OVERVIEW

This course provides a structured and comprehensive overview of the main Project Management approaches, methods, and tools, understood as an integrated set of managerial competencies required to initiate, plan, and lead projects of different types, levels of complexity, and sizes. In any organization, projects represent a primary driver of change: from the development of new products and services to entry into new markets, from the introduction of innovative technologies and digital transformation initiatives to the redesign of business processes. Within this perspective, the course aims to provide students with a practical and up-to-date understanding of Project Management as an essential discipline for enabling innovation and delivering value.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The goal of the course is to provide a common lexicon, methods and tools for an effective project management, integrating a set of best practices recognized at an international level. Predictive and agile approaches are explored, analyzing all the project management process groups (initiating, planning, execution, monitoring and control, closing), as well as the knowledge areas (integration, scope, time, cost, quality, resource, communication, risks, stakeholders).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is designed to help students understand the strategic role and growing importance of Project Management in any organization, as a capability that is now essential in environments shaped by continuous change, complexity, and the need for organizational agility—hallmarks of the so-called Project Economy. Within this context, the course provides a structured overview of the approaches, methods, tools, and competencies that define the discipline, equipping students with the conceptual, analytical, and managerial foundations required to plan, govern, and lead projects effectively and with sound judgment.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required to follow this course effectively. However, knowledge of business dynamics, work organization, and relational, managerial, and general management skills will be beneficial.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, case studies, and group exercises.

The course is delivered in 8 sessions of 3 hours each.

Attendance is mandatory.

Students with certified disabilities, learning disorders, or special educational needs must contact both the instructor and the Department's disability liaison, Prof.ssa Elena Lagomarsino (inclusione.economia@unige.it), at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning needs and allow the use of any compensatory tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Project Management Fundamentals:

Definitions, principles of project management, the value of a project, project/program/portfolio, management models, project life cycle, human factors, and team dynamics.
Project Context and Governance:

Organizational objectives, impact of corporate culture, strategic aspects, roles and responsibilities, governance and stakeholder influence, stakeholder engagement matrix, governance-related risks.
Operational Planning and Management:

Scope management, governance (costs, time, quality), project charter, work breakdown structure (WBS), adaptive and agile approaches, planning, and change management.
Risk and Quality Management:

Risk analysis, mitigation tools, quality management plan.
Communication and Stakeholder Management:

Communication planning, stakeholder engagement techniques.
Real-life cases and examples.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the analysis of concrete, real-world project cases; one module of the course is specifically devoted to the examination of a major industrial transformation project of strong current relevance.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The study material primarily consists of slides prepared by the professor, featuring concise content in English and explanations in Italian, along with supplementary materials (articles, website pages, in-depth resources) published on the course's AulaWeb page, available in both Italian and English. Recommended reference texts include: 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition and The Standard for Project Management (English Edition).' Additional bibliography for further study is suggested during the course and on AulaWeb.

The course material (handouts/slides) will be available on AulaWeb. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the AulaWeb e-learning portal, where extensive updated bibliographical information is provided to support specific thematic insights for exam preparation."

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes are held in the second semester according to the schedule defined by the Department of Economics. The timetable and classrooms are available at the 'EASYACADEMY' 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a test on AulaWeb with 30 multiple-choice questions covering the entire syllabus. There are no penalties for incorrect answers, each question carries the same weight, and a passing grade is achieved with a score of 18/30 or higher.

In the interest of the student and in line with the course structure, it is strongly recommended to take the exam during the first session at the end of the lessons.

The course is classified as 'Other educational activity,' and the exam result is expressed in terms of eligibility.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is designed to verify, in a balanced way, the student's level of learning of concepts and tools and the ability to make informed decisions through reasoning in the light of proposed example cases. The test responds to the criteria adopted by international bodies that use this evaluation method to issue certifications, i.e. the presence of questions that aim to verify the knowledge acquired through study and questions that require reasoning and orientation in a described scenario.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The exam is designed to assess, in a balanced manner, the student's level of understanding of concepts and tools, as well as their ability to make informed decisions through reasoning based on proposed example cases.