Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the student will have acquired an advanced knowledge of several techniques and models for project management, including a deep knowledge of project management software. Also, the student will have acquired the basic knowledge about the construction of an industrial plant.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to independently use techniques and tools (e.g. software products) for project management, in order to plan activities and the main processes of a project, identifying the appropriate management policies in relation to the context. The student will be able to analyse and process numerical data to support decisions.
Making judgements: The student will be able to evaluate the main construction techniques of industrial plants from a project manager perspective. Also, the student will be able to assess the impact of decisions on the expected performances of a project.
Communication skills: The student will acquire specific project and construction 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 and construction 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 Project Management before starting the course of Project Management II.
Course unit content
The course focuses on some topics already outlined in the course of “Project Management”, and on complementary topics to those treated in that course, such as (i) the use of the project management software tool MS Project®, (ii) assembly of mechanical components, (iii) surface treatment and thermal insulation, (iv) assembly of electrotechnical and electrical components.
Full programme
FIRST MODULE
1 – Introduction to MS Project
2 – Simple scheduling basics:
a) project plan
b) task list
c) resources
d) assigning resources to tasks
e) tracking progresses
3 – Advanced scheduling techniques
a) advanced task scheduling
b) fine-tuning task details
c) fine-tuning resource and assignment details
d) fine-tuning the project plan
e) organising project details
f) tracking progress on tasks and assignments
g) viewing and reporting project status
SECOND MODULE:
1 – Project management as a tool
2 – Industrial plants: introduction from a project manager perspective
3 – The construction and assembly of industrial plants:
a) civil works
b) surface treatment and thermal insulation
c) assembly of electrotechnical components
d) assembly of electronic components and tools
4 – The assembly of mechanical components:
a) metal working
b) assembly of equipment and machinery
c) pipe circuits
5 – Conclusions
Bibliography
Handouts and notes for the course are available at:
- Corini F., (2010), Nozioni di tecniche e tecnologie di costruzione degli impianti industriali ad uso del project management (due volumi), Dispense didattiche, IIa Edizione
Also, interested students can refer to:
- Halpin, Daniel W., Senior, Bolivar A., (2012), Construction management, 4th Edition, John Wiley and Sons Inc., ISBN: 978-0-470-50593-9
- Hessler, Peter G., (2005), Power plant construction management: A survival guide, PennWell Corp., ISBN: 1-59370-029-6.
- Chatfield, C., Johnson, T., (2013), Microsoft Project 2013 Step by Step, Microsoft Press, ISBN: 978-0-7356-6911-6
Teaching methods
The course has a weight of 6 CFU, that correspond to 48 hours of lesson. The course consists of two different modules: (i) software tools for project management and (ii) construction management.
The first module mainly consists of computer-based exercises (laboratory of informatics) on MS ProjectTM. Students are allowed to use their own computers, if they want to, and will be asked to use their knowledge and skills on project and construction management, to complete a business-like exercise (business game).
The business game will be developed individually by every student, who will have to apply theory to plan and schedule a project built according to the theory and to the bibliographic material.
In the second module, the theoretical topics of the course are presented and explained by means of lectures. Business cases are discussed as practical applications of the main topics of the module.
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 of two stages to be completed in a given order. The first stage of the exam will focus on the second module, and it will be an oral test of 20-30 mins (approx.); the student may start the exam from a topic of choice. Typically, 3-4 questions are asked, evaluating knowledge and understanding, their application, the ability of making judgements and communication skills.
After a positive completion of the first stage (with a minimum mark of 18), at the second stage the student will present its own business game. The student may use the supporting material that he/she prefers, such as presentations, figures, tables, MS Project files and the like.
The final mark will be the average of the marks achieved at both stages, and it may be added of 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
Attending the course is not mandatory.
