PA 312: Project Management

The course is primarily aimed at introducing the students to the world of ‘projects’ and ‘project
management’ by acquainting them with the key concepts, debates, approaches, tools and strategies
relating to the analyses and dynamics of project management. The focus is on bridging theoretical
discourses with practical examples and learning. At the end of the course, the students are expected
to develop a broad based understating of the key contexts, tools, and issues surrounding project
design and analysis both globally and nationally.
Course Contents:
Towards an Understanding of ‘Project’ and ‘Project Analysis’ in a Developing Country
Scenario, Introducing Projects as ‘Cutting Edge’ of Development: Concept, Rationale,
Categories, Features and Characteristics, Project Life Cycles, Basic ideas of project analysis, The
Place of Economic and Financial Analysis in Project Evaluation, Points of Views in Project
Analysis: Economic, Social, and Financial.
A Focus on Project Planning & Design: Project Planning and Designing Process: Why Plan?
Typical Steps in Planning and Designing, Role of Project Manager in Project Planning and
Implementation, Project Completion and Hand Over.
Basic Notions of Costs and Benefits in Project Analysis: Identifying the Costs and Benefits of
Project with a Special Reference to a Developmental Project, Benefit – Cost Ratio.
Discounted Cash Flow Measures and Application: Selected Popular Measures of Discounted
Cash Flows: Net Present Worth, Internal Rate of Return.
Selected Popular Tools of Project Analysis, Design, and Management: Social Impact
Assessment, Stakeholder Analysis, Logical Framework, SWOT Analysis.
Project Planning and Management Practices and Culture in Bangladesh: Key Processes,
Procedures and Institutions in Project Planning in Bangladesh Critical Factors Affecting Project
Planning and Management.
Suggested Readings
Chadha, S. 1989. Managing Projects in Bangladesh- A Scenario Analysis of Institutional
Environment for Development Projects, Dhaka: University Press Limited.
Choudhury, S. 1993. Project Management, New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co.
Curry, S. & Weiss, J. 2000. Project Analysis in Developing Countries, London: Macmillan Press
Ltd.