Managing Impactful Projects

Objectives

The world lives extraordinary and unprecedented times with international events affecting world organizations at different levels. The MIP course offers the possibility for students to understand and create impact. Indeed, we do so by providing a critical overview of contemporary management and organizational practices but one that is grounded on inviting students to work on a real-life project, for a real-life organization. In particular, we will be focusing on diagnosing and researching organizations, through the lens of creating impact. Besides providing an in-depth awareness of complex organizational processes through project management, this module also offers project planning, prototyping, pilot execution and life skills that can enhance future work engagement.  


General characterization

Code

1459

Credits

3.5

Responsible teacher

Loïc dos Santos Pedras

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

n/a

Bibliography

There are multiple resources for understanding, analysing and working with impact led organizations. These are just a selection to get you started:

Craig and Snook (2014) From purpose to impact, Harvard Business Review, May 2014 issue, electronic reference https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact
 Kearins, K., & Springett, D. (2003). Educating for sustainability: Developing critical skills. Journal of management education, 27(2), 188-204.
Rusinko, C. A. (2010). Integrating sustainability in management and business education: A matrix approach. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 9(3), 507-519.
Starik, M., Kanashiro, P., & Collins, E. (2017). Sustainability management textbooks: Potentially necessary, but probably not sufficient.
Urban, M. & Yip, C. (2017, May). Basic impact: Examining the potential impact of a basic income on social entrepreneurs. The Mowat Centre & Centre for Social Innovation, Toronto, Canada.

Teaching method

Students will attend 90-minute classes that comprises lectures, mentorship and group work sessions. Lectures will introduce the main concepts, mentorship sessions will put in practice the fundamentals of those concepts with specific exercises and, finally, students will have time to work in their groups with assistance from teaching team. Learning sessions will encompass elements of knowledge sharing (academic literature), general practice (application of knowledge) and group practice (application of knowledge in their own work). Individual reflection is also promoted. Students should foster an open mind and ready to ?learn? mindset. Learning to learn can be a difficult skill to acquire, requiring an open mind, a good understanding of the self, and openness to reflection. 

 


Evaluation method

The assessment of this course is based in 3 components with the following weight on the final grade: (i) Quiz: 20% (ii) Pitch: 25% (iii) Impact Case Study: 55%.

(i) Individual ? The Quiz (20%): Students will participate individually in a quiz that captures the essence of the class, the cases shown and some of the discussions held in the class. The 30min quiz will be done in class using Moodle.

(ii) Group ? Final Pitch (25%): The pitch presentation will be completed with a visual pitch and will have a maximum of 6 minutes where each student will present for a minimum of 1 minute. All visual formats are accepted. The pitch will focus on the full journey, evidence of impact, lessons learned and impact projection. 


Subject matter

 Introduction and SDGs

Problem analysis and Project management

Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas

Not for profits

Social Business Models

Circular economy and micro-credit

The Logic model

Washings? and Impact cases

QUIZ and basics of prototyping

Pitch preparation

Course recap and final mentoring

Final PITCH


Programs

Programs where the course is taught: