Project Management for Research (SS 2011)

Project Management for Research (SS 2011)

Project management is a skill being increasingly demanded on the job market both within and especially beyond academia. The PhD research project offers an ideal context to learn the basics of project management; participants apply the tools and methods to their own project environment and start to use the correct vocabulary. In doing so, the doctoral students increasingly understand the importance of using their limited resources in an efficient and effective manner.
 

Course objectives

 After this course, the participants are able to:

• structure, plan, control and document a project
• identify project risks and develop measures for managing them
• analyse the project's stakeholders and produce a concept to inform them adequately
• apply selected project management methods and tools effectively to their own research project
• use aspects of project management for working constructively with others in a project environment
   

Target group

Doctoral students who are actively working on a research project (i.e. the research proposal has been written and approved). The course can be attended at any stage of the doctoral work, to greatest advantage during the first half of the project.

Maximally 14 participants.
 

Contents

• Defining a project and project management
• Formulating project objectives (for the whole project or for the next phase)
• Structuring projects in phases; designing work packages; setting milestones
• Planning project time and capacity in detail
• Project tracking and controlling
• Stakeholder analysis and information concept
• Risk assignment and risk management
• Documenting projects; also project-management documents to provide evidence of project-management skills
   

Requirements

No prior knowledge of project management is assumed for the course

Methods

Short theoretical inputs, exercises, small-group discussions. Participants work on applying the theory to their own projects. The success of the course depends on the willingness of the participants to contribute ideas and share experiences from their own projects, as well as to show an interest for the questions and needs of the other doctoral students in the course.
 

Target date

Part 1:
Friday, May 13, 2011
Starting: 8:45 a.m.
Ending: 5:30 p.m. 
Lecture Hall of the BCCN, Hansastr. 9a 

Part 2:
Friday, May 27, 2011
Starting: 8:45 a.m.
Ending: 5:30 p.m. 
Lecture Hall of the BCCN, Hansastr. 9a 
 

Comments of participants

• "The course was really helpful especially for me as I am in the start of my Project. The instructor was well-versed in the field and could efficiently convey the crux of "research project management". Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would certainly apply it during the course of my work."
• "Even if I am in the later part of my PhD, the course is still useful and you get some input about things that you in general know about but never reflect on. Besides that, there will come a day when you start a new project all over again, and then the content of this course is good to have experienced. Plus, Dr Pamela Alean-Kirkpatrick highly inspiring/motivational lecturer, so you will not regret attending the course at all."
• "This course is giving a great insight in how to structure and plan you PhD project, from the start till the end. Eventhough in research it is hard to really plan what step you will take next, by planning one prevents extension over extension."
•  "I would like to say that taking Project Management course in the beginning of my project was a great experience for me. I can say that with the insight that this course gave to me, I will be able to manage my time according to workload and I will be more prepared for the possible risks during my project."