101333 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT I

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Julián Horrillo Tello

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

Subject framed in the subject of Project Methodology. The course aims to train students in the realization of engineering projects, both in the development processes of the technical solution and in the management of the different phases of the project. In this subject the first phases of the life cycle of an engineering project are studied, in particular the generation of ideas and basic engineering. In addition to the theoretical contents studied, students develop in groups an industrial preliminary project, including the identification of the problem, feasibility studies, and planning and budgeting of the development of detailed engineering to be carried out in the subject of Project Management. II of fourth course.

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

• LO1: Use techniques and tools for the management of engineering projects, including planning, development and execution (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO2: Know and apply specifications, regulations and norms (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO3: Write texts with the appropriate structure for their communication objectives (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO4: Introduce the text to an audience with the appropriate strategies and means (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO5: Understand and put into practice the way and dynamics of teamwork (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO6: Identify their own information needs and use the collections, spaces and services available to design and carry out searches appropriate to the thematic area (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO7: Carry out the tasks assigned based on the basic guidelines given by the teacher, deciding on the time to be used in each section, including personal contributions and extending the sources of information indicated (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO8: Take initiatives that generate opportunities, with a vision of process and market implementation (CE 18, CB 5).
• LO9: Apply sustainability criteria and the deontological codes of the profession (CE 18, CB 5).

The subject consists of 30 hours of face-to-face classes in the classroom (large group), where the theoretical contents will be developed and practical exercises and problems will be solved, and 10 hours per laboratory practice course (small group) where practical aspects of the first three activities of the subject will be worked on.

For each topic of the subject, the student will have a Methodological Guide that will include: Outline of the theoretical contents, proposal of exercises and problems, statements of the related activities, recommended readings, and test of self-evaluation of the objectives of 'learning.

The practice sessions (large laboratory group (small group)) are compulsory attendance (necessary condition to participate in the evaluation of the corresponding activity), and will be developed by gathering the students in groups of 2 to 6 people according to the 'activity. Each activity requires prior preparation that will be carried out, part of it in face-to-face classes in the classroom, and another part will have to be carried out by the students during independent learning time. These activities, however, are will extend temporarily beyond the laboratory hours, and the students will have to complete them during the independent learning time. The set of the first three activities of the subject corresponds to the development of the basic engineering phase (Preliminary Project) of an engineering project. The Proposed Project must be presented and publicly defended on the first working day following the completion of the last exam of the course, with mandatory attendance of all students

Whenever deemed appropriate, activities of a completely optional nature will be made available to students to help them prepare and prepare for those of a compulsory nature.

Content title 1:Typology and life cycle of projects

• Traditional theory of project management
• New approaches. External factors and human factors
• The mission of the project
• The keys to success
• Project management processes
• The life cycle of an engineering project
• The quality of the project
• The work team

Content title 2: Preliminary project or preliminary project

• Management of innovative projects. Creativity techniques
• Previous studies and master plan. Market analysis
• Problem identification: object, scope and background
• Basic objectives and specifications
• Feasibility of the project: technical, economic, financial and environmental
• The Environmental Impact Study
• The Economic Study
• Contents of the preliminary project
• Support tools

Content title 3:  Project planning

• Work Breakdown Structure
• Estimation of time for project tasks
• Project network diagram (PERT, CPM)
• Gantt diagram
• Introduction to resource management: allocation, limitations
• Estimation of project costs. The budget process
• Support tools

Content title 4:  Technical Office I

• Academic evaluation of the project
• Areas of action of the professional activity
• The work of the technical office
• Standardization and basic regulations
• Internal communication: management documentation and meeting minutes
• External communication: interlocutors and presentation of the project

Title of the activity 1: Identification of a problem to be solved. Application of creativity techniques for proposing solution alternatives. Brainstorming and mind maps

• DESCRIPTION: Definition of the object, scope, general objectives and basic specifications of the project. Different alternative solutions will be proposed, in a brainstorming session, which will then have to be evaluated. The end result will be expressed through a mind map.
• SUPPORT MATERIAL: Explanatory dossier provided by the teacher.
• COMPETENCES: CE 18, CB 5
• EVIDENCE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES: RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9
• DELIVERABLES AND LINKS WITH THE EVALUATION: Group report with the detailed description of the problem to be solved and of the alternative solutions initially proposed. This activity represents 15% of the final grade of the subject.
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: To translate the object of an engineering project to specific technical specifications. Use creative techniques to solve problems. Systematically describe the starting point for solving a complex problem.    
• LABORATORY SESSIONS:
  • SESSION 1: Creativity and mind maps. The identification of the problem
  • SESSION 2: Technical specifications. QFD
  • SESSION 3: Presentation Problem Identification

Title of the activity 2: Feasibility analysis of an engineering project

• DESCRIPTION: Based on the identification of the problem of the previous activity, a technical, economic, financial and environmental feasibility analysis of the best alternative solution will be developed. The proposed solution must comply with the current regulatory framework in its entirety. The activity closes with a public presentation of the results of the work carried out.
• SUPPORT MATERIAL: Explanatory dossier provided by the teacher.
• COMPETENCES: CE 18, CB 5
• EVIDENCE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7, RA8, RA9
• DELIVERABLES AND LINKS WITH THE EVALUATION: Group report according to standard format, including the identification of the problem, the alternative solution chosen and its feasibility analysis. This activity represents 30% of the final grade of the subject
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: To analyze the viability of an engineering project, looking for technically and economically feasible solutions, respectful of the environment. Present and publicly defend the results of a work. Organize and plan work among group members.   
• LABORATORY SESSIONS:
  • SESSION 5: Presentation of the results of the feasibility study

Title of the activity 3: Planning and budgeting of an engineering project

• DESCRIPTION: Based on the results of the two previous activities, the development of the detailed project will be programmed and budgeted. The activity closes with a public presentation of the results of the work carried out.
• SUPPORT MATERIAL: Explanatory dossier provided by the teacher.
• COMPETENCES: CE 18, CB 5
• EVIDENCE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES: RA1, RA3, RA4, RA5, RA6, RA7
• DELIVERABLES AND LINKS WITH THE EVALUATION: Group report according to standard format, including problem identification, feasibility analysis, and project planning and budget. This activity represents 15% of the total grade of the subject
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: Plan a project. Budget a project. Present and publicly defend the results of a work. Organize and plan work among group members
• LABORATORY SESSIONS:
  • SESSION 4: Project planning with MS-Project. Costs and deadlines

Title of the activity 4: Examen

• DESCRIPTION: Written test to evaluate the theoretical and practical concepts developed throughout the course.
• SUPPORT MATERIAL: Subject materials and bibliography
• COMPETENCES: CE 18
• EVIDENCE OF LEARNING OUTCOMES: RA1, RA2, RA7
• DELIVERABLES AND LINKS WITH THE EVALUATION: Resolution of the test. This activity represents 40% of the total grade of the subject
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: Eminently evaluative objective of the degree of achievement of theoretical knowledge and its application to real practical situations. Collect information for individual summative assessment.

For each activity, teachers will report on the particular rules and conditions that govern them. This information will be communicated in the physical classroom and / or published in the virtual classroom.

One-on-one activities presuppose the student's commitment to carry them out individually. All activities in which the student does not fulfill this commitment regardless of their role (origin or destination) will be considered suspended.

Likewise, the activities to be carried out in groups presuppose the commitment on the part of the students who make it up to carry them out within the group. All activities in which the group has not respected this commitment regardless of its role (origin or destination) will be considered suspended. The responsibility for the results of the work lies with the group, and not with the individuals who make it up. In any case, teachers can, based on the information they have, customize the grade for each member of the group.

Any undelivered activity will be considered scored with zero points. Failure to attend a laboratory session automatically excludes from the evaluation of the corresponding activity, being considered scored with zero points.

It is optional for teachers to accept or not deliveries outside the deadlines indicated. In the event that these late deliveries are accepted, it is up to the teacher to decide whether to apply a penalty and the amount thereof.

The final grade is the weighted sum of the grades of the activities

Activity 1: 15%

Activity 2: 30%

Activity 3: 15%

Activity 4: 40%

Attendance at the theoretical and laboratory sessions, and the delivery of the corresponding reports of activities 1, 2 and 3 is a necessary condition for the evaluation of the subject.

It will be up to the teachers of the subject to decide on the possibility of adding activities that allow the recovery of the suspended activities.

It is compulsory to carry out all the activities to obtain the final grade of the subject. The grade calculation algorithm only applies if the grade for Activity 4 is greater than or equal to 4, otherwise the subject is suspended.

The resit exam only gives the option to pass the subject with a grade of 5, except in the case where the weighted average grade of the first 3 activities is equal to or greater than 8. In this case the final grade will correspond to the weighted average mark of all the activities of the subject (the resit exam corresponds to activity 4, and its mark must be greater than or equal to 4).

For activities 1, 2 and 3, if the results of their evaluation are not satisfactory, or the teachers consider it appropriate, they may call the members of a group to take an individualized evaluation test.

HORINE, GM (2010). Project management. Anaya.

HORRILLO, J. (2021). Materials of the subject of Project Management I. EUPMT. Mataró.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. PMBOK (2013). Guide to the Fundamentals of Project Management.

BURTON, C .; MICHAEL, N. (1992). A Practical Guide to Project Management. Kogan Page. London.

DÍAZ Marín, A. (2010). The art of directing projects. Ra-ma

CASTRO, M .; COLMENAR, A .; CRUZ, FJ; SANCRISTOBAL, E. (2010), Project Management with Microsoft Project 2010. Ra-ma

DAVENPORT, TH; PRUSAK, L. (1998). Working Knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Harvard Business School Press.

ROSENAU, MD (1998). Successful Project Management: a step-by-step approach with practical examples. 3rd Edition. John Wiley.