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DM 885 – Advanced Project Management

Advanced Project Management builds from the basic tools of project management to introduce participants to the reality of managing projects within the context of engineering organizations that can be complex, where multiple projects may be in place, where membership is drawn from a variety of specialization’s and individual differences abound and where team-based functioning is the norm. The course will address issues such as management of multiple projects, individual differences, project leadership, working in teams, and change management. Case studies of managed projects will be used in the course.

Course Leader: To be confirmed

Course Overview

Project management (PM) has evolved from being an accidental job title into a chosen profession for many. Even if one chooses to follow a strictly technical career path, an engineer will almost certainly be working on projects, and this course can help an individual understand that context. Employers very much value competence in project management. This course covers most of the knowledge areas and processes of the globally recognized PM Body of Knowledge: integration, scope, cost, time, risk, human resources, stakeholders, communications, quality and procurement management.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, each participant should be able to:

  1. Understand the most commonly recognized frameworks and terminology of PM.
  2. Value the importance of a disciplined process to manage projects.
  3. Add techniques to their PM “toolbox”, increasing their value to an employer and to the marketplace.
  4. Increase their own PM “lessons learned” from actual engineering projects.
  5. Optional: With further reading, be prepared to take one of the PM designation examinations.

Activities and Schedule

The course takes a practical, applied approach to PM, with large and small group discussions, individual and team assignments. Activities includes team papers and presentations on “lessons learned” from actual international and domestic projects, and case study discussions. For those that have already taken a course in PM, Module 1 could be seen as a review. Advanced topics are covered in Module 2.

Module 1

  • An overview of project management
  • Stakeholder, scope, time and cost management
  • Risk, human resources, communication and procurement management
  • Case Studies and planning session for team project

Between Modules

  • Textbook readings
  • Team and individual projects

Module 2

  • Governance of projects, programs and portfolios (PPP)
  • Advanced project controls
  • Project management in emerging economies
  • International standards in PPP management
  • PM competencies
  • Case studies and team project presentations

Course Evaluation

  • 5% – Class participation
  • 5% – Oral team presentation on team project
  • 30% – Final examination
  • 30% – Team project (due 1 week after Module 2 completed)
  • 30% – Individual project (due 2 weeks after Module 2 completed)

Recommended Reading

  • Kerzner, H.R. (2017) Project Management: Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (12th ed.), Wiley, New York.
  • Project Management Institute (2017) A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK (6th ed), PMI.