28646 - Management of Innovation Projects T-1

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of the technical, economic, and competitive variables and organizational solutions for managing innovative projects, with a particular focus on new product development. Knowledge and operational skills related to structures, organizational roles, and specific project management techniques.

Course contents

The course is divided into three main parts:

Part I – Technological Innovation and Competitiveness

Innovation and Business Development
Sources, Models, and Trajectories of Innovation
Design-Driven Innovation, Open Innovation, and Market Entry Timing
New Products as a Leverage for Competitive Advantage

Part II – Project Management

Project Definition and Life Cycle
Planning and Control: WBS, Gantt, CPM
Resource, Cost, and Risk Management (Decision Trees, PERT, Monte Carlo)
Organizational Structures, Role of the Project Manager, and Teamwork
Introduction to Multi-Project Management and Use of Dedicated Software

Part III – Innovation Management and Product Development

Organization of Innovation Processes
Planning and Phases of New Product Development
Development Support Techniques: QFD, Quality House, Conjoint Analysis, Prototyping

Each part includes practical exercises, business case analysis, and application activities with specific project management software tools.

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory text:
A. Grandi (ed.), Innovation Project Management, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill Create, 2024. (ISBN 9798219011719)

Supplementary materials:
Exercises, case studies, slides, and supporting documents will be made available on the Unibo Virtual Platform: https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/]

Teaching methods

Teaching activities will be conducted entirely in person and will include:

Theoretical lectures,
Guided exercises, both individual and in-class, on the techniques presented,
Discussion of business cases, assigned for individual or group analysis,
Applications with project management software for project planning and control,

Assessment methods

Learning will be assessed through a final written exam lasting approximately 2 hours, without the use of teaching materials (a simple calculator is permitted).

The exam includes:

Applied exercises on planning and control techniques,
Open-ended questions on concepts and methodologies,
Closed-ended questions (approximately 20) covering the entire course syllabus.

Assessment criteria: procedural correctness in exercises, clarity of presentation, completeness of theoretical answers, and mastery of technical terminology.

Registration for the exam via the Almaesami portal: https://almaesami.unibo.it [https://almaesami.unibo.it/]

Optional activity for attending students:
Students who regularly attend classes may, on a voluntary basis, form working groups to analyze a business case assigned by the instructor. The document produced will contribute to the final grade. Detailed instructions will be provided on Virtuale.

Teaching tools

The following will be made available:

Lecture slides,
Exercises with solutions,
Business cases analyzed in class,
Project management software.

All materials will be accessible via the Virtual Platform.

In case of specific needs, adaptations will be made for students with disabilities.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Grandi

See the website of Nunzia Coco