28646 - Management of Innovation Projects T-1

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the key topics about organization and management of innovative projects, with particular regards to ‘new product development'.

The first part of the course analyzes the strategic and market conditions of technological innovative processes in which new product development projects are embedded.

The second part deals with problems, solutions and methods related to the economic valuation, planning and control (operational and economic) of projects. These topics are developed highlighting the peculiarities of the project context. Then, some specific tools and methods for the resources, time and costs control are presented, at both single and multiple projects level. Finally, the focus shifts to methodologies for managing projects with high levels of uncertainty.

The third part addresses organizational and managerial issues in R&D and product development activities. After the presentation of R&D organizational forms, the typical structures and organizational roles for new product development projects are introduced.

The strategic and organizational aspects of the first two parts of the course are functional to present specific models of the new product development management and related techniques to support managerial decision making.

Course contents

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

A prior knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts, methodologies and techniques for the analysis of firms' economic performances and management is required to attend with profit this course. In addition, students should master basic concepts and techniques related to descriptive statistics.

Fluent spoken and written Italian is a necessary pre-requisite: all lectures and tutorials, and all study material will be in Italian. Some additional study material will be in English and requires a basic understanding of written English (level B1).

 

COURSE CONTENTS

1. Technological innovation and firm's development

- Technological innovation and firm competitiveness

- Types of innovation

- The sources of innovation

- Product standards and dominant design

- Innovation and intellectual property protection

2. Planning and projects control

- Specific features of project management

- Planning and project control methods: CPM and PERT

- Planning and project economic valuation

- Cost control for planning support

- Risk management: operative indications

- Multi-projects contexts

3. Management models for new products development

- Anticipation and flexibility in new product development processes

- Simultaneous & concurrent engineering: organizational topics and operative methods

- Management of product development teams

4. The process of new product development

- Client’s needs and product specifications

- New product concept definition, selection and test

- Product architecture

5. Methods for the new products development

- New product prototypes

- QFD and House of quality

- Conjoint analysis

Readings/Bibliography

A. Grandi (ed.), Gestione dei progetti di innovazione, II ed., McGrawHill Create, 2021. (ISBN 9781307731774). Except capp. 6 and 16.

For exercises and other teaching material please check course's website on Virtuale-Unibo (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

 

Teaching methods

Lectures, class and individual exercises related to the techniques presented, individual work and class discussion of case studies related to theories and methodologies.

In addition, practice exercises on project planning and control techniques will be held using specific software available at the IT laboratory.

Assessment methods

Achievements will be assessed by the means of a final written exam. This is based on an analytical assessment of the "expected learning outcomes" described above. The exam will last about 2 hours.

The dates of the final exams will be set according to the faculty calendar and they will be posted on Almaesami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm [https://uniwex.unibo.it/] ), where students are also required to enroll.

In order to properly assess such achievements the examination is composed of different sections: an exercise based on the application of project planning and control techniques; one or more open questions; about 20 multiple choice closed questions. Each section scores about one third of the final grade.

Higher grades will be awarded to students who demonstrate an organic understanding of the subject, a high ability for critical application, and a clear and concise presentation of the contents.

To obtain a passing grade, students are required to at least demonstrate a knowledge of the key concepts of the subject, some ability for critical application, and a comprehensible use of technical language.

A failing grade will be awarded if the student shows knowledge gaps in key-concepts of the subject, inappropriate use of language, and/or logic failures in the analysis of the subject.

Teaching tools

In addition to the text indicated in the above section, students will be provided with: exercises with solutions regarding project planning and control techniques, practical business cases, slide used by the instructor. Additional course teaching material and general information will be available at the course's website on: https://virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Grandi