Western Carolina University
Master’s Degree in Project Management (MPM) Program
Department of Management & International Business
College of Business
Assessment Plan
Primary Contact Name/Information
Jeanne E. Dorle, Ph.D. PMP, Assistant Professor and Program Director,
Graduate Program in Project Management, Department of Management &
International Business, 219F Forsyth, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee,
North Carolina, 28723, 828-227-3606, jdorle@wcu.edu.
Department Mission Statement:
The Department of Management and International Business creates and
disseminates leading-edge knowledge in the management of organizations that
operate in the domestic and global economy. We realize these activities by
recruiting and supporting faculty who are regular contributors to the foundation of
knowledge in management practice and education. We prepare students for
meaningful employment in the profession, contribute to the development of the
University, support community development and economic progress and
contribute to the advancement of the profession
Graduate Program in Project Management Program Vision and Mission:
The Graduate Program in Project Management at WCU strives to be the
preeminent comprehensive educational program for professional project
managers, to advance the project management profession through teaching,
research and service, and to develop leaders in the project management
profession.
The mission of the Master’s of Project Management Degree (MPM) is to provide
individuals worldwide with skills and knowledge to become leaders in the practice
of project management by:
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Providing online education for the global business environment,
Linking theory and practice to create real world applications and value,
Advancing careers and enhancing professionalism in project
management,
Having a significant impact on the practice of project management through
research to extend the knowledge and application of best practices, and
Serving the needs of the project management community.
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Statement on Alignment of Program Mission with the University and
College Mission:
The mission of the Western Carolina University is to “serve the people of North
Carolina through teaching and learning” and “to create a community of
scholarship in which the activities of its members are consistent with the highest
standards of knowledge and practice in their disciplines.” The Management and
International Business Department supports the university’s mission by preparing
students for meaningful employment in domestic and global businesses.
The MPM Program mission of providing individuals worldwide with skills and
knowledge to become leaders in the practice of project management is directly
aligned with the mission of the University and the Management and International
Business Department.
Current MPM Course and Program Assessment Procedures
The MPM Program faculty has translated this mission into approximately 35
separate learning outcomes distributed across the six, six-credit core courses
that all students are required to successfully complete. These intended learning
outcomes are listed in Table 1 and are currently assessed at the end of the
appropriate course as well as at the end of the two-year, part-time program.
Anonymously completed course evaluations assess the student’s perceptions of
their learning, as well as the appropriateness of the course content and the
effectiveness of the instructor’s delivery. The Comprehensive MPM Program
Assessment is an open-ended narrative completed toward the end of the last
course in the Program. These assessment results are reviewed by the Chair of
the International Business Department, the MPM Program Director and the
course instructors. Based on these reviews adjustments are made to the MPM
Program curriculum.
Plan for MPM Program Level Assessment of Student Learning
During 2006-2007, the MPM Program Director with the assistance of the MPM
Program faculty will complement the current course and program based
assessment of students’ perceptions of learning by developing direct measures
of learning at the program level. This program assessment will be designed as
an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning.
The steps in the development of MPM Program Level Assessment will involve:
• Articulating the major (4-6) program goals which are directly linked to
the MPM program mission of providing individuals worldwide with skills
and knowledge to become leaders in the practice of project
management. Articulating these goals will make our program
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expectations explicit. These goals will be organized around knowledge
and skills.
Translating each program goal into measurable objectives and traits to
ensure these program goals are assessable. Primary trait analysis will
result in the disaggregating of objectives into traits. Standards will then
be developed for each trait. A rubric will be developed for that trait.
Analyze the alignment of the curriculum with these program goals and
the standards established by the Project Management Institute.
Set program standards for what is acceptable
Choose the specific direct assessment methods we will used to assess
these goals (course embedded assessment, case analysis and
specially designed tests and demonstrations as needed)
Define the schedule and roles and responsibilities for gathering the
program assessment data
Begin collecting program assessment data fall 2007
Evaluate, report and share our program data to determine where we
want to focus our efforts at continuous program improvement
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Table 1: Current Intended Learning Outcomes Organized by Course
Intended Learning Outcomes
Curricular Experiences
Methods of Assessment
1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the
specialized management methods and
techniques which have been developed
specifically for use in project and matrix
organizations as defined in the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
PM650: Project Management Systems
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
2. Examine the "real world" problems,
solutions, and practices of project
management as they are used to accomplish
specific and clearly-defined project objectives
PM650: Project Management Systems
3. Demonstrate a knowledge of the several
operations research techniques available to
the practicing project manager by performing
the computations necessary to their use
PM650: Project Management Systems
4. Apply a set of related operations research
techniques as necessary to define, plan,
estimate, schedule, and control a project
PM650: Project Management Systems
5. Specify the assumptions and limitations
implicit in using these techniques, and explain
the effect they have on the validity of the
results obtained.
PM650: Project Management Systems
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the issues
and concepts involved in the initiation phase of
developing a project.
PM652: Project Plan Development
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
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7. Examine a "real world" case, to identify the
problems, solutions, and practices of
management as they are used to accomplish
specific and clearly defined objectives.
PM652: Project Plan Development
8. Identify the risks associated with a project
and select the most appropriate means of
managing those risks.
PM652: Project Plan Development
9. Select appropriate types of contracts for
allocating and managing identified risks.
PM652: Project Plan Development
10. Develop an understanding of basic
government contracting procedures.
PM652: Project Plan Development
11. Apply the components of logistics planning
to support project procurement processes
including physical supply.
PM652: Project Plan Development
12. Evaluate a variety of projects subject to
resource constraints relevant to the parent
organization.
PM652: Project Plan Development
13. Develop an understanding of the
fundamentals and principles of negotiations
PM652: Project Plan Development
14. Implement effective negotiation principles
in an ongoing project environment.
PM652: Project Plan Development
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Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
15. Demonstrate an understanding of the
issues and concepts involved in the planning
phase of a project.
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
16. Demonstrate knowledge of specialized
management methods and techniques
developed specifically for use in project and
matrix organizations as defined in the Guide to
the Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK)
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
17 Examine case studies and the professional
literature to identify typical problems and
recommended solutions for creating clearly
defined plans for accomplishing the project's
objectives.
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
18. Identify and detail the risks associated with
a project and develop appropriate risk
management plans
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
19. Explain the dynamic relationship that exists
between the planning phase of the project and
each of the other project phases.
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
20. Develop a detailed project plan that
demonstrates a fundamental understanding of
the project management planning process.
PM654: Project Plan Analysis & Approval
21. Baseline a project and obtain approval to
implement
PM656: Project Implementation: Policies &
Procedures
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
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22. Build and lead an effective project team
PM656: Project Implementation: Policies &
Procedures
23. Establish an effective project monitoring
process to track the project's actual progress
against the project plan, and adjust the plan as
appropriate, according to the standards
established in the PMI Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
PM656: Project Implementation: Policies &
Procedures
24. Examine cases and review the literature to
identify the problems, solutions, and good
management practices for use in the
implementation phase of the project
PM656: Project Implementation: Policies &
Procedures
25. Identify the legal principles and
considerations relevant to the project
implementation, and the appropriate actions
needed within the project to assure compliance
with all applicable requirements and
regulations.
PM656: Project Implementation: Policies &
Procedures
26. Lead a project team effectively.
PM658: Project Implementation:
Management & Control
27. Explain several approaches to effectively
managing project teams.
PM658: Project Implementation:
Management & Control
28. Define the components of an effective
PM658: Project Implementation:
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individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
project monitoring and control process
designed to track the project's actual progress
against the project plan with a specific focus
on people issues
Management & Control
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
29. Examine cases and the literature to identify
the problems, solutions, and practices of
management as they apply to the
implementation of specific and clearly defined
plans for accomplishing the project's
objectives.
30. Explain the dynamic relationship that exists
between the project planning and control
process and all other aspects of implementing
the project.
PM658: Project Implementation:
Management & Control
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
PM658: Project Implementation:
Management & Control
31. Identify ethical and legal considerations
relevant specifically to marketing and
termination, and the appropriate actions
needed within the project to assure compliance
with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations
while accomplishing the project.
PM658: Project Implementation:
Management & Control
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
32. Successfully complete the close-out phase
of a project
PM660: Project Completion & Professional
Evolution
Develop a lessons learned process and
procedure to evaluate current projects and
recommend improvements for future projects
PM660: Project Completion & Professional
Evolution
33. Understand the project manager’s
professional and ethical responsibilities
PM660: Project Completion & Professional
Evolution
34. Evaluate a variety of methods to assess
PM660: Project Completion & Professional
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Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
comprehensive written examinations
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments.
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments. a
Evidence from course assignments
and improve and organization’s project
management maturity
Evolution
35. Produce an Advanced Topics Paper on a
current topic/problem in the project
management profession
PM660: Project Completion & Professional
Evolution
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including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments.
Evidence from course assignments
including but not limited to assessment of
individual written assignments and
completion of Advanced Topic Paper