Managing Infrastructure Projects

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the complexities involved with infrastructure projects and the tools required for delivering the project and its wider benefits originally envisaged - on time, on budget, and within scope. It also covers a wide range of skill sets and knowledge areas needed during the life cycle of infrastructure projects in order to ensure successful delivery and at the same time enable them to make decisions and take actions based on the best interest of society, public safety, and the environment.

Language of instruction: English

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student:

• has sufficient knowledge of large complex project life cycles (From feasibility to closure).
• is capable of identifying and analyzing project uncertainties and possibilities in addition to developing suitable responses to potential risks.
• has insight into the contracting and procurement process for infrastructure projects.
• has specialized knowledge regarding the societal and environmental values and impacts of infrastructure projects.
• is capable of describing how the project objectives can be broken down into deliverables and work packages using the project breakdown structure (WBS).
• is familiar with the main methods for time and cost estimation

Skills:

The student is capable of:

• analytically criticizing and justifying the various project concepts and objectives to the wider stakeholder group.
• Identifying stakeholders and performing a stakeholder analysis.
• Illustrating how the WBS can be established.
• demonstrating an understanding of the importance of leadership qualities and organizational culture awareness in large complex project settings.

General competence:

The student is capable of:

• recognizing the importance of involving stakeholders to identify project goals, risk factors, and mitigation methods.
• using scholarly articles and published case studies to keep up with the latest developments in the field.
• working in teams and managing their own workload and that of their team.
• evaluating and selecting an appropriate project organization model based on project characteristics such as duration, size, and complexity

The teaching will largely consist of lectures and group activities. Students will also be given a project assignment in which they are to work in groups to analyze a case project and apply the learnings from the course to address the issues involved in the case project. Voluntary exercises related to the project assignment might be given in connection with each lecture.

The following coursework requirements must be approved in order for the student to take the exam:

The students must have individual reflection notes (approx. 1000 words per note) approved and linked to 80% of the total guest lectures. Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements can be given up to one opportunity to resubmit reflection notes before the exam.

The assessment consists of two parts:

Part 1) Project report prepared individually or in a group of max. 4 students, approx. 10 000 - 12 000 words, weighted 70%.

Part 2) Individual oral examination or presentation, weighted 30%.

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) in order for the student to pass the course.

Assessment parts: 1) can be appealed, 2) cannot be appealed

In group work, the students’ different contributions must be reflected in the submitted work. Normally, all members of the group receive the same grade, but in exceptional cases, individual grades may be assigned within groups after further assessment. In such cases, all students in the relevant group will be informed that grades will be given individually before the grades are published.

All types of materials and equipment are allowed as long as rules for source referencing are followed.

Grade scale A-F

Part 1 and 2) One internal examiner and one external examiner

Allen Tadayon