Project Management focuses on the management and implementation of construction projects, primarily infrastructure projects. A project refers to a temporary piece of work undertaken to create a unique product or service. Whereas operations are continuous and repeating, projects are finite and have an end date. Projects bring form or function to ideas or need. Some notable projects include the Manhattan Project (developing the first nuclear weapon); the Human Genome Project (mapping the human genome); and the Central Artery Project (Boston's "Big Dig"). The field of project management deals with the planning, execution, and controlling of projects. The course is divided into three parts: Part 1: project finance Part 2: project evaluation Part 3: project organization This course will cover the basic tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to successfully manage a project through its inception, design, planning, construction, and transition phases. There will be several guest lectures discussing current projects, and a construction site visit to MIT's Media Lab extension.
Type of Material:
Online Course
Recommended Uses:
This course material can be used as a course by itself, it can also be used to supplement a similar course, aspects can be used for individuals, teams, homework, and in class activities.
Understand construction management with a focus on infrastructure projects
Learn about project organization and contracts
Comprehend construction finance and cost-benefit analysis
Develop an understanding of risk identification
Master project management engineering, procurement, and construction and other related areas.
Target Student Population:
College General Ed, College Lower Division - the target population for this course is undergraduate students interested in project management, but this can also be used in organizations for training purposes
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Although not specifically listed, the course description does explain this covers … “basic tools, skills and knowledge necessary to successfully manage a project through inception, design, construction and transition phases”
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Comprehensive, technical at a good level.
Focus on managerial decision-making
Covers diverse projects
Specific construction projects are integrated into the coursework to include the Central Artery Project in Boston and the Human Genome Project, as well as the Manhattan Project - all representing different types of construction projects.
Concerns:
The human element is introduced mostly at the end.
Organizing aspects of working on project teams are undertreated.
There is a concern about the age of this material, the historical aspects such as the Manhattan project and other past projects are excellent examples, but information about state laws, current construction requirements, and other areas are not included.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Outstanding potential effectiveness if worked through in the context of a class.
Complete coverage of all phases of construction, with different types of construction projects/examples in the curriculum.
Lecture notes and readings reinforce the concepts.
Would be great with a guiding Professor and a TA.
Concerns:
Because this is an older course and the course material supplements traditional classroom instruction, those who use this information only in a virtual setting may be somewhat at a disadvantage because the way the course is designed. This does not diminish the content but suggests changes may be needed to accommodate a virtual class.
Hard to work through the material as an individual working alone.
Need for summaries and study groups.
Creative Commons:
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