This course aims at developing the following:

• To consider critically the role of project governance and management within organisations and its value in achieving organisational objectives.
• To provide a firm grounding in project governance and management.
• To provide a firm grounding in the processes of defining, planning, managing and controlling resources (physical, technological, human and others) for the achievement of a focussed objective.
• To consider the risks involved in digital transformations of organisations, and critically examine the problems of such organisational change projects.
• To utilise techniques for the monitoring and the control of projects.
• To improve cognitive skills, effective problem solving, effective communication, numerical and quantitative skills, effective use of tools, effective self-management, learning to learn, self awareness, effective teamworking, interpersonal and research skills.
• To understand the specific requirements of IS/T projects within all taught sub-areas such as changing requirements, high technical complexities, high levels of uncertainty, etc.

By the end of this course students should be able to

• Assess and evaluate the factors that lay behind successful IS project governance and management techniques.
• Appreciate and be able to discuss the range of IS project process design approaches.
• Analyse the impact of resource constraints on achieving project goals.
• Distinguish and describe the range of different techniques available in project governance and management.
• Evaluate the effects of organisational issues on project management.
• Apply theoretical insights from their courses to managing effective projects.
• Understand the specific constraints, tools and mechanism of IS/T projects

Attendance is required during all presence and online sessions as individual and group activities will take place during the sessions (a maximum of 20% absence is allowed).  Attendance during the first unit is mandatory. Students who are not present during the first unit of the course will be deregistered!

Additionally, attendance is mandatory for the sessions on 6th December 2023 (graded presentations/videos) and 10th January 2024 (final exam).

Exceptions can be made by prior agreement and with reasonable cause (e.g., overlapping exams). In case of absence during one graded session, there is an opportunity to complete an additional written, individual assessment.

This course will be taught in-person at WU, where students can obtain fundamental knowledge of the topics covered in this course. Additional resources explaining complex parts will be provided on LEARN. Discussions and group activities involving case studies are key elements of the learning and will be used to intensify the knowledge and foster the understanding of the theoretical foundations.

During the first module, the lecturer will introduce the format of the course, the topics covered, and the scheduled assessments. The course content is structured in smaller modules including readings, videos, and presentations. Moreover, practical examples or similar methods are made available. For some previously announced modules, it is obligatory to familiarize with the topic and prepare theoretical input at home in order to be able to participate in the practical exercises and group work during the subsequent sessions.

The lecturer will be available for questions after class or upon an appointment.

Types of assignments with grading weights:

Case Study Video: 20%

Case Study Presentation: 40%

Final Exam: 40%

Formative assessment will be based on questions, discussions, activities, case studies, or homework in groups and individually. Formal grading of work and learning outcomes will be provided for each assessment via LEARN. Failure to attend or fully participate in individual or group assessments will result in fewer points. The final written exam is mandatory to take to pass this course.

6th December 2023 (P) is where graded presentations/videos will take place and 10th January 2024 (OP) is reserved for the final exam. The final exam will be conducted online.

Specific information and the format of each assignment will be introduced during the first session.

Grading scale:

• 88-100 %: excellent (1)
• 76-87 %: good (2)
• 63-75 %: satisfactory (3)
• 51-62 %: sufficient (4)
• 0-50 %: insufficient (5)

Assignments handed in late will not be considered for grading.

If you have a valid course registration but cannot attend this course, please deregister via LPIS during the deregistration period so that your spot can be made available to other students.

After the end of the registration period, students on the waiting list will be assigned. The allocation is not done according to the position in the waiting list, but according to the students' study progress.

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

No prior knowledge is required. However, general interest and basic knowledge of information systems is strongly recommended. 

Lecturer will be available upon request via email communication.

For online questions and possible online sessions MS Teams will be used with a dedicated group for this course.