Initiating a Project (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The students are able to write product definitions and apply their skills in technology in a project which combines several fields of technology. The students know methods for product definitions and idea creations and can use those to write a technical product definition.

Content (course unit)

A product project starts with initiating the project, where the students set the goals for the project, define the resources and the schedule. The results of the initiation phase are a literature review and a project plan. The literature review presents the existing solutions and implementations of the topic. The project plan lists milestones, their schedules and various resources required for different tasks. The group organises itself.

As working methods, the students read literature about project work, familiarise themselves with project software and any background information and literature of the topic of the project. The group meetings look at the results produced after the previous meetings and agree on further activities. Each member of the group knows what the others are doing and collaborative learning takes place in the sharing of results. The students continue their learning diaries as specified in the previous course.

Further information

Completing the course requires the students to work hard and with discipline and take an active part in the different roles of group work.

Project can be evaluated as failed because of following reasons
- the coach has been responsible for all communication with the client
- project group has not had any documented meetings
- project group has not written a project plan and/or project report
- project group has not evaluated the process and outcome of the project