Master in Project Development for Innovation and Product

Program Overview

The Master's program in Project Development for Innovation and Product aims to provide comprehensive training in project design, management, and administration, with a focus on innovation and product. It combines theory and practice, blends design and managerial professionals, and offers opportunities for international certifications and project financing. Graduates can pursue careers as project managers, consultants, researchers, or product managers in various industries.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master in Project Development for Innovation and Product aims to provide complete and integrated training in three project disciplines: Design/Development, Management/Administration. It blends theory and practice, allowing for integration with multidisciplinary professional groups. The curriculum balances planning and immediate creative solutions, using a methodological process encompassing project development, management, resource administration, and navigating complex management challenges. The program emphasizes the overlap between innovation and product, combining practical applications with theories to enable design professionals to participate in project decision-making and allow professionals from other areas to engage in creative processes. The Master's program strategically bridges design and managerial professionals, contributing to new management topics and methodological creative processes. It targets professionals in innovative product design, encompassing tangible and intangible project elements with a strong design presence throughout development. The program's structure and methodology facilitate comprehensive training in both innovation and product, incorporating new project concepts stemming from design principles. The program educates professionals to perform independently, regardless of their executive or managerial roles, providing comprehensive knowledge applicable to project design. Successful completion leads to a Master in Project Development for Innovation and Product degree issued by the enrolled university. Students may also obtain a Certified Project Management Associate (Level D) certification through a cooperation agreement with the Argentina Project Management Association (AGPA) and the Argentina IPMA Certifying Body (OCIA), contingent on completing the Project Design Module and passing an exam. Students also have the opportunity to present their projects to FIDBAN (International Entrepreneurs and Investors Network) for potential financing.

Outline:

The Master's program is structured into four parts: It includes the following subjects and approximate hours:

• Introduction to Projects (20 hours): Covers general project concepts, phases, systems, collaborative work, knowledge management, and design.
• Design of Project Systems (30 hours): Focuses on identifying project scenarios, constraints, technical problems, objectives, success criteria, and involved people and resources.
• Analysis of Service Provisions (30 hours): Studies customer needs and potential solutions, defining the desired service.
• Functional Analysis in a Project (30 hours): Determines technical and service functions using tools like service function trees, project system proposals, and value/quality analysis.
• Project Ergonomics (30 hours): Addresses the human role in project solutions, user classification, and safety measures.
• Project Safety and Reliability (30 hours): Covers security, viability, life cycle aspects, and risk management.
• The Environment in the Project (30 hours): Explores sustainability, eco-design, environmental impact, and life cycle analysis.
• Project Specifications (30 hours): Details the operation, specifics, and constitution of project solutions.
• Draft Preparation (40 hours): Covers specification tools, documentation, and proposal preparation.
The subjects are complementary and structured pedagogically. Each subject includes thematic units, practice exercises, theoretical materials, and tutor support. Approval is granted upon completion of the final part.

2nd Part: Project Management for Innovation and Product (25 Credits):

This part covers project management, focusing on innovation and product with an integrative vision. It addresses human, technical, and technological resource administration throughout the project and product life cycles, considering social impact. It establishes relationships between AEIPRO and PMI standards in innovation and product management. Subjects and approximate hours include:

• Introduction to Project Management (10 hours): Covers general concepts, project types, phases, and life cycles.
• Project Planning and Management (40 hours): Addresses project integration, scope, plan development, change control, and planning techniques.
• Integral Management of Product and Design (30 hours): Introduces design and product management, emphasizing innovation.
• Project Monitoring and Control (30 hours): Covers project control tools, methodologies, resource control, and compliance with timelines, quality, and cost.
• Design Aspects: Context Determinants and User Requirements (30 hours): Analyzes user needs, considering social, cultural, and market contexts.
• Trust Management: Risk and Quality (30 hours): Focuses on quality assurance, risk management, and meeting project requirements.
• Innovation as an Improvement and Contribution Tool for Product Value (30 hours): Explores innovation's role in adding value to products.
• Product and Environment (30 hours): Addresses the relationship between products and their environment, considering sustainability.
• Project Communication (20 hours): Covers internal and external communication strategies for different user levels.

3rd Part: Project Administration for Innovation and Product (28 Credits):

This part focuses on the Project Manager's role, incorporating creativity into problem-solving and decision-making. Subjects and approximate hours include:

• Object Theory (20 hours): Explores object qualities and perception levels.
• Management Without Distance (20 hours): Covers off-shore project management and related technologies.
• Public Speaking Techniques (20 hours): Trains managers in project promotion and investor attraction.
• Business Administration and Management (40 hours): Introduces business management concepts and techniques for different business types.
• Strategic Management and Planning (40 hours): Focuses on strategic thinking, management tools, and change management.
• Relationships Between Innovation, Creativity, Productivity, and Competitiveness (30 hours): Explores the interrelationships between these four areas.
• Product Design and the Performers of Technological Innovation (30 hours): Addresses the impact of technology on product design and innovation.
• Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning (30 hours): Analyzes knowledge management in organizations.
• Profitable and Strategic Design (50 hours): Explores how design contributes to social profitability and economic inclusion.

4th Part: Master's Final Project or Degree Thesis (10 Credits):

This part involves developing a Master's Final Project or Thesis (100 hours), extending upon previous project work with a deeper research contribution. However, it mentions that each subject in Parts 1, 2, and 3 includes practice exercises and evaluation tasks. The final part involves a Master's Final Project or Thesis. The IPMA Level D Certification exam is mentioned as a separate assessment for those who complete the Project Design Module.

Teaching:

The program uses a blended learning approach combining theoretical topics and exercises through group and individual assignments, as well as workshops. The workshops involve participation from students of different professions and professors/consultants in certified projects. The teaching staff includes numerous Doctors and specialists in various fields related to project management, design, and innovation (a list of faculty is provided in the text).

Careers:

Potential career paths include:

• Project managers within Design areas
• Consultants in Design and Innovation
• Product managers in private companies
• Communication project management
• Researchers in the field of project sciences and professional work in projects for innovation and product

Other:

The program mentions collaboration with the International Project Management Association (IPMA), the Argentina Project Management Association (AGPA), the Argentina IPMA Certifying Body (OCIA), Fundación Innovación y Desarrollo, and the International Entrepreneurs and Investors Network (FIDBAN). Students have the opportunity to present their projects to FIDBAN for potential financing. FUNIBER Training Scholarships are also available.