SOL11 Managing Projects in the Digital Age

• Topics

  Projects are everywhere in modern organizations, and skilled project managers are in high demand across all sectors and industries. This course provides knowledge and practical skills for successfully leading projects from conception to completion in today's digital workplace.

  Project work differs fundamentally from routine operations and requires specific competencies and methods. In our increasingly digital world, project managers must understand both traditional planning principles and how technology transforms project delivery - whether the project involves launching new products, implementing systems, reorganizing the organization, or coordinating events.

  Course Content:

  The course covers planning, organizing, and managing projects using established methods and best practices. The course explores how digital collaboration tools and emerging technologies like AI can support effective project management while maintaining focus on fundamental methods and principles.

  Topics Covered:

  • Project initiation, evaluation, and selection
  • The project manager's role
  • Ethical issues project managers must handle, and the relevance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for projects
  • Planning, organizing, and monitoring projects using contemporary tools and methods
  • Stakeholder management
  • Risk management and critical success factors
  • Procurement strategies and contract management
  • Traditional and agile approaches to project management
  • Digital project tools
  • Benefit realization and project closure

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon course completion, the candidate has:

  • Good understanding of projects as a working method and their characteristics.
  • Good understanding of the key differences between project management and operational management.
  • Knowledge of fundamental project management methods, tools, and concepts.
  • Awareness of how digital tools support project planning, execution, and collaboration.

  Skills 

  Upon course completion, the candidate can:

  • Plan and organize a project using established project management techniques.
  • Coordinate project activities and stakeholder communication.
  • Analyze common project risks and suggest mitigation approaches.
  • Use relevant project management tools and software at an introductory level.

  General competence

  Upon course completion, the candidate can:

  • Evaluate challenges, critical success factors, and ethical considerations in project management.
  • Explain fundamental project management concepts and methods to others.
  • Assess the appropriate use of traditional versus agile approaches in different project contexts.
  • Understand the role of digital tools in modern project work.

• Teaching

  Course topics are introduced through instructional videos available on Canvas. Plenary sessions expand upon these topics and focus on practical exercises that apply the concepts, techniques, and tools covered in the videos.

  Other:

  An optional PRINCE2 certification opportunity is available to interested students.This internationally recognized project management qualification requires an additional fee covering the exam and e-learning resources. Participation is entirely voluntary and separate from course requirements.

• Required prerequisites

  None

• Compulsory Activity

  Individual multiple-choice test via Canvas after the final session. Minimum 50% required to pass. Multiple attempts permitted.

• Assessment

  The assessment consists of a group-based written project assignment. Groups may have a maximum of three members, and students are given two months to complete the assignment.

  The project assignment can be written in English or in Norwegian. 

• Grading Scale

  Grading scale A-F.

• Computer tools

  The course employs digital tools for project planning, control, and collaboration. Students receive instruction on all tools used.

• Literature

  • Jan Terje Karlsen (2023): Project Management. From Startup to Success. Universitetsforlaget.
  • Selected articles available through Leganto.

  Norwegian-speaking students may choose to use the Norwegian version of the textbook.

• Retake

  Retake in SOL11 will not be offered during the non-teaching semester (autumn).Only mandatory bachelor courses with an individual written school exam or a home exam lasting up to one day will have a retake assessment in the non-teaching semester.

  For detailed information regarding the retake policy, please visit our website: https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/retake-of-exams (copy URL).