Course syllabus
MMS046 Project management lp1 HT23 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Contact details
Examiner and Lecturer:
Henrik Ringsberg, [RINGSBER], e-mail: henrik.ringsberg@chalmers.se
Course representatives
Course purpose
The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding about initiating, planning, directing and implementing projects. The course is based on the importance of communication and management of information between project managers, executives, employees, subcontractors and project stakeholders. Because of this the course emphasizes the importance of the project manager, and the dynamics within the project group. During the course, participants will have the opportunity to experience the dynamics, manage projects and participate in a workshop with a focus on setting up a project. The purpose of the workshop is also to promote critical thinking and reflection on the project management process. Finally, the course aims to provide knowledge in writing and presentation of a project proposal.
Schedule
Course literature
Kerzner, Harold (2017) Project Management, A systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling twelfths Ed.
Additional reading (non-mandatory)
- Norris, C, Perry J., and Simon, P., Project Risk Analysis and Management, The association for project management (APM).
- Project risk analysis and management MINI GUIDE, Association for Project Management (APM), January 2018.
- Chapman, C. (1997), “Project risk analysis and management-PRAM the generic process”, International Journal of Project Management, Volume 15, No. 5, pp. 273-281.
- Szmanski, P. (2017), “Risk management in construction projects”, Procedia Engineering 208 2nd International Joint Conference on Innovative Solutions in Construction Engineering and Management: 16th Lithuanian-German-Polish colloquium and 6th meeting of EURO working group Operational Research in Sustainable Development 24 May- 2nd International Workshop on flexibility in sustainable construction, ORSDCE 2017, 24-26 April, Pp. 174–182
Course design
The course is organized around lectures, video-recorded lectures, a workshop (mandatory), a seminar (mandatory), and a project assignment including oral presentation (mandatory)
Lectures and pre-recorded material
The course comprises eight in class lectures which all are based on the course literature, and pre-recorded material. The pre-recorded material are available on Youtube. Links to the pre-recorded material will be included in the lecture-slides from in-class lectures which are posted on Canvas approx. 24 hours prior to an up-coming in-class lecture. Attendance during in-class lectures and watching video-recorded lectures are strictly recommended.
Workshop
The course includes a workshop where attendance is mandatory. The aim of the workshop is to identify and discuss:
- Project stakeholders, linked to the identified/ selected project
- Project main- and sub activities, linked to project objective(/s)
- Deliverables as outcomes of project main- and sub activities
Each group must attend at ONE pre-booked workshop; Choodle will be used for booking of a workshop-slot, see CoursePM
Results from workshop discussions shall be used/ included in project plan (part A, see below).
Seminar
The course includes a mandatory seminar. The aim of the seminar is to explore how project risk is managed in organisations, the causes and consequences of project failure and the importance of effective contracts in achieving project success.
The seminar will take place as a guest-lecture
Project assignment
The project assignment (mandatory) takes it starting point in studies of project management. The purpose of the project assignment is to deepen knowledge and understanding of practicalities and theory about project management. The project assignment:
- Must be scientifically supported i.e include scientific references
- Is conducted in groups of 4-5 (max) students/ group.
- Reported as a project plan (Project assignment Part A+ Part B), sent on Canvas; allowed file types: doc, docx, for dates see coursePM
- Project assignment Part A, sent in on Canvas for dates see coursePM and must contain:
- Introduction section
- A Work breakdown structure (WBS)
- A Responsibility and Assignment Matrix
- Project assignment Part B must contain:
- The Risk Management Plan
- Quality Plan
- Communication and dissemination plan
- Preliminary project budget
- Orally presented, for dates see coursePM
Each group select one of the relevant “subjects” linked to the real-life case "Establishment of combined transport of package goods and people on ferries". Relevant subjects comprise:
I) Development of a business plan based on sustainable shipping of goods and people.
II) Development of “port” infrastructure for sustainable and efficient maritime transport.
III) Development of ship infrastructure for sustainable and efficient maritime transport of goods and people i.e re-build of ships/ vessels
IV) Development of efficient and sustainable logistic operations in handling of goods
V) Development of efficient and sustainable logistic operations intermodal transport of package goods i.e. movement of goods from road transport to vessel/ ship.
VI) Development of transport planning based on seasonal variation in transport of package goods and people.
Changes made since the last occasion
- All lectures are conducted at lecture halls
- Improved description of the SOW incl examples
- Improved description of CPM/ PERT method in scheduling of projects
Learning objectives and syllabus
Learning objectives
- Describe and explain the structure of a project life cycle and describe the characterizes of each phase of the cycle
- Critically evaluate the concepts and theories being studied
- Use and evaluate project management methods used for integrating and controlling project activities as well as for decision-making throughout the life cycle
- Consider and review the conditions for effective teamwork to deliver projects successfully
- Assess requirements for dissemination and documentation of project information and identify the communicative aspects of project work.
Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen: Study plan
Examination form
The examination consists of the following elements:
- Written exam: (2,5 Hp),
- Project assignment (Part A+Part B):
- Part A (2 Hp)
- Part B incl. presentation (3 Hp)
Written exam is graded: TH (i.e. Failed, 3, 4, 5)
Project assignment is graded: U-G. (i.e. Failed (U)-Passed (G)
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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