Project Management, Innovation and Teamwork

Higher education teachers: Miklavčič Damijan
Collaborators: Kramar Peter

Subject description

Prerequisits:

• Inscription in 3. Year of study

Content (Syllabus outline):

Basics of project management, project objectives and phases, duration, time management, resource management, project database, planning, follow up, prediction, decision management and evaluation of research and development projects, use of Super Project and/or Microsoft Project. Types of teams, the characteristics of teamwork, team member roles, techniques and tools to establish teamwork. Recognizing and defining the problem, finding possible solutions, selecting the best solution of solutions and its implementation. Simplex - problem solving method. Techniques of problem solving (SWOT analysis, fish bone diagram, etc.); techniques for generating ideas (brainstorming, brain writing, etc.) Idea evaluation techniques (decision tree, pair comparisons, etc.). System approach to innovation management (state analysis, innovation goal determination, establishing of innovation culture, systems of motivation and awarding, management of innovation). Intellectual property (industrial ownership – patents, models and copyrights; procedures for patent application and granting patents). World wide web and European supporting environment for innovation, research and development.

Objectives and competences:

To understand theoretical knowledge and skills of project management, innovation management, teamwork and problem solving techniques.

Students will develop general competencies on:

• ability of analysis, synthesis and anticipation for solutions and consequences of phenomena of innovation management, project management and teamwork,
• management of research and development methods and innovation management and development of critical and self critical assessment,
• ability to employ knowledge and skills in practice,
• autonomy at professional work and decision making,
• ability of defending of one owns positions using arguments while considering different opinions.

The students will also develop subject specific competences:

• understanding project management, team work and innovation processes,
• ability of recognising challenges related on project management and team work and strengthening creative and innovative processes,
• ability of searching information and use of different information sources,
• understanding relations between acquired knowledge in organisation and necessity to control and manage processes considering technological, inventive, research, managerial and legal aspects,
• understand and use of acquired knowledge and skills for organizing and manageing of specific professional challenges.

Intended learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding of basics project management, teamwork and problem solving techniques. Recognising the concept of intellectual property and acquaintance with protecting intellectual property rights.

Learning and teaching methods:

• Lectures, labworks, homework, student's self-dependent work, work in groups, examples and analysis

Study materials

1. Lessard B., Lessard J., Project Management for Engineering Design, Morgan&Clypool, 2007.
2. Marmel E., Microsoft Office Project 2007 Bible, Wiley 2007.
3. Heldman K., PMP Project Management Profesional Exam Study Guide, Forth Edition, Sybex 2007.
4. Mukesh J., Delivering Successfull Projects with TSP and Six Sigma: A Practical Guide to Implementing Team Software Process, CRC Press 2009.
5. De Bono E., Six thinking hats, Penguin Books 2000.
6. Basadur M, The power of innovation: how to make innovation a way of life and put creative solutions to work, Pitman Publishing 2002.