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. Remember to prepare for each seminar by reading the relevant literature, and produce a post-seminar reflection.
The course is managed by Christoffer Rönndahl - christoffer.ronndahl@chalmers.se. In the first instance, please direct your questions to Christoffer who will subsequently reach out to the rest of the teaching team if required.
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) |
| 13 | 25/3 | 13.15 - 17.00 |
Introduction Lecture |
|
| 14 | 1/4 | 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. |
| 14 | 3/4 |
13.00 - 15.00 |
Test 1 (Room: To Be Confirmed) | Read, watch and practice the material for Module 1. |
| 15 | 8/4 |
13.15 - 17.00 |
Module 2: Project methodologies |
Prepare by reading the compulsory literature |
|
15 |
10/4 |
13.15 - 17.00 (4 hour-seminar) |
Module 2 Seminar A: Lego4Scrum |
1) Do the preparations for Seminar A. 2) Submit your reflections for Seminar A before the deadline. |
|
15 |
11/4 |
13.00-15.00 |
Retake for Test 1 (Room To Be Confirmed) |
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 | 25/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 |
Module 3: Project Leadership |
Prepare by reading the compulsory literature |
| 18 | 29/4 |
13.15 - 15.00 (Group 1) 15.15-17.00 (Group 2) |
Module 3 Seminar B: Project Leadership |
1) Do the preparations for Seminar B. 2) Submit your reflections for Seminar B before the deadline. |
| 19 | 6/5 | 13.15 - 17.00 |
Module 4: Project Success |
Prepare by reading the compulsory literature |
| 19 | 8/5 |
13.15-17.00 |
Module 4 Seminar C: Project Success |
1) Do the preparations for Seminar C. 2) Submit your reflections for Seminar C before the deadline. |
| 20 | 13/5 | 13.15 - 17.00 | Module 5: Mega Projects |
Prepare by reading the compulsory literature |
| 20 | 15/5 |
13.15-17.00 |
Module 5 Seminar D: Mega Projects |
1) Do the preparations for Seminar D. 2) Submit your reflections for Seminar D before the deadline. |
| 21 | 20/5 | 13.15 - 15.00 | Module 6: Complexity and Uncertainty | Prepare by reading the compulsory literature |
| 21 | 22/5 |
13.15 - 15.00 (group 1) 15.15 - 17.00 (group 2) |
Module 6 Seminar E: Complexity and Uncertainty |
1) Do the preparations for Seminar E. 2) Submit your reflections for Seminar E before the deadline. |
| 21 | 23/5 | 13.15 - 15.00 | Closing Lecture |
|
| 22 | 27/5 | 13.00 - 17.00 (till 18.00 for students entitled to extra time) | Test 2 (Room: To Be Confirmed) |
Study the lectures and the compulsory literature for Modules 1-5. |
| 23 | 5/6 |
13.00 - 17.00 (till 18.00 for students entitled to extra time) |
Re-exam Test 2 (Room: To Be Confirmed) | 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 7 to 10 (included) and 12 to 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 Leadership
Compulsory readings:
- To be announced
Module 4: 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)
Module 5: Managing Mega Projects
Compulsory readings:
Module 6: 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.
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|