Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Science and Technology Policies
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Doubts will be resolved before or after class. Non-face-to-face doubts will be resolved by videoconference.
Introduction
In this subject the student is trained in the policies of R + D + I associated with the management of R + D + I projects and management of high performance teams. Not only aspects of project management are addressed, but also requirements gathering and the configuration, management and justification of research projects funded by public agencies.
Pre-course requirements
None
Objectives
- In-depth knowledge of the R+D+I process within the framework of project management
- Know the basic concepts of project management.
- Know the management methodologies within each stage of the R+D+I process
- Know agile management methodologies.
- Know the management methodologies of the interested parties
- Know risk management methodologies
- Know the different types of financing entities in the public sphere.
- Know the mechanisms for requesting, managing and justifying funded research projects.
- Know the basic principles that regulate funded research consortia.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB1 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study based on general secondary education. This knowledge should be of a level that, although based on advanced textbooks, also includes some of the cutting-edge elements from their field of study.
- CB3 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) and to issue judgements that include a reflection on important issues that are social, scientific or ethical in nature.
- CE5 - To promote entrepreneurship and acquire knowledge for the organisation and management of Bioengineering companies while paying attention to their legal framework and the regulations in force at the time
- CG4 - To resolve problems based on initiative, be good at decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and communication, as well as the transmission of knowledge, skills and prowess in the field of Bioengineering
- CG6 - To apply the necessary legislation when exercising this profession.
- CG7 - To analyse and evaluate the social and environmental impact of technical solutions
- CG8 - To apply quality principles and methods.
- CG9 - The ability to organise and plan in the field of business, as well as in institutions and organisations.
- CT1 - To understand company organisation and the science that governs its activities; to apply work-related rules and understand the relationship between planning, industrial and commercial strategies, quality and profit.
- CT2 - The ability to link welfare with globalisation and sustainability; to acquire the ability to use skills, technology, the economy and sustainability in a balanced and compatible manner.
- CT3 - To know how to communicate learning results to other people both verbally and in writing, and well as thought processes and decision-making; to participate in debates in each particular specialist areas.
- CT4 - To be able to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team, whether as a member or by management tasks, with the aim of contributing to undertaking projects based on pragmatism and a feeling of responsibility, taking on commitment while bearing the resources available in mind.
- CT5 - To use information sources in a reliable manner. To manage the acquisition, structuring, analysis and visualisation of data and information in your specialist area and critically evaluate the results of this management.
- CT6 - To detect gaps in your own knowledge and overcome this through critical reflection and choosing better actions to broaden your knowledge.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Understand project management within the framework of complexity.
- Understand the bases for planning, organizing, directing and controlling research, development and innovation projects in the field of biotechnology.
- Understand the basis for planning, organizing, and controlling the workload that is assigned.
- Understand agile project methodologies (Scrum) and processes (Kanban), as well as the concept of continuous improvement. Understand Design Thinking and Lean Startup methodologies
- Understand the financing policies of R + D + I, technology transfer, technology adoption and dissemination and dissemination.
Syllabus
- R+D+i process: The different stages of the process within the framework of integral project management. Systematization of the process. The transfer of value.
- Basic concepts in project management: Strategies to manage uncertainty. Complexity model in project management. Continuous improvement. Review of methodologies and concepts. Identification of objectives. Key factors in the management of highly complex projects.
- Project management methodologies: Fundamental principles and practices. Comparison of methodologies. Methodologies focused on processes, customers, the development of products and services, and collaboration, transparency and value delivery
- Public funding projects: Typologies and funding entities. TRL. Formation of consortia. Preparation of proposals. Planning. Economic and technical justification
- Inception Deck: Tool to initiate and align teams in projects developed in complex environments: vision, objectives, scope, requirements and constraints, risks, stakeholder management and high-level project planning
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Master classes: presentation of a theoretical topic by the teacher.
Clinical cases or case methods (MC): at the end of a block the approach of a real or imaginary situation will be made. Students work on the questions asked in small groups or in active interaction with the teacher and discuss the answers. The teacher is actively involved and, if necessary, will bring new knowledge. Each student must deliver the corresponding deliverable for evaluation.
Virtual education (EV): online material that the student can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) First call:
Attendance: 10%
Class participation and attitude: 10%
Practical deliverables at the end of each block: 40%
Continuous evaluation. Test questions, at the end of each block: 40%
2) Second call or later: the grade of participation and attitude in class will be saved, as well as its weighting (20%).
A case to be developed will be delivered incorporating the concepts of the course on specific practical development questions.
General points to keep in mind about the evaluation system:
1) Class participation means the contribution of interesting ideas or the raising of relevant questions that help to improve the quality of the session, whether it is a lecture or methods of the case.
2) Attendance at classes is not compulsory, but attendees must abide by the rules indicated by the teachers. In case you do not arrive on time, you must enter quietly without disturbing or interrupting the class. In case of not attending a minimum of 65% of the sessions, the participation in class will be scored very low.
Important considerations:
- Plagiarism, copying or any other action that can be considered cheating will mean a zero in this evaluation section. Doing so in the exams will mean the immediate suspense of the subject.
- The minimum grade to pass the subject must be a 5.
- Changes to the calendar, exam dates or evaluation system will not be accepted.
- Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en.
The Agile Samurai. Jonathan Rasmusson. The Pragmatic Programmers. 2017.
User stories applied for agile software development. Mike Cohn. Addison-Wesley Signature Series. 2004.