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2020/2021  KAN-CSDEO1005U  Strategic Design and Project Management

English Title
Strategic Design and Project Management

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 15 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Social Sciences
Course coordinator
  • Bo Christensen - Department of Marketing (Marketing)
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Project and change management
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 27-08-2020

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Develop a strategic design project proposal for, and in collaboration with the client organization, based on (but not necessarily in direct accordance with) the challenge given by the client.
  • Execute the project through an appropriate and argued application of design process models (e.g., emphasizing iteration, complexity, and framing, in dynamic environments) and entrepreneurship techniques such as Business Model Canvas, in order to develop the project proposal.
  • Develop and apply a plan for engagement, involvement and communication with relevant actors, such as stakeholders and users, in relation to your work on the project proposal.
  • Clearly and effectively communicate the project proposal and the design process preceding it.
  • Manage the development of the project, with special emphasis on managing stakeholder relations; cross-functional team management, time management and effective communication skills.
  • Reflect on your work as team, including your role as consultants to the client.
  • Provide a comprehensive analysis of the client organization in relation to those of its challenges that are relevant to your work and propose theoretically argued changes to the organization, in alignment with the project.
Examination
Strategic Design and Project Management:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 4-5
Size of written product Max. 30 pages
Assignment type Project
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
75 min. per group, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If a student is ill during the regular oral exam, he/she will be able to re-use the project in the make-up exam. If a student is ill during the writing of the project and did not contribute to the project, the make-up exam can be written individually (15 pages) or in groups (provided that other students are taking the make-up/re-exam). If the student did not pass the regular exam, he/she must make a new revised project (confer advice from the examiner) and hand it in on a new deadline specified by the secretariat.
The individual oral defense at the retake will be 20 minutes per student.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The students will through a semester-long company case be working in cross-disciplinary teams in studio workshops, applying theoretical models and their derived tools to the case. This semester emphasises research-based learning in interaction with real-life stakeholders. Teaching will be focused on process consultation and project development providing relevant techniques and models (e.g., business model innovation and practice theories, prototyping etc).

Groups develop a strategic plan and/or process outline, using the theory package provided. Feedback and formative evaluation will be given as supervision and sessions with external participants throughout the project process.

The workshops will cover both discussion of theoretical topics and practical design activity. Groups will receive supervision on the projects from different angles: From the business/organizational side, from the practice-oriented side and from the artistic, design-related side.

During the project process, the students achieve a reflected approach to strategic design and the high complexity of a project process.

The students will work with a narrative approach, learning about mechanisms of storytelling. A central aim is to provide the students with tools for effective communication; how to present a process or a project, and as a tool to understand stakeholders and engage them into dialogue.
Description of the teaching methods
The students will be working in cross-disciplinary teams, collaborating throughout the semester. In connection with the case/project, a theory packet will be developed, online accessible; students can collect knowledge, theory and methods as it becomes relevant in each group's project process. The teaching will be a combination of intensive studio-based workshops stretching over several days, and group based supervision. The students will learn and reflect through academic analysis, concept development and interaction with professional stakeholders.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is provided in the form of (1) group supervision, (2) dialogical workshop and studio based teaching, (3) feedback on problem formulation, (4) office hours, and (5) feedback at the exam.
Student workload
Attending workshops, supervision and lectures 93 hours
Preparation (including reading of syllabus) 120 hours
Project work and participation in the exam 200 hours
Expected literature

This course will tentatively be organized around the following topics:

  • Strategic design as concept
  • Design thinking
  • Process consultation and organizatinal development
  • Actor-network theory
  • Design and Entrepreneurship project management
  • Business model innovation
Last updated on 27-08-2020