Course Title

- IT support for project management processes
- Course description
- Chapter 1 - Introduction to project management
  - Objective
  - 1.1 Project management
  - 1.2 Limitations
  - 1.3 Task
  - 1.4 Project planning
  - 1.5 V-model
  - 1.6 Summary
  - 1.7 Questionnaire
  - 1.8 Bibliography
- Chapter 2 - Introduction to PRINCE2
  - Objective
  - 2.1 Introduction
  - 2.2 Principles
  - 2.3 Themes
  - 2.4 Processes
  - 2.5 Tool demo example
  - 2.6 Summary
  - 2.7 Questionnaire
  - 2.8 Bibliography
- Chapter 3 - Introduction to PMBOK
  - Objective
  - 3.1 Description
  - 3.2 PMBOK's methodology
  - 3.3 PMBOK Core Areas
  - 3.4 PMBOK Facilitating Areas
  - 3.5 PMBOK Integration Management
  - 3.6 Summary
  - 3.7 Questionnaire
  - 3.8 Bibliography
- Chapter 4 - Introduction to Agile
  - Objective
  - 4.1 Description
  - 4.2 Sprints
  - 4.3 Roles
  - 4.4 Communication
  - 4.5 Requirements management
  - 4.6 Measurement
  - 4.7 Summary – pros and cons of Agile
  - 4.8 Questionnaire
  - 4.9 Bibliography
- Chapter 5 - Advanced Agile
  - Objective
  - 5.1 Description
  - 5.2 Kanban Development – Just-In-Time logistics
  - 5.3 Extreme Programming – Simplicity with a scent of quality assurance
  - 5.4 Crystal methodology – According to project size & criticality
  - 5.5 Dynamic Systems Development Method – Business value
  - 5.6 Feature-Driven Development – Business model
  - 5.7 Summary
  - 5.8 Questionnaire
  - 5.9 Bibliography
- Chapter 6 - Introduction to Lean
  - Objective
  - 6.1 Introduction
  - 6.2 History
  - 6.3 Lean basic concepts
  - 6.4 Further Principles
  - 6.5 Lean tools
  - 6.6 Basic overview of concepts and tools
  - 6.7 Lean improvement cycle
  - 6.8 Tool demo
  - 6.9 Summary
  - 6.10 Questionnaire
  - 6.11 Bibliography
- Chapter 7 - Advanced Lean
  - Objective
  - 7.1 Introduction
  - 7.2 Lean Principles
  - 7.3 Lean Software Development
  - 7.4 Summary
  - 7.5 Questionnaire
  - 7.6 Bibliography
- Chapter 8 - Discussion
  - Objective
  - 8.1 Introduction
  - 8.2 Modelling a project
  - 8.3 Other methodologies
  - 8.4 Related fields
  - 8.5 Groupwork, homework
  - 8.6 Summary
  - 8.7 Questionnaire
  - 8.8 Bibliography
- Chapter 9 - Comparison
  - Objective
  - 9.1 Introduction
  - 9.2 Principles – processes – tools
  - 9.3 Modelling the project
  - 9.4 Classifications of project management methodologies
  - 9.5 Proposed method
  - 9.6 Groupwork, homework
  - 9.7 Summary
  - 9.8 Questionnaire
  - 9.9 Bibliography
- Chapter 10 - Project management tools basics
  - Objective
  - 10.1 Description
  - 10.2 Desktop tools
  - 10.3 Cloud based tools
  - 10.4 Summary
  - 10.5 Questionnaire
  - 10.6 Bibliography
- Chapter 11 - Project management tools advanced
  - Objective
  - 11.1 Description
  - 11.2 Demonstration
  - 11.3 A walkthrough on Redmine
  - 11.4 Redmine deficiencies
  - 11.5 Summary
  - 11.6 Questionnaire
  - 11.7 Bibliography
- Chapter 12 - Summary, conclusion
  - Objective
  - 12.1 Project management methodologies and software solutions
    - 12.1.1 PRINCE2
    - 12.1.2 PMBOK
    - 12.1.3 AGILE
    - 12.1.4 Lean
    - 12.1.5 Discussion and comparison of the methods
    - 12.1.6 Various project management tools
    - 12.1.7 Redmine
  - 12.2 Groupwork, homework
  - 12.3 Questionnaire
  - 12.4 Bibliography

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# Course description

# Preface

## 1. Establish motivation, arousing interest

The objective of the course is to provide an overview on the IT tool and system support of modern project management. As for complex projects it is inevitable to have a collaborative tracking system the authors lists the main tools and their usage. The aim is to build on previous project management experience and given knowledge by providing an overview on wide spread methodologies.

Projects are everywhere in our lives, e.g. at personal level acquiring a MsC degree or building our dream house, or at community level building a big research infrastructure or developing a new enterprise resource planning software, all can be considered as a project. Therefore the effective and efficient management of projects is an important key to success. However, even the smallest project can raise significant and unpredicted difficulties that should be solved and managed appropriately.

IT support for project management can help project managers to achieve the desired results and success by storing, managing and showcasing all project related information, progress, costs, resources in a real time, collaborative user interface accessible by the mobile user. However, a project management software in itself is absolutely not able to guarantee success and solve any occurring difficulty. First of all the underlying processes to be supported by a software solution have to be clearly defined. As Byatt et. al. described in “Which Came First – The Process Or The Tool?”:

“Whilst a tool can embody good processes, one can argue that it is the behaviours and actions of individuals that make the real difference – regardless of the tool or tools they use. Such behaviours are a result of understanding how to perform certain activities; this cannot be taught by a tool.”

“…the process should determine how the tool needs to be used”

Therefore, IT support is significantly based on the applied processes. According to that, the course extensively discusses different kind of project management processes and on this basis different kind of project management software solutions are presented. With this knowledge the attendee will be able to define her processes and select the appropriate software support. The course focuses on the methodologies and their IT support and is not to provide a general overview on all project domains: costs, risks, funance, procurement management as multiple courses should cover those areas. It is assumed that all students of the course have previous project management experience and are aware of the areas of project management.

## 2. Target audience

The course is majorly intended for software developer students and researchers active in projects with no IT support tool introduced. Some of the discussed project management methodologies are IT centric, and learning the presented project management software solutions is easier for students and professionals in the software domain.

All the same, the course is highly recommended for any kind of students from other fields (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) because the presented information is applicable not only in software development projects but in any kind of project. Moreover, the course material is developed with very general examples. IT centric chapters also deal with such kind of general applicability.

IT centric chapters and examples have an advantage. Nowadays, the IT systems are very important and almost indispensable component of any activity on any field (physics, chemistry, etc.) Therefore, knowledge about popular and recognized IT specific project management techniques seems to be valuable for any student.

## 3. List of pre-required knowledge

• Project experience

Basic computer skills are needed:

- Navigating in the browser
- Navigating in and using the e-learning material
- Filling out questionnaires

Intermediate computer skills are welcomed but not needed:

- Installing (project management) software on your machine
- Try out project management software

## 4. Content overview

1. Introduction to project management. This lesson presents the elementary project management concepts and techniques, i.e. tasks, work breakdown structure, dependencies, gantt chart, milestones, schedule, process versus tool, and so on. This way it provides the essential and necessary basics for the following lessons.
2. Introduction to PRINCE2. This lesson shortly introduces and discusses the Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) project management methodology. PRINCE2 principles, themes and processes are discussed here.
3. Introduction to PMBOK. This lesson shortly introduces and discusses the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK published by PMI) standard. PMBOK processes, process groups and knowledge areas are discussed here.
4. Introduction to Agile. This lesson shortly introduces agile concepts, agile management, and agile principles. Some of the most widespread agile frameworks are also introduced here.
5. Advanced Agile. This lesson discusses new and less known but promising agile techniques in more detail. Moreover, one of the agile frameworks is presented in detail as well.
6. Introduction to Lean. This lesson shortly introduces lean management concepts and principles. Most widespread lean techniques and tools are also introduced here.
7. Advanced Lean. This lesson discusses new and less known but promising lean management concepts and techniques in more detail.
8. Discussion. This lesson gives a general overview about the previously discussed project management methodologies, frameworks and techniques. Furthermore, it briefly presents further project management methodologies and frameworks. This lesson is to summarize the learning curve before heading into concrete IT tools to be able to define the point of interests on tools for specific projects and previous project experience.
9. Comparison. This lesson shows a deep comparison of the previously introduced project management methodologies. Moreover, based on this comparison, it proposes a new framework for project management.
10. Project management tools basics. This lesson introduces some of the well-known and popular project management software tools and their basic features. Moreover, these software tools are demonstrated through meaningful examples.
11. Project management tools advanced. One project management software tool is demonstrated in more details. Different project management methodologies are demonstrated with meaningful examples.
12. Summary, conclusion. The previous lessons are summarized and overviewed in the final lesson with some concluding remarks.

## 5. Requirements

- Ability to list and shortly describe the discussed project management methodologies
- Ability to list and shortly describe the discussed project management software applications
- Ability to fill out the questionnaires with only small number of mistakes

## 6. Recommended learning method

- For every lesson

- Before the lesson please run through the course material
- During the lesson please pay attention to the lecturer and ask if something is not clear
- After the lesson please

- Read the course material carefully
- Read the key references from the bibliography
- Take the questionnaire until you can do it without a mistake

- Please also consider the simplified version of Cone of Experience

- Different learning activities results in different probability of knowledge rates
- Pictures and animations have higher probability to remember compared to reading a text or listening to a presentation. Therefore this material, as any typical e-learning material, contains a lot of meaningful pictures and animations.
- These activities (reading, seeing pictures, animations) give the indispensable theoretical foundations. However, it is passive knowledge: with them students are able to remember and to recall the information but it would be very difficult for them to apply the theoretical knowledge in the real world. Therefore, this learning material contains some discussion oriented exercises as well. These are about the discussion of real projects and project failures - all are to provide insights on project management to start a discussion and new thoughts for the students. It have to be mentioned that the best learning curve comes out of personal experience, the main goal is to further enhance the passive knowledge of students and prepare them for easier future project methodology and management decisions. (8th Lesson).

Figure P.1: Cone of Experience.

Source:

http://wikieducator.org/User:Fordn/Books/Principles_and_practices_of_online_teaching

## 7. Bibliography

- Gareth Byatt, Gary Hamilton, Jeff Hodgkinson: Which Came First – The Process or The Tool? American Society for the Advancement of Project Management, International Project Management Association. http://www.asapm.org/asapmag/articles/WhichCameFirst.pdf [Last Access: 2014.01.05]

## 8. Notice

Authors systematically collected and described different project management methodologies and frameworks, and project management software applications in this course material. These descriptions are high level and introductory and give a high level view and knowledge for the students. Authors have not tested, evaluated and verified the precision, completeness and soundness of these methodologies, frameworks and software applications. Authors disclaim liability for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether it is special, indirect or consequential.

All lessons from the first to the twelfth are including copyright protected methodologies and frameworks. These typically enable the reproduction and use of the materials in an academic context (e.g. lectures for students). Any further or other usage must consider and follow the copyright rules of the original methodologies too. Authors very welcome the reuse and reproduction of the material if and only if the copyright of the original methodologies and frameworks are followed and kept. Authors disclaim liability for any copyright related property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether it is special, indirect or consequential.

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