Developing an IT Project Management Course to Meet Changing Industry Needs

Acknowledging that an awareness of project management skills was an important outcome for their graduates, the IT faculty of one Australian university developed and introduced a new IT Project Management course into their undergraduate curriculum in 2002. A three stage approach that involved identifying students expected learning outcomes, selecting relevant content and choosing the most applicable pedagogy was applied in designing this course. An integrated case study approach, developed over a five year period which was to be the recipient of many teaching awards is described. However, despite its popularity and successes the course was totally rewritten for the 2008 academic year, reflecting alternative views about what IT Project Management courses should contain, which in turn prompts the question of what project management skills should we be teaching students in preparing them for professional IT careers