Managing IT Project Complexities

About the course

Subjects

Project management Change management IT

Course content

The context and conditions of contemporary IT software and systems are complex and constantly changing. While traditional large scale (in house or vendor based) monolithic projects are still carried out, today's software and systems development range from small phone apps to large complex inter-organizational systems, and from embedded software to standard products. Projects may involve several teams and vendors from different continents. At the same time, development paradigms, principles, and practices have evolved from the traditional waterfall over agile to current explorations into continuous delivery and deployment.

Project and program managers must have a holistic understanding of the organizational, technical, and cultural context and challenges in order to navigate in this complex context.

The course builds on the students' knowledge about basic project management concepts, techniques and challenges, and discusses current project and program management challenges and dilemmas. The aim of the course is to improve the students' ability to become reflective project managers in multiple contexts and settings.

The course seeks to further students' knowledge about the root causes of complexity, the human element in IT project management and how time and resources constraints are implicating the possibilities to handle project complexities.

The course aims to strengthen both the academic and explanatory capacity as well as introducing hands on, practical means to deal with salient issues.

See course description in course catalogue

What you will learn

To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:

1. Understand and explain key terms, definitions, concepts, theories and models about IT project management challenges covered in the course.
2. Present a clear and coherent argument for your choice of relevant theories and models including their advantages and limitations in the analysis of project management challenges.
3. Apply the selected key terms, definitions, concepts, theories and models in a systematic analysis of project management cases.
4. Discuss and reflect on practical and theoretical implications for IT project management resulting from the analysis of cases.
5. Produce a clear and meaningful narrative that follows academic writing conventions, e.g., proper references, a clear structure, and well-articulated arguments.

Course prerequisites

Familiarity with the basic concepts and techniques of IT project management, such as team composition, and techniques for project planning and control. Please contact the teacher for advice if you do not know whether you qualify.

Facts

Level

Master

Type

Mandatory course – also offered as elective

ECTS

7.5

Code

CINTO4002U

Teaching periods

Autumn – semester

Academic year

2025/2026

Status

Available places

Teaching language

English

Teaching Format

Hybrid

Exams

Written assignment
Individual exam, winter

Assessment type

7 point grading scale