Project Management and Organization

Course Code: OL104A

Institution:

Department of Urban Studies

Revision:

3.1

For students admitted fall 2008  

Other set versions

Approval

The course was established 15 December 2004.
This course syllabus (version 3.1) was approved 22 August 2008 by the Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society.
The syllabus is valid from 01 September 2008. Replacement for course syllabus ratified 09 November 2007.

Education level

Second cycle

Course description

This multidisciplinary course deals with the issues of managing and organizing projects with the object to provide an in-depth understanding of projects from a scientific as well as practical point of view. The course is intended for students and professionals within a wide area of different backgrounds for example, engineers, professionals within the community and the health care sectors.

Entry requirements

Bachelor degree, consisting of 180 hp, or equivalent and General eligibility + the equivalent of English course B in Swedish secondary school.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
After a successful completion of this course the students:

• will understand the challenges involved in project management
• will have acquired a set of perspectives and tools for approaching challenges in project management as well as knowledge of how others have approached these challenges
• will have a broad orientation in leadership theory and models

Applying knowledge and understanding
After a successful completion of this course the students:

• will be able to demonstrate that they can find, evaluate and synthesise relevant current research on project management
• will be able to make informed decisions on choice of project management models, strategies of communication and in handling a project’s relation to its organizational context
• will demonstrate ability to lead in practice, particularly in relation to small groups
• should be able to assess challenges involved in a project and feel confident to take leadership in projects suited to their field of competence

Assessments

Forms of examination include active participation in case seminars and written reports reflecting both individual and group work. A passing grade is achieved by successfully completing each component in the course. A student passes with distinction (Swedish grading VG) if a distinguishing grade is achieved in at least 3 of the 4 course modules.


Course content

The course is divided into four large modules. These modules are described below.

Module 1: Project management - models and strategies 7.5 hp
In this course students become familiar with basic challenges involved in project management and acquire a repertoire of tools to address these challenges. Students will be able to interpret and analyze other’s project plans and conduct basic project planning.

Module 2: Creativity, innovation and culture in project organizations 7.5 hp
In a global context, creativity and innovation are said to be necessary for
any organization to survive and succeed. In this module students will be
exposed to theoretical and practical issues of managing project teams and
group dynamics, particularly in connection with creativity, innovation and cultural differences.

Module 3: Temporary organizations 7.5 hp
The course deals specifically with relationships between the project and external organizations in different phases of the project. The course offers an opportunity to treat aspects of project initiation, internal and external negotiation, managing evolving relations and the transfer of knowledge in project completion. The course also seeks to develop the communicative and managerial skills of students, particularly the ability to make good use of distributed knowledge.

Module 4: Thesis 7.5 hp
The thesis provides an opportunity to sum up knowledge developed during the course and to delve deeper into a field, theory or approach of particular interest.

Malmö University’s perspectives are an integrated part of the course. Issues of cultural diversity and intercultural communication are dealt with in relation to international projects. Gender perspectives are a key aspect of leadership. The choice of cases in the course is informed not only by traditional business concerns but also wider environmental and social concerns.


Learning activities

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and case work as well as simulations of varying kinds i.e. practices designed to illustrate important challenges of project management.

During the course students will be required to develop and stand for decisions in group and seminar contexts.

Students will also practice leadership in groups. This entails leading groups toward a desirable result and being able to reflect on leadership and group dynamics.

120 hour of lectures/seminars, group work of approximately 200 hours, individual work of approximately 480 hours.


Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). ECTS grading system can be used on students demand.


Reading list and other media

Books

• Andersen, E.S., R. Wiig, K.V. Grude, T. Gibbons and T. Haug.: Goal directed project management: Kogan Page, 2004.
• Booth, W.C., G.G. Colomb & J.M. Williams.: The craft of research. University of Chicago Press, 2003
• Hayes, N.: Managing teams : a strategy for success. Thomson Learning. 2001
• Hofstede, G., G.J. Hofstede & Association for Management Education and Development.: Cultures and organizations. McGraw-Hill. 2005
• McManus, J.: Leadership: project and human capital management. Elsevier, 2006
• Yin, R. K.; Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Third Edition, Applied Social Research Methods Series, Vol 5. Sage 2003

Articles
The course includes reading of numerous articles on project management, many of which may be chosen by students as they seek to develop a particular area of interest.

Cases
A collection of approximately 10 cases


Course evaluation

Each module in the course will be evaluated separately upon completion. This provides periodic feedback on course development. The course as a whole will also be evaluated on completion. A summary of results will be kept in archive.