Admission requirements
Not applicable
Description
ICT developments face increasing complexity. Technological challenges, combined with managerial and organisational issues, cause failure to a vast number of software development initiatives. The past decades, the earlier mentioned complexity has dominantly been managed by the application of project management methods and techniques. In recent years, the attention is shifting to product management philosophies/frameworks like Agile/Scrum.
The lecture-based part of this course has been built on two pillars:
1. Software Product Management. How to manage software products during their complete life cycle, such that they generate the expected revenue and, as assets, represent the company's sustainable value. This area includes topics, like: Product Strategy, Product planning and Strategic Management.
2. Software Product Development. How to manage the development of software products from idea to release in the market. This includes the systems development life cycle and approaches to software development techniques like project management and Scrum. Overarching concepts like quality management, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and the management of user expectations and involvement are discussed as well.
The practical part of the course, provides an opportunity to experience and apply the issues and techniques discussed in the course.
Course objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. List the different types of software products.
2. Describe the typical characteristics of the software product market.
3. Put software product management concepts into practice in the form of writing a Software Product Proposition and applying the Business Model Canvas.
4. Startup a software development initiative in line with the principles of being successful in the ICT business.
5. Describe the characteristics of the two main stream product developments methods: Project Management and Agile/Scrum
6. Explain in which contexts it's better to apply either project management or Agile/scrum.
7. Apply project management techniques like: Precedence Diagram, Decision Tree, PERT and Earned Value Analysis.
8. Apply Agile tools and principles like: Product Backlog, User stories, Velocity, Burn down charts, Technical debt, Value Proposition Canvas.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
The course is structured around two main building blocks:
1. Twelve theory sessions, including in-class reading and case study assignments
2. An assignment which is aimed at creating a Software Product Proposition, to be carried out
in pre-assigned groups of about 5 students.
Assessment method
A) Written exam
It will be based on materials covered during lectures and assigned readings or handouts. It is a closed book, closed notes exam.
B) Group assignment
Your assignment is to create a Software Product Proposition (SDP).
The SDP needs to cover the following topics:
1. Vision
2. Definition
3. (Market) Positioning
4. Business view/-case
C) Individual assignments
These individual assignments will require you to apply certain techniques in the area of project planning and -control.
Grading
Your total grade for this course will be based on the following:
30% written exam with open and multiple-choice questions [individual].
60% Software Product Proposition [group]
10% Individual assignments [group]
To pass the course, the grade of the written exam has to be at least 5.0
The teacher will inform the students how the inspection of and follow-up discussion of the exams will take place.
Reading list
Book:
Title: Software Product Management
Authors: Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, Samuel A. Fricker
ISBN: 978-3-642-55139-0
Syllabus:
Title: Some of the Better Practices of Project Management
Author: John Hermarij
ISBN: 9789491009006
The syllabus can be ordered at info@dhirata.nl
The purchase and use of both the book and the syllabus are mandatory.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Programme Co-ordinator: ms. Esme Caubo
Remarks
Also register for every course in Brightspace. Important information about the course is posted here.
There is only limited capacity for external students. Please contact the programme Co-ordinator
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.