Project Management
Code
2376
Academic unit
null
Department
null
Credits
3,5
Teacher in charge
Paulo Faroleiro
Teaching language
English
Objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply a solid project management methodology from project initiation to project closure. Topics covered include the key project management processes with a particular focus on their practical challenges. Case studies will be used throughout the course, allowing students to apply the acquired knowledge.
Prerequisites
N/A
Subject matter
Introduction - Projects vs operations; project management and its constraints; organizational structures and their influence on project performance; project life cycle; PMO; knowledge areas and process groups; programs and portfolios;
Initiation - The purpose of initiating a project; business case; statement of work; project charter;
Scope - Planning scope management; Project vs product scope; scope management challenges; scope statement; Product Breakdown Structure; Work Breakdown Structure; scope baseline;
Time - Planning schedule management; dependencies; lags and leads; critical path; duration estimates; (optional: schedule compression; resource leveling; PERT analysis);
Cost - Planning cost management; estimate costs; cost types; estimation methods; estimation precision; learning curve; life cycle costing; cost budgeting;
Quality - Establishing a quality management plan; understand quality principles and processes; establish quality standards and metrics; quality control; using quality management tools;
Human resources - Human resources project organization; responsibility assignment; staffing management;
Communications - Identifying stakeholders; planning communications; managing expectations;
Risk - Understanding risk and risk management; planning risk management, identifying risks; performing qualitative risk analysis; performing quantitative risk analysis; planning risk responses; monitoring risks;
Monitoring and closing - Understanding variances; corrective action; managing changes; Earned Value Management; project closure.
Bibliography
Text Books
Kerzner, H.: Project Management - A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling - 11th edition (2014): Wiley
Turner, J. Rodney: The Handbook of Project-Based Management - 3rd Edition (2008): McGraw-Hill
Vanhoucje, M.: Project Management with Dynamic Scheduling - Baseline Scheduling, Risk Analysis and Project Control (2013): Springer
Case Book
Kerzner, H.: Project Management - Case Studies - 4th Edition (2014): John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Teaching method
The curricular unit is based on lectures, complemented by practical exercises. Lectures include the presentation and discussion of project management concepts, processes, methods and techniques. Topics will be presented by a variety of approaches, including lectures, in-class exercises, case study analysis and presentation, and class discussion of assigned readings. Practical exercises are focused on project plan preparation, based on a case study created by students.
At the end of each programed delivery, each students group does a brief presentation, receiving later a delivery feedback.
Evaluation method
The final grade will be determined by the performance in the following areas:
I. Final exam (30% of the final grade);
II. Participation (10% of the final grade);
III. Group assignments (30% of the final grade);
a. Case document (20%)
b. Case presentation (10%)
Project (30% of the final grade)
Courses
