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Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus
(name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)
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Prof.Dr. Osman Köroğlu okoroglu@epoka.edu.al
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Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address
and signature) and Office Hours:
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Prof.Dr. Osman Köroğlu okoroglu@epoka.edu.al
, Refer to EIS
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Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email
address and signature) and Office Hours:
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NA
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| Language: |
English
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| Compulsory/Elective: |
Elective
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| Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) |
Bachelor in Economics (3 years)
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| Classroom and Meeting Time: |
-
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| Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: |
NA
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| Code of Ethics: |
Code of Ethics of EPOKA University
Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
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| Attendance Requirement: |
75%
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| Course Description: |
This course is about introducing students with an understanding of knowledge and its management as a framework for designing an organization’s goals, structures, and processes so that the organization can use what it knows to learn and create value for its customers and community. More specifically, it equips students with some of knowledge management systems life cycles, knowledge management models, knowledge capturing techniques, knowledge sharing and knowledge application. The course aims at creating awareness about knowledge management and its importance to the success of today's organization.
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| Course Objectives: |
This course aims to equip students with a strong foundation in knowledge management (KM) principles and their application in project management. Students will learn how to capture, store, share, and utilize knowledge effectively to enhance decision-making and project success. The course will explore KM frameworks, tools, and technologies, focusing on their role in improving project collaboration, risk management, and innovation. Students will develop skills in knowledge mapping, lessons learned documentation, and best practice implementation within project environments. Additionally, they will analyze case studies to understand how KM strategies can drive efficiency, reduce project failures, and support continuous learning in organizations. By the end of the course, students will be able to design and implement KM solutions that optimize project outcomes and align with organizational goals.
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BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
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| 1 |
Knowledge Management in Project Management – The role of KM in improving project planning, execution, and learning.
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| 2 |
Types of Knowledge: Explicit vs. Tacit – Understanding documented knowledge (explicit) and experience-based knowledge (tacit) in project teams.
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| 3 |
Knowledge Capture & Retention – Techniques for collecting and preserving project insights, best practices, and lessons learned.
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| 4 |
Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration – Strategies for fostering communication and collaboration among project stakeholders.
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| 5 |
Lessons Learned & Post-Project Reviews – The importance of documenting successes and failures for future project improvement.
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| 6 |
Knowledge Repositories & Project Documentation – Using databases, wikis, and KM systems to store and retrieve project knowledge.
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| 7 |
Technology & KM Tools in Projects – The role of project management software, AI, and cloud-based platforms in KM.
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| 8 |
Organizational Learning & Continuous Improvement – Applying KM to refine processes and drive innovation in project environments.
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| 9 |
KM in Risk Management & Decision-Making – Leveraging knowledge to anticipate risks and make informed project decisions.
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| 10 |
Ethical & Legal Considerations in KM – Managing knowledge responsibly, ensuring confidentiality, and complying with data protection regulations.
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| Week |
Topics |
| 1 |
1 Project Management Overview p.29 [Clarify what project management is and “is not” (it’s likely more than you think) Learn why projects are challenging to manage Understand why project management is the key to the future growth of any organization Learn why the future of project management is bright and why becoming a certified project manager might be a wise career move Review the latest trends in project management that might impact your first opportunity] |
| 2 |
2 The Project Manager p.52 [Review the different roles played by the project manager Review the key skills every project manager should possess Learn why some project managers are much more successful than others Understand the common mistakes made by many project managers Review differences between Project Manager, Scrum Master, and Product Owner] |
| 3 |
3 Essential Elements for Any Successful Project p.61 [Learn what comprises a successful project Understand the common characteristics of troubled projects Review the common characteristics of successful projects Find out which tools are indispensable to most project managers] |
| 4 |
4 Defining a Project p.73 [Understand the importance of defining a project correctly Learn what questions must be answered to properly define a project Understand how defining a project relates to planning a project Review the essential elements for a Project Definition document Learn how to determine whether a project has been properly defined] |
| 5 |
5 Planning a Project p.84 [Understand the key principles of effective project planning Learn the important questions that project planning should answer Understand that a project plan is not a Microsoft Project file Review the essential elements for a project plan Find out how to develop a project plan Discover how to avoid the common project planning mistakes] |
| 6 |
6 Developing the Work Breakdown Structure p.101 [Clarify what a work breakdown structure (WBS) is and is not Understand why the WBS is considered the most important tool of the project manager Learn what makes an effective WBS Learn how to avoid the common mistakes when developing a WBS Understand why a WBS is essential for an agile project too] |
| 7 |
7 Estimating the Work p.116 [Understand the importance that estimating plays in the success of a project Understand how estimating is used to manage project risk Review the common reasons for poor estimates and how to avoid them Review the key estimating techniques and methods Understand the power of bottom-up estimating Learn how to properly ask for an estimate Understand how to deal with uncertainty Learn the best estimating practices of successful projects] |
| 8 |
8 Developing the Project Schedule p.129 [Understand why the project schedule is vital to a successful project Review the process for creating a realistic schedule Learn the characteristics of a good schedule Learn how to avoid the common mistakes that even experienced project managers can make when building a schedule Review the options for effectively presenting your schedule to others] |
| 9 |
9 Determining the Project Budget p.145 [Understand why the project budget is important to project success Review the process for figuring a realistic budget Learn the key project budgeting principles Understand the common mistakes people make when building a project budget] |
| 10 |
10 Controlling a Project p.155 [Clarify what we mean by “controlling” a project Understand why project planning is so important to controlling a project Learn the principles of an effective project control system Learn powerful techniques that simplify project control Understand why earned value management is the best technique for measuring project performance, yet the least used Review the essential principles of project status reporting] |
| 11 |
11 Managing Project Changes p.173 [Understand what is meant by a project change and project change control Understand why scope changes occur Understand why good project managers take project change control seriously Learn the key management fundamentals for successfully handling project changes Understand why project change control is needed for agile projects too Review the essential components of an effective project change control system Find out how to reduce project changes Understand the common mistakes with managing project changes and how to avoid them] |
| 12 |
12 Managing Project Deliverables p.188 [Understand why managing project deliverables is integral to customer satisfaction Discover the key principles for managing project deliverables Understand the value of a configuration management plan Find out the best practices related to managing project deliverables Review the common challenges related to managing project deliverables] |
| 13 |
13 Managing Project Issues p.202 [Find out why an effective issue management process is vital to project success Understand why the project manager is the most important element in the issue management process Understand the subtle differences between managing risks, issues, and defects Learn the key principles and best practices for managing project issues Find out which data points are essential to your issue management system Understand the limitations of the common issue log approach] |
| 14 |
14 Managing Project Risks p.212 [Understand why managing risks is what project management is all about Learn the key principles of controlling project risks Discover the value of managing project risks in a systematic manner Find out the essential steps and tools for effective risk management Realize that there is a common set of project characteristics that are responsible for most project risks Understand why many project risks are actually self-inflicted during the project planning process] |
| Prerequisite(s): |
ASSESSMENT
Attendance 20% Each hour separate attendance/attention points if you place all your devices on my desk at the start of class and keep them there until the end of class. One cannot sign if s/he arrives later than 30 minutes. Logic: Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation. https://anxiousgeneration.com/research/the-evidence.
ProjectA 20% Each student, every week: 5 mins of student presentation from a relevant book chapter/case study/article you selected from last 2 years.
ProjectB 20% Each student, every week: One sheet, two-page, handwritten reflection paper on weekly main textbook chapter. Use these questions: 1. What are the three most important points in this chapter? 2. How do these concepts apply to society today? 3. Why do you agree or disagree with the author? 4. How does this relate to other subjects you’ve studied? 5. How has this chapter changed your thinking? 6. What lessons can be drawn from any examples or cases? 7. Explain a key theory or framework in your own words. 8. What ethical or social issues arise? How should they be addressed? 9. What was unclear or left you wanting more? 10. How might these ideas evolve in the future?
ProjectC 20% Online certificate (open.edu/openlearn/money-business/leadership-management/project-management-the-start-the-project-journey/ -35 hours) share the link to your profile page on open.edu (i.e. www.open.edu/openlearn/profiles/zv467553) + One sheet, two-page, handwritten reflection paper answering: What key insights did you gain? How does it connect to our course? What skills will you apply? What challenged or changed your perspective? How would you improve the online course?
ProjectD 20% Final project: 1. What was the most important topic of this course? 2. How are you going to apply the topic you mentioned above to your life/business/career? One sheet, two-page, handwritten reflection paper.
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Textbook(s):
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Main
Horine, G. M. (2022). Project management absolute beginner’s guide (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
Project Management Institute. (2021). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (7th ed.) and The standard for project management. Project Management Institute.
Newton, R. (2024). Project management step by step. Pearson Education.
Recommended
Massingham, P. (2019). Knowledge Management. SAGE.
Atesmen, M. K. (2014). Project management case studies and lessons learned: Stakeholder, scope, knowledge, schedule, resource and team management. CRC Press.
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Additional Literature:
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-
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| Laboratory Work: |
-
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| Computer Usage: |
-
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| Others: |
No
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| 1 |
1. Explain key knowledge management (KM) concepts and their role in enhancing project management (PM) efficiency. |
| 2 |
2. Apply KM frameworks and tools to improve project planning, execution, and decision-making. |
| 3 |
3. Develop strategies for capturing, storing, and sharing project knowledge to enhance team collaboration and organizational learning. |
| 4 |
4. Analyze the impact of KM on risk management, problem-solving, and continuous improvement in projects. |
| 5 |
5. Implement knowledge mapping and lessons learned documentation to optimize future project performance. |
| 6 |
6. Evaluate knowledge management systems (KMS) and technologies for their effectiveness in project environments. |
| 7 |
7. Design a KM strategy tailored to project-based organizations to ensure knowledge retention and transfer. |
| 8 |
8. Enhance communication and collaboration within project teams by leveraging KM best practices. |
| 9 |
9. Assess case studies of KM applications in project management to identify best practices and common challenges. |
| 10 |
10. Integrate KM principles into project governance, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making processes for better project outcomes. |
| No |
Program Competencies |
Cont. |
| Bachelor in Economics (3 years) Program |
| 1 |
Students define the fundamental problems of economics |
2 |
| 2 |
Students describe key economic theories |
1 |
| 3 |
Students critically discuss current developments in economics |
3 |
| 4 |
Students appropriately use software for data analysis |
3 |
| 5 |
Students critically contextualize the selection of an economic problem for research within scholarly literature and theory on the topic |
3 |
| 6 |
Students apply appropriate analytical methods to address economic problems |
4 |
| 7 |
Students use effective communication skills in a variety of academic and professional contexts |
3 |
| 8 |
Students effectively contribute to group work |
3 |
| 9 |
Students conduct independent research under academic supervision |
2 |
| 10 |
Students uphold ethical values in data collection, interpretation, and dissemination |
5 |
| 11 |
Students critically engage with interdisciplinary innovations in social sciences |
3 |
| 12 |
Student explain how their research has a broader social benefit |
4 |
