Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the basic knowledge about the structure and operation of a project, as well as the knowledge of the basic project management techniques and models.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to independently plan activities and the main processes of a project, identifying the appropriate management policies in relation to the context. For example, the student will be able to develop a project budget, assess and analyse the earned value of a project, identify resource and define the time of execution of the work, organize the project team, and so on. The student will be able to analyse and process numerical data to support decisions.
Making judgements: The student will be able to assess the impact of strategic, planning and operative decisions on the expected performances of a project.
Communication skills: The student will acquire specific project management lexicon. It is expected that, at the end of the course, the student will be able to communicate (either orally and in written form) the main contents of the course, as well as resolving numerical problems.
Learning skills: Students who have attended the course will be able to deepen their knowledge in the field of project management, by means of books, scientific papers, magazines and periodical publications.
Prerequisites
There are no compulsory prerequisites, but students are suggested to attend the course of Operations Management (Gestione della Produzione) before starting the course of Project Management.
Course unit content
The expression "project management" describes the set of activities aimed at achieving the goals/objectives of a project. A project is a temporary effort (i.e. limited in time) with the objective of delivering one or more units of a unique product or service, whose characteristics are elaborated progressively. The course aims at providing students with the tools to properly address the challenges of project management, namely: (i) achieving the project's objectives, that is timely releasing deliverables according to some pre-defined requirements, (ii) remaining within the limits of cost, time, scope/quality, and (ii) integrate the necessary inputs and optimise the allocation resources.
Full programme
1 - General concepts and basic principles:
a. flows and impulses in the life of enterprise systems
b. definitions and specific characteristics of the "project"
c. internal projects: research and development of new products and new processes, organizational restructuring and implementations
d. projects for the supply of products and services in third: high commitment of capital or high level of human resources
2 - The plant project environment of an Engineering and Contracting Company
a. introductory concepts
b. process of acquisition and implementation of the project
c. life cycle of the project
d. the project as a system
e. project architecture
f. project planning
g. project structuring into control entries
h. reticular techniques
i. management and risk analysis
j. the operational phases of the project of implant
k. Basic and detailed engineering
l. the logistics of materials: water supply and management
m. relationship between the presence curve materials and human resources availability curve
n. concepts based on the timing of supply within the "project"
3 - The plant projects in a construction company
a. introductory concepts: construction companies, characteristics, and market characteristics
b. the need for a project management system: the different possible frameworks business
c. the interface and the stakeholders of the Project Manager
d. business services: the Proposal Manager.
i. The Client: Private and Public
ii. Request for offer and the main contractarian
iii. Project Financing and P.P.P.
iv. the Budget: the identification of the "scope of work"
v.. the metric: the quantification of work
there. the definition of the resources needed: direct and indirect hours, productivity, production, cash flow
vii. the program works: backward scheduling, histograms, bell curves and S
viii. determining the cost first
ix. the transition from cost-price offer: the Contribution Margin
e. management activities: Project Manager
i. duties and responsibilities: the definition of the objective, MBO )
ii. the initial stages and preliminary
iii. the production unit for the project: the construction site, general characteristics and organizational frameworks
iv. integrated control of management
v.. time control: techniques and basic tools
there. quality control: cost of quality and non-quality
vii. control the income statement: revenue, cost, cost accounting yard
viii. the data acquisition system: production and exploitation, the earned value
ix. the synthetic controls: direct rendering time, direct cost of an hour, estimate to complete
x. relations with the Client during construction: techniques and tools
xi. variations during construction: techniques and tools
xii. litigation: techniques and instruments "claim mangement"
xiii. activities at the end of project
Bibliography
Handouts and notes for the course are available at:
- Corini F., (2005), Il project management nelle imprese di costruzione, Dispense didattiche, IV Edizione
Also, interested students can refer to:
- Nokes S., Sean K., (2007), Definitive Guide to Project Management, PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, ISBN-10: 0273710974; ISBN-13: 9780273710974
- Amato R., Chiappi R., (2013), Tecniche di Project Management. Pianificazione e controllo dei progetti, Franco Angeli, ISBN: 9788856802313
- Caron F., (2009), Gestione dei grandi progetti di ingegneria. Il project management in azione, ISEDI, ISBN-10: 8880083511; ISBN-13: 978-8880083511
Teaching methods
The course has a weight of 6 CFU, that correspond to 42 hours of lesson.
The theoretical topics of the course are presented and explained by means of lectures. Exercises and business cases are proposed on the practical parts of the course, and students will be asked to apply the theory presented in lectures to exercises and case studies.
Moreover, business cases are discussed as practical applications of the main topics of the course.
To incentivise the active participation of students, occasional questions will be asked during lectures: students providing correct answers will be acknowledged bonuses to increase the final mark of the exam.
Handouts and material will be uploaded at the beginning of the course on the platform Elly (also by means of web links). Students must log in to the course on the platform itself to download all the material. Students non-attending the course are advised to check regularly the Elly platform.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists in an oral test of 30-40 mins (approx). The student may start the exam from a topic of choice. Typically, 5-6 questions are asked, evaluating knowledge and understanding, their application, the ability of making judgements and communication skills. The mark may be added by bonuses collected by the student during lectures. The exam is passed if the evaluation reaches at least 18/30. The 'cum laude' evaluation is awarded if the student is evaluated excellent in all areas of evaluation, or in case of a mark above 30/30 (due to bonuses).
Other information
The attendance is not mandatory, even if it is sincerely suggested.
