Examination arrangement

Course content

As unique endeavors, projects are frequently exposed to the unexpected. To manage such uncertainty, flexibility is often required. The course describes how projects are managed and designed for flexibility all project phases. The course also include a critical perspective, and addresses drawbacks of project flexibility. In addition to flexibility, key words include resilience, adaptability and governance. The following topics are addressed: stakeholder analysis, project governance, project models, flexible designs of both the project processes well as the project delivery, assumption surfacing, change management, project resilience, agile project management, project evaluation and uncertainty management. These topics will be illustrated with examples from applications within manufacturing, construction, IT and organizational change projects.

Learning outcome

Knowledge, the candidate gets knowledge about:

• Key concepts within the field of project flexibility management.
• Different approaches to flexibility.
• Understanding of advantages and disadvantages of flexibility.
• Tool box for analyzing flexibility.
• How flexibility is seen from different stakeholder’s perspective.

Skills, the candidate can:

• Apply different approaches to achieving flexibility in projects.
• Understand the incentives for different stakeholders related to flexibility.
• Apply key tools for change management in projects.

General competence, the candidate can:

• Understand basic relationships between organisations, projects and the outside world.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars. Evaluation will be based on a report. The lectures and exercises are in English when students who do not speak Norwegian take the course. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments. As a part of the course, students shall write a report on a selected aspect of project flexibility. The report shall be based on the course material, supplemented by further literature that students are expected to find as a part of the course. The report can be designed as a scientific article.

This course is coordinated with TPK4420 FLEKSIBIL PROSJ.

Compulsory assignments

• Report-paper

Further on evaluation

Report assessment is the basis for the grade in the course. The results for the report is graded passed or not passed. Students who fail or do not deliver report can do so a following year, in synchronization with future curses. After approval from the course responsible, report may be delivered and evaluated at other times.

Recommended previous knowledge

Students should have a background that corresponds to at least five of the obligatory courses in the first year of the Master of Science in Project Management MSPROMAN. Deviations from this can be accepted depending on previous experience and special interest in project management.

Required previous knowledge

All students taking this course must be enrolled in a ph.d program at NTNU or a different university. The course requires good knowledge of general project management principles.

Course materials

Course material is a text book and selected academic publications on the topic. In addition, it is a part of the course that students shall to large extent find complimentary literature to be used in the project report. This is especially a requirement for PhD-students.