Course content

The course focuses on approaches and techniques for planning that are relevant regardless of the specific field of study. It emphasizes how planning can be approached in different ways, and when it makes sense to use the various approaches, depending on the task and context, through different "schools of planning":

• Adaptive planning: Provides flexibility and is useful in uncertain situations where things may change along the way.
• Predictive planning: Provides predictability and is useful when sufficient information is available to create a relatively detailed plan that can be followed quite accurately.
• Productive planning: Focuses on making the best possible use of available resources — that is, working as efficiently as possible.
• Preventive planning: Focuses on prevention — that is, planning to reduce risk.

The course is practice-oriented and presents tools and techniques for different schools of planning through examples from a wide range of contexts, including design and product development, engineering tasks, digital systems, streamlined production, order-based manufacturing, construction projects, laboratory and model experiments, testing, maintenance tasks, polar environment, maritime operations, events, research, and student projects, etc.

The course is particularly relevant for engineering students but is also applicable to students from other fields with a need for planning.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge

• Explain key concepts within the field of planning
• Describe different Schools of Planning
• Explain why different contexts require different approaches to planning
• Describe and explain situations and conditions for applying adaptive planning
• Describe and explain situations and conditions for applying predictive planning
• Describe and explain situations and conditions for applying productive planning
• Describe and explain situations and conditions for applying preventive planning
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various schools of planning in different contexts
• Provide an overview of the main tools, methods, and techniques used within each school of planning
• Describe the most important knowledge areas within the discipline of planning

Skills

• Present an overview of key planning techniques
• Identify and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different planning techniques
• Assess and suggest the most appropriate planning approach based on available information and context
• Analyse a context and recommend a suitable planning approach for a real case
• Develop a plan for the execution of a real case

General competencies

• Recognize that different contexts require different approaches to planning
• Assess and select an appropriate planning approach based on context
• Recognize the challenges and limitations of various planning techniques
• Understand the complexity of decision-making processes behind the choice of planning techniques
• Realize that the choice and application of planning techniques require an understanding of the context, available information, and established practices within the field.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and compulsory exercises. The lectures are given in English. The student’s submission may be in Norwegian or English.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Course materials

Will be announced at the start of the course.