Course syllabus
Welcome to this course in Project Management!
Lectures, seminars and tests are held on Chalmers campus Johanneberg. You can find the locations for lectures and seminars on TimeEdit HERE.
The Q&A session for module 1 will be held on Zoom: https://chalmers.zoom.us/j/66374425418
Information about course content and learning goals are presented in the Course PM HERE, while an overview of the schedule, preparatory work (to be completed for each lecture and seminar) and submissions can be found in the schedule below on this page. To join seminars, you need to sign up in advance, prepare according to the instructions for each seminar and write a reflection after each seminar.
The course is managed by Christoffer Rönndahl christoffer.ronndahl@chalmers.se. Hence, communication and questions in the course should all be sent to him, in order to provide you with a cohesive response.
The course is examined by Ingrid Johansson Mignon.
Schedule and Preparatory work
| Week |
Date |
Time |
Course Activity |
Preparations (videos and articles are available under each module) |
| 12 | 19/3 | 13.15 - 15.00 |
Introduction Lecture |
|
| 12 | 22/3 | 13.15 - 14.00 |
Q&A Module 1: PM Basics (Zoom) |
1) Watch the pre-recorded videos and read the compulsory textbook chapters. 2) Send your questions to Ingrid (ingrid.mignon@chalmers.se) before the deadline. |
| 13 | 26/3 |
15.15 - 17.00 (till 18.00 for students entitled to extra time) |
Test 1 (Room: SBMultisal) | Read, watch and practice the material for Module 1. |
| 15 | 9/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 |
Module 2: Project methodologies | Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 2 under Module 2. |
| 15 | 9/4 |
15.15 - 17.00 |
Module 2: Agile development | Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 3 under Module 2. |
| 15 |
11/4 |
13.15 - 17.00 (4 hour-seminar) |
Module 2 Seminar A: Lego4Scrum |
1) Sign up for the seminar before the deadline. 2) Do the preparations for Seminar A. 3) Submit your reflections for Seminar A before the deadline. |
| 16 | 16/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 |
Module 3: Defining and Measuring Project success |
Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 4 under Module 3. |
| 16 | 18/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 (group 1, Vasa B) 15.15 - 17.00 (group 2, Vasa B) |
Module 3 seminar B: Project success (Vasa B) |
1) Sign up for the seminar before the deadline. 2) Do the preparations for Seminar B. 3) Submit your reflections for Seminar B before the deadline. |
| 17 | 23/04 |
15.15 - 17.00 |
Retake for Test 1 (SB-D309) |
Only relevant for those who did not take the test or did not pass. Sign up for the re-exam under assignments in Canvas. |
| 17 | 23/4 | 13.15 - 15.00 |
Module 4: Complexity and Uncertainty |
Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 5 under Module 4. |
|
17 |
25/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 (group 1) 15.15 - 17.00 (group 2) |
Module 4 Seminar C: Complexity and Uncertainty |
1) Sign up for the seminar before the deadline. 2) Do the preparations for Seminar C. 3) Submit your reflections for Seminar C before the deadline. |
| 18 | 2/5 | 13.15 - 15:00 | Module 5: Project Leadership |
1) Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 6 under Module 5. |
| 19 | 7/5 |
13.15 - 15.00 (group 1) 15.15 - 17.00 (group 2) |
Module 5 Seminar D: Project Leadership |
1) Sign up to Seminar D before the deadline. 2) Do the preparations for Seminar D. 3) Submit your reflections for Seminar D before the deadline. |
| 20 | 14/5 | 13.15 - 15.00 | Module 6: Self Organization | Read the compulsory literature for Lecture 7 under Module 6. |
| 20 | 16/5 |
13.15 - 15.00 (group 1) 15.15 - 17.00 (group 2) |
Module 6 Seminar E: Self Organization |
1) Sign up to Seminar E before the deadline. 2) Do the preparations for Seminar E. 3) Submit your reflections for Seminar E before the deadline. |
| 20 | 17/5 | 13.15 - 15.00 | Closing Lecture |
|
| 21 | 23/5 | 13.15 - 17.00 (till 18.00 for students entitled to extra time) | Test 2 (Room: SBMultisal) |
Study the lectures and the compulsory literature for Modules 2-6. |
| 23 | 4/6 |
14.00 - 18.00 (from 12.00 for students entitled to extra time) |
Re-exam Test 2 (Room: SB-D409) | Only relevant for those who did not take the test or did not pass. Sign up for the re-exam under assignments in Canvas. |
Course Literature (minor changes may occur in the literature list)
Module 1: Project Management Basics
Compulsory reading:
- Pinto, J. K. (2020). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage (5th Global ed.). Boston: Pearson Education. Chapters 3, 5, 7 - 10 (included) and 12 - 14 (included).
Module 2: Project Methodologies
Compulsory readings:
- Lindkvist, L., Soderlund, J., & Tell, F. (1998). Managing product development projects: on the significance of fountains and deadlines. Organization studies, 19(6), 931-951.
- de Meyer, A., Loch, C., & Pich, M. (2002). Managing Project Uncertainty: From Variation to Chaos, Sloan Management Review, 43(2), 60-67.
- Takeuchi, H., & Nonaka, I. (1986). The new new product development game. Harvard business review, 64(1), 137-146.
Recommended readings:
- Rigby, D. K., Sutherland, J., & Takeuchi, H. (2016). Embracing Agile. Harvard Business Review, 94(5), 40–50.
- The Scrum Guides https://scrumguides.org/scrum-guide.html
- Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) Rules https://less.works/less/rules
- Flow of Teams in LeSS Introduction to LeSS - Large Scale Scrum (LeSS)
- Feature teams https://www.craiglarman.com/content/feature-teams/feature-teams.htm
Module 3: Project Success
Compulsory readings:
- Shenhar, A. & Dvir, D. & Levy, O. & Maltz, A. (2001) Project Success - A multi-dimensional strategic concept. Long Range Planning. 699-725Download Shenhar, A. & Dvir, D. & Levy, O. & Maltz, A. (2001) Project Success - A multi-dimensional strategic concept. Long Range Planning. 699-725
-
Karrbom, G. & Hallin, A. (2014). Rethinking dichotomization - A critical perspective on the use of 'hard' and 'soft' in project management research. International Journal of Project Management. 568-577, 32(4)Download Karrbom, G. & Hallin, A. (2014). Rethinking dichotomization - A critical perspective on the use of 'hard' and 'soft' in project management research. International Journal of Project Management. 568-577, 32(4)
-
Crawford, L,. & Pollack, J,. (2004). Hard and soft projects - a framework for analysis. International Journal of Project Management. 645-653, 22(8)
Module 4: Complexity and Uncertainty in Projects
Compulsory readings:
- Shenhar, A.J., (2001). One size does not fit all projects: Exploring classical contingency domains. Management science, 47(3), 394-414.
- de Meyer, A., Loch, C., & Pich, M. (2002). Managing Project Uncertainty: From Variation to Chaos, Sloan Management Review, 43(2), 60-67.
- Olausson, D. & Berggren, C., (2010). Managing uncertain, complex product development in high‐tech firms: in search of controlled flexibility. R&D Management, 40(4), 383-399.
Module 5: Project Leadership
Compulsory readings:
- Introduction chapter (only) in Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership.
- Holmberg, I., & Tyrstrup, M. (2010). Well then-What now? An everyday approach to managerial leadership. Leadership, 6(4), 353-372.
Module 6: Self-organization
Compulsory readings:
- Wheatley, M. J., & Kellner-Rogers, M. (1996). Self-Organization: The Irresistable Future of Organizing. Strategy & Leadership, 24(4), 18–24.
- Manz, C. C., Shipper, F., & Stewart, G. L. (2009). Everyone a Team Leader: Shared Influence at W. L. Gore & Associates. Organizational Dynamics, 38(3), 239–244.
- Empson, L., Langley, A., & Sergi, V. (2023). When Everyone and No One is a Leader: Constructing individual leadership identities while sustaining an organizational narrative of collective leadership. Organization Studies, 44(2), 201–227.
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|