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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 project development and management, which involves practical abilities to work with all project elements and use project management principles and methods, among them a project life cycle, project documentation and project implementation. Students acquire practical skills by developing project ideas, applying project management methods and designing project planning stages. Students practically learn how to work in a team, define and plan the completion of project tasks and do supervision over the tasks by applying computerised project management tools.
The aim of the study course is to provide knowledge about project development and management, project planning, implementation and financing. Acquired skills are used practically when developing projects, their monitoring and management structure using project management computer tools.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
knowledge of:
1) the nature and concepts of project development - discussions in classes, a test,
2) how to plan project activities in enterprises and organisations - discussions in classes, practical assignments,
3) how to employ various project management methods in enterprises and organisations - practical assignments;
professional skills to:
4) independently define project ideas and substantiate the urgency of a problem - practical assignments, group work,
5) develop a project plan, employing project management methods - group work, practical assignments;
soft skills to:
6) responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given - group work, practical assignments,
7) engage in teamwork, express and argue their opinions - group work,
8) present a plan developed – practical assignments;
competences to:
9) independently identify, define and analyse problems –an examination,
10) initiate a solution to the problem by employing project management methods - practical assignments, group work,
11) use the application MS Project in designing and implementing a project plan - practical assignments, a test, an examination.

Course Content(Calendar)

The nature of project management. Terminology. Historical aspects of project management. (lecture – 1 hour)
2. Categories and types of projects. Characteristics of the project, characteristics. (lecture – 1 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
3. Principles of project problem definition, degree of problem resolution depending on the selected project type. (lecture – 1 hour, practical assignment – 1 hour)
4. Formulation of project content. The purpose of the project. Goal analysis using SMART, RILSS, TRIKS methods. Project stress triangle. (lectures – 2 hours, practical assignment – 1 hour)
5. Project team. Project manager role. The place of the project in the structure of the organization. Roles of team members. Analysis of project alternatives. (lectures – 2 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
6. Methods used in project planning, planning diversity, plan selection criteria. "Fishbone" (Ishikawa) diagram in project planning. (lectures - 2 hours, practical assignment - 1 hour)
7. Defining the scope of the project. Project life cycle. Types of project life cycle. (lectures – 2 hours, practical assignment – 1 hour)
8. Project structuring. Product structure plan. Structural plan of project works. Types of structure plan. Creating project plans in IT applications. (lectures – 2 hours, practical assignments – 2 hours)
9. Project time planning. Project progress network plan. Using the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) technique. Plan of project boundary posts. (lectures – 3 hours, practical assignments – 2 hours)
10. Defining project personnel and resources. Principles of personnel and resource attraction for developments. Use of IT in resource planning. (lectures – 3 hours, practical assignments – 1 hour)
11. Project changes, project flexibility and change planning. Data entry principles, structure leveling. (lectures – 3 hours, practical assignments – 2 hours)
12. Risks in project management. Risk Probability and Impact Matrix. (lectures – 1 hour, practical assignments – 1 hour)
13. Project monitoring measures complex. Internal and external monitoring. (lecture – 1 hour, practical assignment – 1 hour)
14. Standards in project management. ISO 21500:2012. PMI PMBoK. ICB 4.0 (IPMA Competence Baseline). (lectures – 1 hour)
15. Creation of project reports in the IT environment. (lectures – 1 hour, practical assignment – 1 hour)
Test: Completion of tasks in the MS Project program. (practical assignment - 1 hours)
Presentation of practical assignments. (practical assignment - 2 hours)
In part-time studies:
All topics indicated for full-time attendance are implemented, but the number of contact hours is ½ of the number of hours indicated.

Requirements for awarding credit points

The final assessment in the study course consists of:
Test - 10 points;
Practical assignments - 40 points;
Examination – 50 points.
10 points correspond to one point on the 10-point study results evaluation scale.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student must independently prepare for the test, presentation of practical assignments, the exam.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final assessment in the study course consists of:
Test - 10 points;
Practical assignments - 40 points;
Examination – 50 points.
10 points correspond to one point on the 10-point study results evaluation scale.

Compulsory reading

1. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) - 7th Edition, Project Management Institute, 2021, 250 p.
2. Lester A. Project Management, Planning and Control. - 8th Edition. Elsevier, 2021, 696 p.
3. Nielsen K. Agile Portfolio Management. Taylor & Francis Group, 2022, 349 p.
4. Individual Competence Baseline for Project Management. IPMA, 2023, 182 p.
5. Wang T., Chen H.-M. Integration of building information modeling and project management in construction project life cycle. ELSEVIER, 150, 2023.
6. Jurgena I. Projektu vadīšana. Mācību metodiskais materiāls. Jelgava, LLU, 2009, 33 lpp.
7. Jurgena I., Dukulis I. Apgūsim PROJECT! Microsoft Office Project 2003. Mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: LLU, 2010, 51 lpp.
8. Projektu vadīšanas rokasgrāmata. Dienas Bizness HUB: https://www.dbhub.lv/projektu-vadisanas-rokasgramata
9. 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.
10. Daley S. Project 2013 in Depth. U.S.: Que Corporation, 2013. 929 p.

Further reading

1. Malachowsky S. Project Team Leadership and Communication. Rochester, NY: Lintwood Press, 2018. – p.233
2. Martin D.P. Project Management Hacking. How to Manage Projects More Efficiently and Effictively in Less Time. Taylor & Francis, 2020, 97 p.

Periodicals and other sources

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

Notes

Field professional specialization course for the ESAF professional bachelor study programme “Business and Enterprise Management” (Part B3).