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Project Management

Course developer

Prior knowledge

VadZ1018, Business Information Management

VadZ3017, Team Management

Course abstract

Students build up an understanding and knowledge of and skills in developing and managing projects, focusing on project management principles and methods, including planning the life cycle of a project, project documentation and project organisation. Practical skills are acquired by developing project ideas, applying project management methods and drawing up project plans. Students practically learn how to work in a team, define project tasks and plan the completion of the tasks, and impose supervision over the project by applying computerised project management tools.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
- the nature and concepts of project development - discussions in classes, test,
- how to plan project activities in enterprises and organisations - discussions in classes, practical assignments,
- how to employ various project management methods in enterprises and organisations - practical assignments;
- independently define project ideas and substantiate the urgency of a problem - practical assignments, group work,
- develop a project plan, employing project management methods - group work, independent assignments;
- responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given - group work, independent assignments,
- engage in teamwork, express and argue their opinions - group work,
- present a plan developed - presentation;
- independently identify, define and analyse problems – examination,
- initiate a solution to the problem by employing project management methods - practical assignments, group work,

- use the application MS Project in designing and implementing a project plan - practical assignments, test, examination.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Terminology and basic concepts for project management. (lecture 1 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
2. General nature of the project. (lecture 1 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
3. The scale, objectives of the projects. (lecture 2 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
4. The project and the organisation implementing it. (lecture 2 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
5. Project team. (lecture 2 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
6. Project task development. (lecture 2 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
7. Project planning. (lectures 3 hours, practical assignments – 2 hours)
8. Scheduling deadlines. (lecture 2 hours, practical assignments - 1 hour)
9. Economic justification for the project. (lecture 2 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
10. Supervision and regulation of the project - monitoring and control mechanisms. (lectures 2 hours, practical assignments – 2 hours)
11. Project closure. (lecture 1 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
12. Use of information technologies in project management. (lectures 4 hours, practical assignments - 8 hours)
Test: Performance of tasks in MS Project application of project management methodology (practical -1 hour)

13. Presentations (practical - 2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The examination assignment consists of:
• questions about the theoretical material acquired in the study course;

• a task to be completed in MS Project.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent assignment has to be defined during practical assignment.
Independent assignments (individual or collective up to 3 students) require students to: identify and analyse a problem, find a solution to the problem, develop a project and create a project plan in MS Project.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment:
Test – a maximum score of 10;
Project developed – a maximum score of 10;
Use of computer tools in developing projects – a maximum score of 10;
Activity during classes – a maximum score of 10;
Presentation of a project developed – a maximum score of 10.
The examination – a maximum score of 50.

A score of 10 is equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.

Compulsory reading

1. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) - Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute, 2013, 589 pages, ISBN13: 9781935589679
2. Jurgena I. Projektu vadīšana. Mācību metodiskais materiāls. Jelgava, LLU, 2009, 33 lpp.
3. Jurgena I., Dukulis I. Apgūsim PROJECT! Microsoft Office Project 2003. Mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: LLU, 2010, 51 lpp.
4. Projektu vadīšanas rokasgrāmata. Dienas bizness HUB: https://www.dbhub.lv/projektu-vadisanas-rokasgramata
5. Larson E.W., Clifford F.G. Project Management: the Managerial Process. Seventh edition. – NY: McGrow-Hill Education, 2017. – p. 659.
6. Trevors L. Jangs Kā vadīt projektu. Zvaigzne ABC, 2009, 152 lpp.
7. Wysocki Robert K., Bentley C. Global Complex Project Management: An Integrated Adaptive Agile and PRINCE2 LEAN Framework for Achieving Success. Plantation, FL: J. Ross Publishing, 2016. 276 lpp.

8. Daley S. Project 2013 in Depth. U.S.: Que Corporation, 2013. 929 lpp.

Further reading

1. Malachowsky S. Project Team Leadership and Communication. Rochester, NY: Lintwood Press, 2018. – p.233
2. Forands I. Projekta menedžments. Rīga, 2006. 258 lpp.

3. Hanss D. Litke, Kunova I. Projektu vadība. Rīga: Denova, 2003, 125 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Project Management Journal, https://journals-sagepub-com.db.rsu.lv/doi/abs/10.1002/pmj.20053
2. Latvijas Nacionālā projektu vadīšanas asociācija (LNPVA), http://lnpva.lv/
3. Project Management Institute (PMI), https://www.pmi.org/

4. International Project Management Association (IPMA), https://www.ipma.world/

Notes

Field professional specialization study course (Part B3) for the ESAF professional Bachelor study programme “Entrepreneurship and Business Management”