CIS 479
Software Project Management
Dr. Robert J. Hammell II
rhammell@towson.edu
Software Project Management
CIS 479, Section 001 – Spring 2014
Meeting Times:
Professor:
Office:
E-Mail:
Phone:
Tues/Thur, 2:00 – 3:15 pm, YR301
Dr. Robert J. Hammell II
462YR
rhammell@towson.edu
410-704-6050
Office Hours:
Tues: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
6:15 pm – 7:00 pm
Thur: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Other times by appointment
Course Description:
This course examines the factors necessary
for the successful management of information
systems development or enhancement
projects.
Both technical and behavioral aspects of
project management are discussed. Topics
include project management concepts, needs
identification, the software project manager,
software teams, software project
organizations, project communications,
software project planning, scheduling, control
and associated costs.
Project management software tools will be an
integral part of the course.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be
able to:
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Define a project
Describe the project life cycle
Explain the project management process
Analyze and evaluate a request for proposal
Develop a project proposal
Formulate a plan and schedule for an IT project
Perform cost performance analysis for a project
Discuss the responsibilities and required skills of a project
manager
Explain project team development, effectiveness, and
communication
Operate as part of a project team
Identify the characteristics of each type of project
organization structure
IS Program Objectives
 Students can use their proficiency in information
systems principles & practices and quantitative
analysis to solve a variety of problems.
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Students can explain the quantitative and
business principles that underlie information
systems.
Students will understand the ethical and societal
concerns and dilemmas facing information
systems professionals and can formulate
appropriate solutions and courses of action.
Students can work effectively in teams and
communicate effectively.
IT Program Objectives
 Students can use their proficiency with
information technology principles & practices to
solve a variety of problems.

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Students can explain the selection, deployment,
and maintenance principles that underlie
information technology.
Students will understand the ethical and societal
issues facing information technology
professionals and can formulate appropriate
solutions.
Students can work effectively in teams and
communicate effectively.
Textbook:
Gido, J. and Clements, J., Successful Project
Management, 5th Edition, South-Western
Publishing, 2006. (ISBN: 978-0-538-47897-7)
References:
Bennatan, E., On Time and Within Budget: Software Project
Management Practices and Techniques, 3rd Edition, Wiley, 2000.
Doss, G., IS Project Management Handbook, Prentice Hall, 2000.
Friedrichsen, L. and Bunin, R., Microsoft Project 2000, Course
Technology, 2000.
Kemerer, C., Software Project Management: Readings and Cases,
Irwin, 1997.
Olson, D., Information Systems Project Management, Irwin, 2000.
Pinto, J. (editor), Project Management Handbook, Jossey-Bass,
1998.
Journals:
• International J. of Project Mgmt
• Project Management Journal
• MIS Quarterly
• PM Network
Prerequisite:
CIS 379 – Systems Analysis & Design
Grading:
Assignments
In-Class Presentation
Homework/Quizzes*
Project
5%
10%
25%
1st & 2nd Partial: 5%
Final Report
: 10%
Presentation
: 10%
Exam 1
20%
Exam 2
Final Exam
20%
20%
Grading Scale
A
AB+
92 – 100
90 – 91
88 – 89
B
BC+
82 – 87
80 – 81
78 – 79
C
70 – 77
D+
D
D-
68 – 69
62 – 67
60 – 61
F
Less than 60
Notice
that this
scale
may be
different
than
that of
other
classes!
Exams:
The exams will include questions from the
lectures, readings, presentations, and
projects.
Note that, under most circumstances, makeup
exams will not be given. Please ensure your
attendance on the scheduled exam dates.
Presentations:
Each student will be required to present a published
paper on an IT project management topic. The
presentations will be conducted as follows:
 3 or 4 papers will be assigned to be read outside of class.
 During the next class, students will form into groups.
Each group will be assigned responsibility for preparing
the discussion for one paper
 After the group work period, one person per paper will be
selected to present the paper to the class
The format for the presentation will be provided
The presentation should last 5-7 minutes, plus questions
Not all groups will present each week
During the semester, every person will present at least once

Information from the papers is testable
The process for conducting the presentations may be
changed or refined as the semester progresses.
Homework:
Numerous homework assignments will be given
throughout the semester to reinforce the topics
discussed in class.
Most will be individual assignments; unless the
assignment is specifically and clearly indicated
to be a team assignment it must be completed
by individual effort only.
**Note: I reserve the right to add announced or
unannounced quizzes as needed to gauge and/or
motivate class involvement and comprehension. These
will be counted as additional homework assignments.
Term Project:
Students will be required to work in teams on a
major IT term project. Note that this project
comprises 25% of the course grade!
The project will entail completing all steps of the
systems development life cycle (except for
actual implementation) for a given scenario. The
deliverables for the project are a comprehensive
report and an in-class presentation.
Details on the specific scenario will be provided
when the project is assigned.
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken in every class session.
Absences are considered “excused” if they are for an
illness, an illness or death of a relative, or a religious
observance. If documentation is provided for an
“excused” absence, it will not count against you and
you will be given an opportunity to make up any inclass graded exercises that were missed; unexcused
absences will cause the loss of any in-class
exercise/quiz points that were missed.
After your first unexcused absence, each additional
unexcused absence will cause 1% to be deducted from
your final grade at the end of the semester. It is the
student’s responsibility to seek out the instructor and
provide documentation regarding any absence –
absences will be presumed to be unexcused unless
the student establishes otherwise.
Note that students are expected to arrive at class on time!
Assignments:
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the
due date.
Any assignments that are submitted late will have 10%
deducted from the total grade for each day that the
assignment is late. Assignments submitted after the
start of the class period count as one-day late.
The normal procedure is to turn in completed
assignments as a hardcopy at the beginning of the
class for which they are due (there may be cases when
emailed assignments are preferred – these will be
announced). Emailed assignments are permitted if
you will miss the class for which they are due, or to
submit late assignments.
Academic Dishonesty:
The Towson University policy on academic integrity is
in Appendix F of the Undergraduate Catalog and at
http://www.towson.edu/studentaffairs/policies/.
Academic dishonesty specifically includes acts of
plagiarism, fabrication and falsification, cheating,
complicity, and multiple submissions.
Especially note that students may not re-use research
papers submitted in other classes, group projects
submitted in other classes, or work performed by
someone else. Academic dishonesty is disrespectful
to your fellow students and your professor.
If an incident of academic dishonesty is discovered,
the student or students involved will, at a minimum,
receive a zero (0) on the related assignment(s). All
occurrences of academic dishonesty will also be
reported to the appropriate university officials. There
will be no exceptions.
Repeating a course:
University policy requires that we inform you that
students may not repeat a course more than once
without prior permission of the Academic Standards
Committee.
Dropping this course:
Feb 4: Last day to drop with no grade posted
Apr 11: Last day to drop with a grade of “W”
Posting of grades:
Please note that it is university and departmental
policy not to post grades in a public place after the
semester is completed. It is also departmental policy
that the departmental office cannot distribute
individual grades. If you would like to receive your
individual grade at the end of the semester, please
make arrangements with me.
Cell phones, laptops, etc.: Please ensure that all
cell phones, beepers, and any other devices
that can potentially disrupt the class are
turned off each day upon entering the
classroom. Such devices must also be in
pockets, purses, bookbags, etc. and not out
on the desk during class. Laptops are to be
turned off and closed during class lectures.
Web site: A link to the CIS 479 web site can be found at:
http://triton.towson.edu/~rhammell/
Students should check the site frequently for updates
on assignments, assignment due dates, the day-to-day
schedule, readings, and other announcements.
ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD
IS ALLOWED IN THIS ROOM!
*Drinks are ok…clean up after yourself!
Day-to-day schedule
Web site
Initial Project Information