note: course syllabus - university of bridgeport - summarize the key issues and facts of the case....

TCMG-505 - Project Management

University of Bridgeport – Online MS in Technology Management

Professor Mike Okrent, Sc.D., PMP, CQMgr., CSCP, [email protected]. Note: Students are asked to use the water cooler discussion board (see below) or Canvas e-mail vs. communicating with the instructor outside Canvas via outlook.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Description: The adoption of project and program management (PM) processes, techniques, tools and disciplines has expanded exponentially as global organizations have adopted PM to initiate, plan, manage, control and implement a broad range of strategic enterprise wide programs and targeted projects. Through effective PM techniques organizations increase their probability of project success via on time, on budget, on scope delivery with high quality and customer satisfaction. PM methods have improved new product development, IT application, network and e-commerce solution delivery, construction programs, mergers and acquisitions and a myriad of other activities. Effective PM also improves the management of people, resources, facilities, budgets, customers, sponsors and vendors. This is a practitioner’s course in PM. By immersing the student in PM concepts, cases, hands on projects and examples from industry students gain an understanding of project management in a real world context. This grounds them in concepts they can access later to increase their own project or program success. The teaching approach consists of videos, recorded lectures, case studies, individual projects, class readings, online discussions and a team research paper. Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes): The objectives of the course are to:

Achieve an understanding of the concepts, processes and tools for managing projects and programs on time, on budget, within scope, with high quality and customer satisfaction.

Apply lessons learned to manage all types of projects.

Examine the role of the project manager as a leader and team builder.

Investigate and analyze effective techniques for planning and controlling budgets, costs and schedules.

Gain experience with organizational and managerial project and program contexts as well as project management tools and methods.

Improve analytical skills via synthesis and writing.

Achieve an understanding of self-directed, virtual team management. Course Text: Meredith, J. R., Mantel, S. J. & Shafer, S.M. (2015). Project management: A managerial approach (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN: 978-111-894-7029 Course Method This online course will be conducted asynchronously. Course materials will be available via Canvas on a fixed delivery schedule for review, response and submission. Please Note: “Live” or synchronous meetings are not planned and will not be conducted unless a specific need is confirmed on an exception basis. Continuous communication will be facilitated with these vehicles instead:

Videos: The instructor will introduce themselves via a video provided during module 1. Then, starting with module 1 and proceeding through module 14, they will also record weekly videos that provide overviews of pending activities for the week. These weekly module overviews will

mailto:[email protected]

TCMG-505 – Global Program & Project Management, Online MS in Technology Management 2

also include any relevant observations. These overviews will be recorded as the course progresses and should be viewed with the start of each module.

Recorded lectures: Recorded .mp3 files are provided with lectures for each chapter and are posted in the relevant modules. It is strongly recommended that students complete their reviews of these lectures by Monday nights to allow sufficient time to submit their remaining assignments for the week.

PowerPoint Presentations: PowerPoint slide presentations will be provided with each module that correspond with key concepts covered in each lecture recording. It is strongly recommended that students complete their reviews of these PowerPoint slide presentations by Monday nights to allow sufficient time to submit their remaining assignments for the week.

Chapter Readings: As with any course, textbook reading is required. In this course chapter readings will be assigned within each module that correspond with each recorded lecture and PowerPoint slide presentation. Save time: review reading assignments closely! This syllabus confirms what you should and should not read with each module. It is strongly recommended that students complete their reading assignments by Monday nights to allow sufficient time to submit their remaining assignments for the week.

Discussion Forums:

Class discussion questions will be posted for each module. Students are required to respond to each discussion question directly, then respond to two of their peers’ responses and finally respond to any peer responses to them. Discussion questions will be posted with course modules and will be available for viewing by the class. Important: You are urged to publish your responses sequentially during each week/module. Credit will be removed from your discussion grade if you publish your initial response to the question and your peer responses on the same day. Instead, respond sequentially over several days during a given week/module. These bullets summarize the required length of each response type and a suggested schedule of response:

o Direct discussion question responses must be at least two paragraphs in length and you should publish these responses by Tuesday.

o Your peer responses must be at least one paragraph in length and you should publish the first one day and then your second on a subsequent day.

o Your responses to peers who respond to you should be one paragraph in length and follow the same sequence.

A personal student reflections discussion forum will be established with each student that cannot be viewed by the class. Students are required to post their personal reflections on the materials covered in the current module by the close of that module. These reflections constitute a personal dialog with the instructor and should cover what the student has learned during the module. Student reflections must be at least two paragraphs in length and will be graded weekly. It should include how the new knowledge will influence future decisions. In addition, how the new knowledge, if it had been known in the past, would have changed decisions made at that time, if applicable. A rubric that explains how personal student reflections are graded is found on the next page.


Personal student reflection rubric: Use this rubric as a checklist when writing and proofreading your personal reflections. It depicts how the instructor will evaluate your submission.

Specification Evaluation

A "fail" evaluation on this dimension results in a grade of 59 for the submission.

Length

Pass 2 or more paragraphs.

Fail Less than 2 paragraphs.

Content Evaluation

- Full credit for each dimension = 20 points.

- The resulting numerical tally generates the overall grade for the submission.

Content Evaluation Dimensions

Message Clarity The reflection conveys a clear message.

Logical Flow The message flows logically between points.

English Grammar The writing exhibits Master's level English skill.

Reflection Content The content exhibits a clear understanding of the course materials.

Relation to Course Materials The material directly relates to the course materials. A “water cooler discussion” forum will be available for students’ general questions. This water cooler discussion never closes, it will be available for viewing by the class and is not graded. The instructor will respond to items posted there on a first in/first out basis.

Cases: Students will complete four (4) written cases provided in the module. For each assigned case, prepare a typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font submission. Each case study should follow this outline:

Summary - Summarize the key issues and facts of the case.

Questions - Answer the questions associated with the case.

Recommendations - Make recommendations based on the facts and your experience.

Lessons Learned - Identify lessons learned.

Case studies proceed in several steps: students will read the case, then the case will be introduced via lecture recordings and corresponding slides, students will then submit their responses and the case’s answers will be reviewed in the subsequent recorded lecture and slides. A rubric that describes how cases are evaluated is on the next page.


Case study rubric: Use this rubric as a checklist when writing and proofreading your case studies. It depicts how the instructor will evaluate your submission.

Plagiarism Evaluation

A "fail" evalution on either of these two dimensions results in a failure and 0 points for the submission.

Turnitin Similarity Rating

Pass Less than 25% (Set a goal to attain a rating of 10% or less).

Fail Greater than or equal to 25%.

Use of Teacher's Manual

Pass Teacher's manual not used.

Fail Teacher's manual used.


A "fail" evaluation on one of these dimensions results in a failure and a grade of 59 for this submission.

Organization

Pass Follows the required outline.

Fail Does not follow the required outline.

Formatting

Pass Double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font.

Fail Deviates from double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font.

Content Evaluation

- Full credit for each dimension = 20 points.



Response Accuracy The question responses were accurate.

Summary Evaluation The summary captured the relevant points of the case.

Lessons Learned The lessons learned were insightful.

Recommendations The recommendations were actionable.

English Grammar The writing exhibits Master's level English skill. Cases 1. Chapter 6 – Creating a WBS Case. 2. Chapter 7 – The Case for Superior Risk Management Discipline 3. Chapter 9 – Resource Allocation Management 4. Chapter 11 – The Case of the Never Ending Scope Creep


Individual Term Project: Each student will be responsible for planning a hypothetical project approved by the professor which progresses throughout the term. The approved project will entail developing a project description and scope, a detailed project plan, work breakdown structure (WBS), budget and schedule. Projects may be related to your academic program, personal or work experience or an area of interest. Example projects include, but are not limited to, IT projects, building new products, Technology related, etc. You should be careful not to “boil the ocean” when choosing your project! Ambition, while admirable, can result in complex, difficult to manage projects while targeted, focused projects of limited scope tend to be more manageable and result in higher grades (For example, planning a product launch is more manageable than establishing a complex energy company. This contrast actually occurred in an on campus PM class. The team that planned the product launch got the higher grade!)

Individual Term Project Assignment

ASSIGMENT 1 A brief proposal describing the project you will focus on for the semester. (1 paragraph) ASSIGNMENT 2 A detailed description of your project objectives, scope of work and assumptions. (Use the Project Charter Template for this course)

ASSIGNMENT 3 A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with two tabs, the first tab containing your project’s work breakdown structure (WBS) activities list, estimated durations and predecessors (20–40 tasks) and the second tab containing a budget cost sheet covering labor and raw materials. (Instructions on creating this spreadsheet will be covered in a relevant recorded lecture.)

Group Project: Research Paper

As project managers much of your professional lives will entail procuring, motivating and managing effective teams. This class’ online format provides a unique “laboratory” for practicing teamwork and team management because these days, most teams are geographically dispersed and team members must communicate via electronic communication vehicles, much like we are using here.

Depending on the number of students enrolled, the instructor will define one or several student teams. Student teams will then act as self-directed work teams. They will devise an approach to meeting each week, select a project management subject and publish a term paper covering a topic that the professor approves. Group team research paper specifications:

o Double Spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman font o Ten (10) or more pages in length o Five (5) or more reference citations o Citations in the APA 5th Format o Required Outline:

Introduction Findings Conclusions Recommendations Lessons Learned

The rubric for the group term paper evaluation is included on the next page.


Group Research Paper Grading Rubric. Use this rubric as a checklist when writing and proofreading your papers. It depicts how the instructor will evaluate your submission.

Plagiarism Evaluation

A "fail" evalution on either of these two dimensions results in a failure and 0 points for the submission.

Turnitin Similarity Rating

Pass Less than 25% (Set a goal to attain a rating of 10% or less).

Fail Greater than or equal to 25%.

Citations

Pass Sources are cited in context using the APA 5th style.

Fail Sources are not cited in context using the APA 5th style.


A "fail" evaluation on one of these four dimensions results in a failure and a grade of 59 for this submission.

Length

Pass 10 pages or more.

Fail Less than 10 pages.

Number of References

Pass 5 or more references.

Fail Less than 5 references.

Organization

Pass Follows the required outline.

Fail Does not follow the required outline.

Formatting

Pass Double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font.

Fail Deviates from double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font.

Content Evaluation

- Full credit for each dimension = 40 points, for a total of 200 points for this submission.



Message Clarity The paper conveys a clear message.

Logical Flow The message flows logically between points.

English Grammar The writing exhibits master's level English skill.

Teamwork The team established regular collaboration and delivered as a unit.

Relation to Course Materials The material directly relates to the course materials.

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:


o Build a new lights out data center for the cloud in a foreign country o Implementation of a replacement ERP system - Single Country vs global o Plan for a new Product Using Product Development Life Cycle Management -

Process and Examples o Managing a Global Enterprise Wide Supply Chain Project o The State of Project Management in Your Home Country o Software Development project – Compare and contrast agile and Waterfall o Other Topics are acceptable with my approval

Be Careful! The purpose of assigning this paper in project management is to focus on project management topics. Papers must explicitly reference project management concepts to receive full credit – this is not just an exercise in learning about your corporate examples or about general business concepts, instead papers must cite specific project management concepts and lessons learned.

Critical Success Factor - Delivering this Term Paper as a Team: Over eight weeks you will work on and publish this research paper together as a team and you will be responsible for dividing the work to ensure everyone contributes equally:

o Module 1: Team members will convene and agree on an effective mode of collaborating on this research assignment. Teams will submit a summary via Canvas summarizing how they will collaborate remotely and what tools they will use to do so. Include a list of all team members. Be sure to include text that explains how the group will communicate, specifically day/time as well as mode of communication (Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, etc.). Another important item to include is an explanation of how your group will deal with a procrastinating or underperforming colleague. (1 page)

o Module 2: Teams submit a one paragraph, four to five sentence summary of their term paper via Canvas that confirms their research topic. They will also list each team member’s name and role (the table of contents provides a good conceptual start for a work breakdown structure and assignments). Each team member should submit a copy of this document.

o Module 3 – 13: Teams will submit a weekly spreadsheet status report of progress in this format (1 copy per team member):

Module Number WBS including:

Start and End Date for each WBS item

Who will do each WBS item.

Mark Incomplete Tasks with 0, 25, 50, 75, completed

Mark Completed tasks, 100% Risks and Mitigation Plan (a “mitigation plan” is what your plan is to recover

and close the incomplete tasks by what date) Notes (you’re welcome to include concerns in this section.)

o Module 14: Submit your final paper. Course Requirements: Class Participation: As a UB policy, it is expected that each student requires one hour of instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester. Academic Honesty: Cheating and plagiarizing means using the work of others as your own and is unacceptable. If I catch you cheating or plagiarizing, the instructor will warn you once and you will receive a zero (0) grade for that assignment. A second offense will result in an F grade for the course. Turnitin’s plagiarism review features is used and the instructor will not accept


assignments submitted outside Canvas. Likewise, research papers must be completed independently. Failure to write research papers independently will be considered plagiarism. Homework: All assignments must be submitted via Canvas. Written assignments should be typed and double spaced using 12 point Times New Roman font and cover sufficient length to address the homework assignment’s requirements. Deadlines and Late Policy: Canvas assignments close at the end of the module they are due. Grades for assignments turned in a week late will be penalized a full-letter grade and the instructor will not accept assignments that are more than one week late. Since students must submit materials using Canvas for Turnitin review, if late submissions are requested the students will send their submission to me via Canvas e-mail and the instructor will process them via Turnitin. Course Pacing: it is crucial that you maintain the schedule of reading, lecture reviews and delivery or you will not achieve success. While components of this schedule are mentioned in the relevant sections if this syllabus, here is a suggested weekly schedule of deliverables:

Lecture, presentation and reading reviews by Monday night.

Initial discussion posts by Tuesday. 2 paragraphs in length.

Replies to 2 classmates due by Sunday. 1 paragraph in length. Points will be deducted if all replies are made on one day. Replies are expected to further the discussion – “I agree” posts are fine to make – but do not count towards your grade.

Replies to all those who have replied to your posts by Sunday.

Personal reflection posts by Sunday.

Group, team project submissions, when required, by Sunday.

Case studies, when required, by Sunday.

Individual term project submissions, when required, by Sunday. *** For the optimal learning experience post early and often. ***

Please Note: The instructor will publish class modules on Mondays. Modules are open from their publication through 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Sundays except for the final module on the Friday of the final week of the semester. Course Grading:

Class Discussion Questions and Personal Reflections 30%

Case Analyses 30%

Individual Term Project 25%

Group Team Research Paper 15%

Total 100%

The following letter grades correspond to the School of Engineering’s standard grading criteria:

Letter Grade Range

A 93.33 – 100

A- 90 – 93.33

B+ 86.66 – 90

B 83.33 – 86.66

B- 80 – 83.33

C+ 76.66 – 80

C 73.33 – 76.66


C- 70 – 73.33

D+ 66.66 – 70

D 63.33 – 66.66

D- 60 – 63.33

F Below 60

The modules in this course deliverable schedule each open on Monday at 12:00 AM U.S. EST and close at 11:59 PM U.S. EDT the following Sunday with the exception of module 8, which closes at 11:59 PM U.S. EDT on the final day of the semester.

TCMG-505 Global Project and Program Management – Online -

Schedule & Assignments

Module Due Topic/Assignments

1 Sunday 8/24/15

Watch the instructor’s introductory video.

Listen to the instructor’s syllabus review.

Watch the instructor’s module 1 video overview.

Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Projects in Contemporary Organizations

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 1 pages 1-27, chapter 1 Project Management in Practice

Answer this Discussion Question: What do you want to get out of this course? Why?

Review the criteria for the PMP. It strongly recommended joining PMI as a student at this link: http://marketplace.pmi.org/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?GMProduct=00101041900

Submit Your Personal Reflection.

Check here for your group members Tab must be updated for each course session: https://bridgeport.instructure.com/courses/1323480/groups#tab-43885

Group Team Project: Submit a one paragraph summary of how you’ll collaborate as a team in publishing your team research paper and what tools you will be using to do so. Submit one copy per team member.

14 Sunday 8/31/15

Watch Multicultural Projects pre-recorded webinar.

Read Handouts on Global Project Management

What were the lessons learned from each handout?

Answer this Discussion Question: What should a firm do when an accepted practice in a foreign country is illegal in its own country?


http://marketplace.pmi.org/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?GMProduct=00101041900

http://marketplace.pmi.org/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?GMProduct=00101041900

https://bridgeport.instructure.com/courses/1323480/modules/items/12651679


Group Team Project: Submit a one paragraph summary of your team research paper topic. Submit one copy per team member.

2 Sunday 8/31/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Strategic Management and Project Selection.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 2,pages 28 - 88 including the blue sections Project management in practice directed reading: From Experience: linking project to strategy and chapter 2 Case 1 “Pan Europa Foods S.A.”

Answer the Discussion Question: Would you like to be a project manager? Why, or why not?


3

Sunday 9/7/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: The Project Manager, Introduce Case 1.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 3, Pages 89-119 including the pages in blue.

Answer this Discussion Question: What should a firm do when an accepted practice in a foreign country is illegal in its own country?

Submit Your Personal Reflection

Group Team Project: Progress on your team research paper and submit your weekly status report, with WBS one copy per team member.


4 Sunday 9/14/15

Watch the instructor’s module 4 video overview

Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Managing conflict and the art of negotiation.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 4, Pages 133-160, Project management in Practice and Reading.

Answer this Discussion Question: The chairman of Cadbury Schweppes PLC, G.A.H. Cadbury suggests (1987) the following test for an ethical action: Would you be embarrassed to have it described in the newspaper? Is this a sufficient test for ethics? Can you think of any others?


Group Team Project: Progress on your team research paper and submit your weekly status report, one copy per team member.

Submit Individual term Project Assignment 1

5 Sunday 9/21/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: The Project in the Organization Structure


Answer this Discussion Question: Human and political factors loom large in the success of projects. Given the general lack of coverage of this subject in engineering and science education, how might a PM gain the ability to deal with these issues?



Submit Individual Term Project assignment 2

6 Sunday 9/28/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Project Activity and Risk Planning


Answer this Discussion Question: Consider the “Conference Call in Real Life” YouTube video. Discuss one challenge that you can think of when managing a virtual team in a matrix organizational structure. Why have you reached that conclusion?





Submit Creating a WBS Case, Questions 7 and 8 only

_Creating a WBS

Case.pdf

7 Sunday 10/5/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Budgeting: Estimating Costs and Risks.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 7, Pages 269 -319, Project management in Practice and Reading.

Answer this Discussion Question: What steps can be taken to make controlling costs easier? Can these steps also be used to control other project parameters, such as scope?




Submit: _The Case for Superior Risk Management Discipline Case, Answer all questions.

_The Case for

Superior Risk Management Discipline Case.pdf

8 Sunday 10/12/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Scheduling.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 8, Pages 320 - 377, Project management in Practice and Reading.

Answer this Discussion Question: How do you think the approach of developing 3-time estimates for a task’s duration could be used to estimate costs for manufacturing?




9 Sunday 10/19/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Resource Allocation


Answer this Discussion Question: Goldratt suggests setting task durations so short there is a high probability they will not be done on time. What is his thinking here? Do you agree with him?



Submit: _Resource Allocation Management Case, Questions 1, 3 and 4

_Resource

Allocation Management Case.pdf

10 Sunday 10/26/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Monitoring and Information Systems

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 10, Pages 424 - 465, Project management in Practice and Reading.

Answer this Discussion Question: When should subjective numeric ratings be used? Are they as useful as raw numbers? Why?



11 Sunday 11/2/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Project Control


Answer this Discussion Question: How could a negative feedback control system be implemented in project management to anticipate client problems?



Submit: _The Case of the Never Ending Scope Creep, Answer all questions


_The Case of the

Never Ending Scope Creep.pdf

12 Sunday 11/9/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Project Auditing

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 12, Pages 510 - 539, Project management in Practice and Reading. Answer this Discussion Question: The term “garbage in/garbage out” means that if you have insufficient or poor project data available, your ability to effectively report on it will be hindered. Provide one example from chapters 11 – 13 where you think the risk of garbage in/garbage out might impact reporting and decision making and why?



11/22/15 Thanksgiving U.S. Holiday break

13 Sunday 11/29/15


Listen to the Lecture Recording and Review the Related PowerPoint Slide Presentation: Project Termination.

Read Meredith and Mantel (M&M) chapter 13, Pages 540-562, Project management in Practice.

Answer this Discussion Question: How would you collect the lessons learned for the final report? From whom would you collect lessons learned?


Group Team Project: Submit your term research paper, one copy per team member.

note: course syllabus - university of bridgeport - summarize the key issues and facts of the case....

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