Ateneo - UPO

This module presents project management, with a particular focus on project planning and control. The definition, objectives, phases, and main methodologies of project management are presented. Then project definition, distinctive elements and life cycle are discussed. The following project planning methodologies are presented: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), GANNT chart, and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). Finally, project financial control is discussed, with a focus on project costs and the project income statement.

Suggested readings are as follows:
The Handbook of Project-Based Management - J.R. Turner, McGraw-Hill, NY.
Project Management, A Managerial Approach, – J.R. Meredith, S.J. Mantel, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, NY.
Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling - Harold Kerzner, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, NY.

Teaching materials comprise
Videos
Slides
Case studies and exercises
E-tivities, which comprise:
- a multiple-choice test for each of the six videos and for the lesson in presence
- exercises on measuring project costs
- exercises on project income statement

The course aims to provide participants with both theoretical knowledge, through lectures, and practical skills, by means of case study discussions and experiential activities.
More in detail, learning objectives are as follows:
1) Understand the characteristics of a project
2) Understand the phases of project management
3) Understand how projects utilize resources
4) Understand the challenges involved in tracking project costs and measuring project income
5) Understand the characteristics and challenges of project planning and control.

None

Teaching methods comprise both lessons and active learning, with a focus on case study analysis and discussion.
The course is mainly conducted remotely and in English.
6 pre-recorded video lessons lasting approximately 30 minutes each, and study materials (slides) are available on the course page.
6 e-tivietis (one for each video lesson) are available too.
During the in-person lesson, a case study will be analyzed in groups and then discussed in a plenary lesson.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage:
https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudentsphysical-or-learning-disabilites
Students with disabilites, learning disabilites or special educaton needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning learning aspects.

To complete the module and obtain the open badge, students must take a written exam that will consist of a multiple-choice test of 8 questions.
The test is considered passed if the student answers 5 out of 8 questions correctly.

The contents of each video are listed below:
1. Project management: an introduction
a. Relevance of project management, definition and objectives
b. Project definition and classification
c. Distinctive elements of a project
d. Typical actors of a project
e. Project life cycle and characteristics of each phase
f. Symptoms of project failure
g. The golden rules of project management

2. Project planning and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
a. Project planning: principles and support techniques
b. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
3. Project planning and GANTT Chart
a. How to build a GANNT chart
b. Benefits of a GANTT Chart
c. Weaknesses of a GANTT Chart

4. Project planning and Program Evaluation and Review Technique – PERT
a. Relevant phases of the PERT network
b. Elements of the PERT network
c. Calculation of the expected time per activity
d. Critical path
e. Limitations of PERT

5. Planning and controlling projects
a. Planning and management control system: mechanisms and process
b. Project planning and control: process and methods
c. Financial control of the project: phases
d. Economic estimates
e. Measurement of actual project economic results, comparison with budgeted goals and analysis of variances

6. Project costs
a. Project definition
b. Made-to-order production
c. Job order cost accounting system
d. Recording costs by order/project
e. Direct costs of the order/project
f. Indirect costs of the order/project

The lesson in-person will focus on the following topics:
a. The determinants of project profitability
b. The project income statement and the contribution margin

At the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand the aims and characteristics of project management
- Understand the distinctive features of projects
- Understand the roles, responsibilities and skills of the actors involved in project management
- Understand the objectives, elements and characteristics of the work breakdown structure (WBS)
- Understand the objectives, elements and characteristics of the Gantt
- Develop a Gantt chart
- Understand the aims, elements and characteristics of the PERT network
- Building a simple PERT Network
- Understand the characteristics and criticalities of project planning and control
- Understand the phases of the economic control of the project
- Understand the challenges in the recognition of costs per project
- Measuring project costs
- Understand the determinants of project profitability
- Understand and elaborate the income statement and calculate the contribution margin
- Understanding and applying break-even analysis

The corresponding skills are listed in the EU-ESCO classification (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/):

S 4.0. management skills
S 4.2.0. organizing, planning and scheduling work and activities