Project Management in Tourism (4 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

Project-based work is often relevant in development processes in various fields and that is why good project management skills are needed. Much of the development in the tourism industry is also project-driven. A joint project language, concepts and understanding of the project world are the basis for successful cooperation. The purpose of this course is to give you understanding of what a project is, what it contains, the principles according to which it is managed, and some of the concepts and tools you will need in your own future projects.

Competences
Proactive development, internationalism and multiculturalism, tourism business

Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you will:
-have gained a comprehensive understanding of the typical stages involved in a project
-have learned how to identify a need for a project in tourism
-be able to assess what resources a project needs and how to acquire them
-have the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective project team member in various roles
-have gained an understanding of essential project management tools and competences required to manage a project successfully

Content

-Project definition, types, roles
-Project lifecycle, typical tasks and tools in different phases
-Project need and project idea
-Acquisition of project resources
-Projects in tourism
-Strategic alignment of projects
-Formation of a project team
-Development and proposal of a project idea

Location and time

The course will be implemented totally face-to-face with one lecture a week throughout the semester on the main campus.

Materials

The standard for project management and A guide to the project management body of knowledge: (PMBOK® guide)

Project Management Institute (2023). Process Groups – A Practice Guide. Project Management Institute, Inc.

Nicholls, J. (2021). The Everyday Project Manager. Routledge.

Additional materials provided by the teacher.

Teaching methods

Lectures
Group discussions
Teamwork
Workshops
Other participatory methods
Interviews
Peer evaluation
Exam

Employer connections

There are visiting lecturers from working life in this course.

Exam schedules

The theory exam will be before winter break with retake later in spring. The specific dates will be announced in the detailed schedule of the course on Moodle.

Student workload

Lectures and presentations 40 h
Teamwork and self-studying 95 h

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The general criteria of the competencies that the Bachelor's Degrees awarded by Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences provide can be found on Jamk's web pages. The learning outcomes of individual courses are assessed in relation to the objectives of the course concerned. Assessment is based on knowledge, skills and competence in accordance with the National and European Qualifications Framework, level 6

Assessment methods are based on learning objectives.
A course accepted as completed is assessed on the following five-step scale:

1 (Sufficient): You are able to recognize some project stages but with limited understanding. You are able to identify basic project needs in tourism without providing depth or clarity. You can identify some resources needed for a project but struggle to set requirements or plan their acquisition. You are able to participate as a team member with limited understanding of your role. You are aware of some project management tools and concepts but are unable to apply them effectively. You complete tasks and assignments at the given times.

2 (Satisfactory): You are able to describe project stages with limited detail and depth. You are able to identify project needs in tourism in simple situations but struggle with complexity. You can identify resources needed for a project setting basic requirements and have limited understanding of how to acquire them. You are able to contribute to a team but show inconsistent effectiveness or role awareness. You are able to apply basic project management tools and concepts to straightforward problems. You complete tasks and assignments at the given times.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 (Good): You are able to demonstrate a clear understanding of project stages, with minor gaps in detail. You are able to identify and justify project needs in tourism, but your analysis may lack depth. You are able to assess and plan for project resources with reasonable accuracy. You are able to function effectively in team roles and contribute meaningfully to team success. You are able to apply essential tools and concepts of project management effectively in most cases. You complete tasks and assignments with good quality at given times.

4 (Very Good): You demonstrate a thorough understanding of all project stages and their interconnections. You are able to identify and analyze project needs in tourism clearly and justify them with good reasoning. You are able to assess and plan project resources effectively. You are able to adapt to various team roles and contribute consistently to team objectives. You use a variety of project management tools and concepts and apply them to achieve successful outcomes. You complete tasks and assignments with good quality at given times.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent): You excel in demonstrating a comprehensive and insightful understanding of all project stages, including their interconnections. You excel in identifying and analyzing complex project needs in tourism with innovative and in-depth reasoning. You are able to assess and manage project resources, including creative acquisition strategies. You excel in team roles, demonstrating leadership, adaptability, and consistent contributions. You excel in applying project management tools and concepts precisely and effectively. You complete tasks and assignments with excellent quality at given times.

Further information

The course grade will be formed by the grade of the theory exam (50%) and the presentation of project idea (50%). AI-generated content is not allowed in this course and this will be monitored both by Turnitin tool and manually.

Non-active students will be removed from the course after the first three weeks. Activity at this time is demonstrated by participation in lectures.