Economy and project management
Acquire fundamental knowledge of economics and project management for professional and entrepreneurial contexts. This course provides future engineers with a first contact in the area of economics and project management. They are enabled to: have a global vision over the strategic and economical context of corporations and SMEs understand costs related to projects, company activity, profitability and performance using key performance indicators (KPI). Thanks to the course, students will find it easier to make their transition from engineering studies to the corporate world, where they can join or lead project teams. After successfully finishing this course, students will know: the fundamentals about microeconomics and macroeconomics the fundamentals about project management, strategic analysis, finance and project investment how to develop a project investment analysis and a business plan supported by a business case how to deal with real situations of projects in companies, related to organization, technological innovation, entrepreneurship/start-up, risk, human resources and finance how to discuss case studies about project management and investment analysis Fundamentals of economy: microeconomics, macroeconomics supply and demand, elasticity, economic role of the state, GDP, GNP, economic cycles, inflation, deflation Project management: definitions, project life cycle, project manager and program manager, leadership, PMI methodology, planning, network diagrams (AOA, AON), critical path, fast tracking, crashing, planning, Pert,Gantt, Microsoft Project, risk Cost-sales-results: fixed costs, variable costs, direct and indirect costs, gross and net margin, net profits and EBITDA, break-even point Project investment: cash-flows, NPV, IRR, pay-back, ROI, cost of capital, risk, case studies intelecommunications and computers Strategy: diagnosis, recommendations, SWOT, BCG, McKinsey, competitor analysis, competitiveness, attractiveness, key factors of success, value chain, innovation, internationalization Assessment Teaching is theory and practice oriented, with interactive classes used to present subjects and practical examples of application (learning based on the method of the case study). Results from learning (1), (2) and (3) are evaluated individually through two written tests and executive summaries submitted during the semester. Results from learning (4) and (5) are evaluated in groups of four people through the presentation for the class of the case study and the respective solution recommended by the group and submission of the respective executive summary. Teams also prepare during the semester the planning of a project at their choice, submitting a final report. Evaluation from written tests has a weight of 65% and evaluation from presenting the cases, undertaking the executive summary and planning the project (report) has a weight of 35%. Final grade = 65% x (average grade from two mid-term exams) + 35% x (average grade from assignments due)
