mp01a

1. Introduction
This course focuses on the core issues of projects and provides an overview of project management.

Projects are distinguished from ongoing activities in organizations. Projects have a well defined goal and scope. Projects have a start and an end. Projects need a special organization - different from ongoing activities. Projects are installed to create something new, a new building, a new application system, or a new application of an existing system. Projects are unique and risky.

Cases are analysed and discussed in order to develop an understanding of projects. One case deals with a project of historical dimension like North Stream, Nabucco, Desertec, Oeresund Bridge, Gotthard Tunnel, Channel Tunnel, Airport Berlin-Brandenburg, etc. Another case deals with a smaller project in the neighbourhood or even within the university or within the study course - in such a case, discussions about stakeholders, aims and objectives, criteria for success and failure, project context and organization can go down to the basics.

The course shows how projects can be organized and how projects shape organizations, especially when projects become more important than ongoing activities in a projectized organization.

In classes with international students perspectives of cultures, economic freedom, corruption, bribery, etc. are included - the perception of cultural issues will be developed.

The course shows how project management is shaped by project management associations (PMI®, IPMA®, OGC®, etc.), international standards, certificates, etc., and introduces these organizations, standards and certificates.

This course is organized as a block course mainly in the first week of the semester. It includes an introduction to the whole study programme and explains the roles of the courses in the programme. The course strongly supports team work and develops cooperation in classes. Students start to use the e-learning platforms of the university and the study course.

2. Course structure
Projects: Concepts and types
 * Introduction and definitions
 * Aims and objectives
 * Scope and success criteria
 * Project types (scale, industries, duration, etc.)
 * Standards for project management

Projects: Cases
 * Projects we are faced with in everyday life
 * Large-scale strategic projects

Projects: Context and organization
 * Stakeholders
 * Projects in organizations - projectized organizations
 * Context of projects
 * Criteria for success and failure
 * Aspects of costs and values

3. Case Studies

 * Analysis of important large scale projects like Oeresund Bridge, Airport Berlin-Brandenburg, North Stream Pipeline,
 * Working on a selected project in the context of the EuroMPM like a conference as project case.

4. Parameters
ECTS: 3 Hours of study in total: 90 Main block is in the first week, when the first semester students start, and a short additional block later in the first semester to present and discuss research results. Course characteristics: compulsory Course frequency: every year - winter semester Maximal capacity: 15 students Course admittance prerequisites: no special requirements Skills trained in this course: professional, methodological, and personal skills Assessment of the course: **One exam for MP01a and MP02a** Teaching staff: Prof. Dr. Peter Reusch, Prof. Dr. Christian Reimann
 * Contact hours: 30
 * Self study hours: 60
 * 75% contributions within the course (homework, group work, presentations, case studies)
 * 25% written or oral examination at the end of the course

5.1 Knowledge
The students can
 * describe the core issues of a project and various types of projects.
 * explain the difference between projects and ongoing activities.
 * explain the core issues of goal, scope, and baseline.
 * explain the concept of stakeholders and the roles of stakeholders in a project.
 * explain criteria for success and failure in projects.
 * explain main standards for project management.

5.2 Skills
The students are able to in given context in the course.
 * analyze and develop goals, scopes, and baselines
 * analyse and develop criteria for success and failure
 * identify stakeholders and their roles
 * analyse and characterize the project organization
 * analyse and characterize the context of a project

5.3 Competence - attitude
They are able to in a new context / project.
 * analyze and develop goals, scopes, and baselines
 * analyse and develop criteria for success and failure
 * identify stakeholders and their roles
 * analyse and characterize organization
 * analyse and characterize the context

5.4 On scaling learning outcomes
The assessment of learning outcomes is based upon the following core perspectives:
 * Completeness – regarding stakeholders, criteria for success and failure, etc.
 * Analysis - regarding goals, scope, stakeholders, criteria, etc.

6. Teaching and training methods

 * Lectures introducing concepts, methods and tools
 * Group work to practice concepts and methods, to develop skills, and to work on case studies
 * Home work to add individual contributions
 * Presentations to communicate results

7. Course mapping
This course is linked to all other courses of the study program in the following way :


 * MP01a introduces to the study programme and to each individual course.**

MP02a follows MP01a embedding projects into life-cycles, and considering maturity models for project management, as well as customer relationship and a deeper stakeholder analysis.
 * MP02a: Life-cycle Concepts, Maturity Models, Customer Relation Ship, Stakeholder Management**

MP01a prepares MP03a with discussion on project goals, scope and baselines
 * MP03a: Project Planning**

MP01a introduces to risk in projects - especially regarding the case studies.
 * MP04a: Managing Risk**

The project cases discussed in MP01a include first aspects of values and costs of a project and prepare MP05a project economics.
 * MP05a: Project Economics**

MP01a prepares project control - especially regarding the case studies.
 * MP06a: Project Control**

MP01a introduces various aspects of human resources in projects.
 * MP07a: Human Resource Management in Projects - including Competences, Team Building and Leadership**

MP01a introduces basic concepts of project organization. In MP08a there is a deeper analysis of project organization, also dealing with roles and responsibilities.
 * MP08a: Project Organization**

MP01a introduces various kinds of standards (PMI®, IPMA®, OGC®, etc.) that are deeper discussed in MP09a.
 * MP09a: Standards and Mainstreams**

MP01a introduces basic concepts of quality management.
 * MP10a: Managing Quality**

MP01a introduces basic issues on communication on projects. In MP11a there is a deeper discussion.
 * MP11a: Communications, Negotiation and Conflict**

MP01a develops cultural awareness and a basic understanding for the needs of intercultural communications.
 * MP12a: Intercultural Communications - Cultures in Projects**

Information and communication are the backbone for project management - mentioned in MP01a further discussed here and in other courses.
 * MP14a: Information and Knowledge Management**

Case studies in MP01a show the legal context of projects in selected cases (Consortium, etc.).
 * MP16a: Legal Aspects in Project Management: Contracts, Procurement, and further Issues**

Case studies in MP01a include aspects of change management.
 * MP17a: Managing Change**

Case studies in MP01a show that projects are embedded in programs and portfolios.
 * MP18a: Program and Portfolio Management**

Cases studies in MP01a include discussions on social competencies and social responsibility.
 * MP19a: Social Competencies**

Case studies in MP01a show the impact of projects on safety, health, and the environment.
 * MP20a: Safety, Health and the Environment**

8. References:
Most course materials are available in ILIAS and additional web portals - a few books to mention here:


 * 1) PMBOK® - 4th edition, PMI® 2008.
 * 2) Kerzner, Harold: Project Management - A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling, 10th edition, John Wiley, 2009.
 * 3) Gareis, Roland; Stummer, Michael: Process and Projects, Manz Verlag, Wien 2008.
 * 4) Schelle, Heinz; Ottmann, Roland; Pfeifer, Astrif: Project Manager, GPM, Nuremberg 2006.
 * 5) Morris, Peter W.G.; Pinto, Jeffrey K. (eds.): The Wiley Guide to Managing Projects, John Wiley 2004.
 * 6) Larson, Gray .: Project Management - the Managerial Process, 4th edition, McGraw Hill, 2008.
 * 7) Frigenti, Enzo; Cominos, Dennis: The Practice of Project Management, 2nd edition, Kogan Page 2006.
 * 8) Hedeman, Bert, e.a. : Project Management Based on PRINCE2®, Van Haren Publishing, 2009 Edition.
 * 9) Turner, J. Rodney; Simister, Stephen, J.: Gower Handbook of Project Management, 3rd edition, Gower Hampshire, England, 2000.