STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
School of Business
DEFM531
Advanced Business Solutions for Mission Support
3 Credit Hours
8 Weeks
Prerequisite(s): None
Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Course Description
Course Scope
Course Objectives
Course Delivery Method
Course Materials
Disability Accommodations
Evaluation Procedures
Grading Scale
Course Outline
Policies
Academic Services
Table of Contents
Course Description
This DEFM531 Advanced Business Solutions for Mission Support course is a study in realistic scenariobased learning, where students work individually and in teams to practice developing sound business
solutions. Student course work is designed to contribute solutions to senior leadership and local
supervisors and to provide resources for the common financial issues in acquisition. Topics include
current event and issues regarding cost estimating, earned value analysis, Planning, Programming,
Budgeting and Execution (PPBE), congressional enactment and budget preparation and execution. In this
course, the student will prepare, justify, and defend budget exhibits and obligation/expenditure plans;
formulate impact statements and reports; and develop and defend business solutions for mission
support.
Table of Contents
Course Scope
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
This DEFM531 Advanced Business Solutions for Mission Support course will expose students to the
current events and issues that program management process employed throughout the Department of
Defense today. Program management history, along with the roles, responsibilities, and issues or
problems for mission support will be examined. Additionally, program management issues in a Joint
environment will be reviewed. The bridge between program management and acquisition will be linked
with a discussion on program management in defense acquisition. Students will assess issues within the
acquisition cycle from Initial Operational Capability to Full Operational Capability; with a focus on the
DoD acquisition process, key personnel, and acquisition organizations for mission support.
Table of Contents
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, students will fulfill the following Learning Objectives (LO):
LO-1
LO-2
LO-3
LO-4
LO-5
LO-6
LO-7
LO-8
Define Acquisitions Management (within the DoD), and where management fits into the
acquisition process
Describe the major legislation acts that affect contracting and acquisitions
Explain the concept of “Cost Estimating” within the acquisition community
Explain important defense budget terms, such as Budget Authority, outlays, and obligations
Define the concept of “Earned Value Analysis” within the acquisition community
Describe the overall PPBE process to include the DoD’s Planning, Programming, and Budgeting
System (PPBS)
Describe the various types of procurement fraud and how to manage fraud.
Describe the major sources of procurement standards and garner an understanding of the
Procurement Integrity Act
Table of Contents
Course Delivery Method
This course delivered via distance learning will enable students to complete academic work in a
flexible manner, completely online. Course materials and access to an online learning
management system will be made available to each student. Online assignments are due by
the last day of each week and include discussion board questions (accomplished in groups
through a threaded discussion board), examinations (graded electronically) and individual
assignments (submitted for review by your professor). Assigned professors will support the
students throughout this eight-week course.
Table of Contents
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
Course Materials
The materials are all online and from the APUS online library. They are contained in the course
lessons and Forums and Assignments as needed.
Required Course Textbooks
Required Readings:
NCMA (2013). Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK). (4th Edition). ISBN-13:978-09700897-7-9
Additional Resources:
Additional Resources:
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) located at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html
Universal Commercial Code (UCC) located at http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc
In the Course Materials folder there are PowerPoint presentations, leadership articles, and up to date
APA handouts.
Netlibrary—you can read directly online. Note, printing is one page at a time and, depending
on number of users at any one time, you may be locked out.
http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?url=http://www.netlibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=
1&bookid=224414
Websites
In addition to the required course texts the following public domain Websites are useful. Please abide by
the university’s academic honesty policy when using Internet sources as well. Note web site addresses
are subject to change.
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
Site Name
The OWL at Purdue
APA Style Homepage
Website URL/Address
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
http://www.apastyle.org/index.aspx
Table of Contents
Evaluation Procedures
Evaluation Criteria
GRADED ASSIGNMENT
Weekly Forums (8 forums)
Weekly Paper Assignments (4 papers)
Term Project Part 1 to Part 3 (3 papers)
Term Project Paper
TOTAL
FINAL GRADE %
32
32
12
24
100%
Please see the Student Handbook to reference the University’s grading scale.
8 – Week Course Outline
Table of Contents
Week
Learning Objective(s)
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Submissions:
• Introductions
• Forum 1
LO-2
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Submissions:
• Forum 2
• Paper 1
Submissions:
• Forum 3
• Paper 2
• Term Project Part 1
LO-3
3
Assignment(s)
LO-1
1
2
Reading(s)
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
LO-4
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Submissions:
• Forum 4
• Term Project Part 2
LO-5
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Submissions:
• Forum 5
• Term Project Part 3
LO-6
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Listed in the
Forum and
Week’s lecture
Submissions:
• Forum 6
• Paper 3
Submissions:
• Forum 7
• Paper 4
Submissions:
• Forum 8
• Term Project Paper
4
5
6
7
LO-7
LO-1 to 8
8
Polices
Please see the student handbook to reference all University policies. Quick links to frequently
asked questions about policies are listed below.
Drop/Withdraw Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Extension Process and Policy
Writing Policy
Late Assignments
Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to
complete the course according to the published class schedule. As adults, students, and
working professionals, I understand you must manage competing demands on your time.
Should you need additional time to complete an assignment, please contact me before the due
date so we can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
submission of late assignments is unacceptable and may result in points deducted from your
final course grade.
Table of Contents
Online Library
The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic
campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web
resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search
engines on the open Web. In addition, the Online Library provides access to special learning
resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be
directed to librarian@apus.edu.
Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library
with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors’ publication,
and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries.
Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over
50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic
format. 
Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000
journals, which are available in electronic form and only through limited
subscription services.
Tutor.com: AMU and APU Civilian & Coast Guard students are eligible for 10 free hours
of tutoring provided by APUS. Tutor.com connects you with a professional tutor online
24/7 to provide help with assignments, studying, test prep, resume writing, and more.
Tutor.com is tutoring the way it was meant to be. You get expert tutoring whenever
you need help, and you work one‐to‐one with your tutor in your online classroom on
your specific problem until it is done.
Request a Library Guide for your course (http://apus.libguides.com/index.php)
The AMU/APU Library Guides provide access to collections of trusted sites on the Open
Web and licensed resources on the Deep Web. The following are specially tailored for
academic research at APUS:
Program Portals contain topical and methodological resources to help launch general
research in the degree program. To locate, search by department name, or navigate
by school.
Course Lib‐Guides narrow the focus to relevant resources for the corresponding
course. To locate, search by class code (e.g., SOCI111), or class name.
If a guide you need is not available yet, please email the APUS Library: librarian@apus.edu
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and
serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only
until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course
syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this
syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a
course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to
the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary
material of APUS.
NETIQUETTE
Table of Contents
Online universities promote the advance of knowledge through positive and constructive
debate--both inside and outside the classroom. Discussions on the Internet, however, can
occasionally degenerate into needless insults and “flaming.” Such activity and the loss of good
manners are not acceptable in a university setting--basic academic rules of good behavior and
proper “Netiquette” must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the fun and
excitement of learning that does not include descent to personal attacks, or student attempts
to stifle the discussion of others.
•
•
Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative
composition in your formal papers, keep e-mail layouts simple. The Educator classroom
may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face,
italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not translate
in your e-mail messages.
Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and--especially--satire can easily get
lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add “emoticons”
to help alert your readers: ;-), : ), 
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular group.