The Unit “Introduction to Project Management” deals with the study and practice of Project Management, examining a project as a whole from the decision to implement it through to its completion. First, it presents the knowledge areas, methodologies and approaches for evaluating and selecting among candidate projects, and establishes the need to align Project Management objectives with the strategy of a business or organisation. It then presents, step by step, the knowledge areas of Project Management, starting with Integration Management and moving on to Stakeholder Management, Scope Management, Time and Cost Management, Communications Management and Risk Management, combined with elements of Change Management and Earned Value Management. It provides a thorough presentation and analysis of the most widely accepted and adopted tools, methodologies, techniques and standards worldwide, which support the sound development of project schedules and provide reliable quantitative indicators for monitoring the physical and financial progress of projects. At the same time, a business case is examined in which all the tools are applied. Students analyse the business case, develop the corresponding documentation and reports (such as the project charter, the detailed scope documentation, the schedule, the budget, the staffing plan and the risk response plan) and present their work. The unit as a whole strengthens the link between theory and practice and prepares students to work on national and/or international projects.

The aim of this Unit is to introduce students to modern principles, methods and practices for the development of innovative products. It examines the main phases of the product development process, such as: new product development strategy, development planning and organisation of development projects, identification of customer needs, generation of product ideas, selection of the best idea for development, principles of synthesising a product’s functional modules, quality control tools in product development (e.g. QFD, specification comparison and evaluation matrices, functional analysis), testing of the idea to be developed, and design for the environment [e.g. Ecodesign and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)]. Most of the principles developed relate mainly to physical products, but they can also be applied to the development of services or software products.

Students learn about the frameworks, tools, techniques and perspectives that will help them develop new products more effectively. At the same time, the Unit provides comprehensive coverage of the most important issues in developing innovative products driven by the market and/or technological progress.

The Unit “Decision Analysis and Support for Project / Product Selection” is suitable for those already involved in the development and management of new product development projects or those interested in being trained in the planning and development of innovative products. This may include functional areas such as new product development, marketing, research and development, general management, design, engineering, operations, sales, strategy and finance, as well as members of cross-functional product development teams. On completion of the Unit, students are expected to know:

• How to carry out a diagnostic assessment for a new product and be able to develop a new product development strategy.
• How to develop a new product development process that incorporates best practices and tools in order to develop products that offer customer value through differentiation.
• How to implement a new product development process
• How to “discover” consumer/user needs and test new ideas for the product under development that better meet their needs.