existing high-quality videos produced by leading PM experts from UK, US and Finland (available in open access). Please utilize these excellent sources! You will find the list of recommended videos in the Documents.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

If the student decides to take a PM Certification Exam in spring 2022 organized by Metropolia (participation is voluntary; the date will be announced separately), a successfully passed PM Certification can be recognized as 1 credit in the course and will bring +1 grade). The PM Certification Exam has high educational value and therefore is recognized as part of competence development in the course.

Student workload

The course includes a package of materials for self-study (slides and videos) and 2 assignments, A + B, delivered in 3 parts.
Parts 1 & 2 are given feedback. Each subsequent part can be improved based on feedback.
The course workload is 5 credits (each 1 credit is appx. 27 hours).

Content scheduling

The course starts on 28.01.2022 and ends by 31.05.2022.

Further information for students

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment methods and criteria

Satisfactory

Sufficient performance: has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.

Good

Good overall performance: can apply and articulate concepts and information well both verbally and in writing, certain areas of individual or team output require further attention; shows appropriate level of interest and motivation in individual and team activities. Good presentation delivery and analysis.

Excellent

Excellent performance in all elements of the course: shows interest and motivation in individual and team activities and assignments, fully applies and clearly articulates concepts and information both verbally and in writing. The student is able to support his/her argument with references to the recommended reading and lecture content. Excellent presentation delivery and analysis.

Approved / Failed

Sufficient performance: has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can apply and articulate concepts and information well both verbally and in writing, certain areas of individual or team output require further attention; shows appropriate level of interest and motivation in individual and team activities. Good presentation delivery and analysis.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student demonstrates interest and motivation in individual and team activities and assignments, fully applies and clearly articulates concepts and information both verbally and in writing. The student is able to support their arguments with references to the recommended reading and lecture content. Excellent presentation delivery and analysis.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student has completed basic requirements to pass the course and has made an attempt to apply and articulate concepts and information both verbally and in writing but has not made enough effort overall. The student has demonstrated little effort, interest and motivation for individual or team activities / assignments and the output is rather weak.