ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
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Class Sessions:
Day:
Time:
Room:
Class Number:
Tuesday (evening)
6:30 pm – 9:10 pm
OHE 100C (Webcasted Course)
31505D (on campus) and 31705D (DEN)
Contact Information:
Instructor:
Office hours:
Office location &
Phone:
Phone:
E-mail:
Ursula Knopp-McKendree
Tuesday, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, or by appointment
GER 235 [213-740-2433]
TA:
Office hours:
Office location:
e-mail:
Cent Karahan
Monday &Tuesday, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, or by appointment
GER 309 [310-691-6809]
karahan@usc.edu
Course website
http://den.usc.edu is the URL of the DEN website
(714) 372-9368
uskm@socal.rr.com
Course Description:
Project management is an important skill that is widely used in the private and public sectors as
well as specialty businesses. This course will explore the challenges facing today’s project
managers and will provide a broad understanding of the project management environment
focused on multiple aspects of the project. The course objectives are:

Gain understanding of essential principles associated with effective project management
and how to apply these principles in the day-to-day business environment

Acquire and fine-tune the skills in defining, planning, initiating and monitoring
engineering projects using proven techniques and commonly available computer software
tools

Understand and apply methods for solving and avoiding common difficulties associated
with project management
The subject matter will be covered using lectures and discussions, text reading, individual
research, group discussion and preparation of a comprehensive project management plan in a
team environment.
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ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
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Readings:
REQUIRED:
1st Text:
Project Management, A Managerial Approach, 6th Edition by Jack R. Meredith
and Samuel J. Mantel Jr. Publisher: John Wiley & Sons;
ISBN: 13978-0471-715375.
2nd Text:
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge - Third Edition
Publisher: Project Management Institute
ISBN-13: 9781930699458
Software
Microsoft ® Project: Copies of Microsoft ® Project are available on the ISE
laboratory computers in GER 309 (open M-F 8 to 5). A 60-day trial of
Microsoft ® Project is included with the Course book.
Reference Text
Book (optional)
Quantitative Methods in Project Management (optional), by John C.
Goodpasture.
Notes:
Weekly class notes will be provided. They will be posted on the Course
website (see above).
Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class.
UNIVERSITY POLICY STATEMENTS:
"The Viterbi School of Engineering adheres to the University's policies and procedures
governing academic integrity as described in SCampus. Students are expected to be aware of
and to observe the academic integrity standards described in SCampus, and to expect those
standards to be enforced in this course."
"Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for
approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to
me (or to the TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open
8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776."
GRADE:
Midterm: 15%. The midterm will cover all the materials covered through 09/23/08 (inclusive).
Final Exam: 25%. The final exam will be comprehensive of all the course materials, with an
emphasis on the second part of the course and any guest lectures. The university schedules the
final exam date and time (12/16/08). Please do not request an alternate date, as none can be
accommodated.
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ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
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Homework assignments: 20%. Homework must be turned in by the specified due date via DEN
Blackboard prior to the beginning of class. No late assignments will be accepted. Since this class
is Project Management, many of the assignments will be Team homework assignments.
Individual assignments will be submitted by each student while the team homework’s will be
submitted by the team lead. Information on the Homework Assignments are provided at the end
of the syllabus and a more detailed instruction will be given one week prior to the homework
assignment date.
Class Project: 40%. Includes the following elements.
Project Packages: 15%. Final project packages are due on 12/02/08.
Project Presentation: 10%. Each team will present their project to the class during the
last two weeks of class. The presentation score will be based on evaluations made by the
Professor, TA and other class members.
Team Member Participation: 15%. Each student will be asked to evaluate their
participation and the participation of the other team members for their team.
CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:
-
As this is a webcasted course, 100% attendance in the classroom is not mandatory.
However, I strongly encourage you to ask questions and participate in discussions regarding
the lectures. If you are attending the class from a remote site, there will be facilities for
interactive voice communications with the classroom. These have sometimes had technical
difficulties. In addition, many students have effectively used the chat feature of webex
during class presentations. Your participation on the project teams is crucial and accounts
for 15% of your grade.
-
E-MAIL and USE THE DISCUSSION FORUMS ON DEN!!! I strongly encourage your
use of e-mail for questions, comments, etc., and the DEN discussion forum for questions,
discussion and clarification with other students, etc. Of course, if you prefer face-to-face
interaction or telephone conversations — well, that's equally acceptable! For remote
students that cannot attend the class in the DEN Studio, or must view a delayed-broadcast
videotape or webcast, or are frustrated by the telephone process: please use e-mail or the
DEN discussion forum.
-
WHAT IF YOU MUST MISS A CLASS BECAUSE OF WORK OR TRAVEL??? Use
Blackboard or e-mail to submit items on time, if you can. If not, please contact me in
advance to negotiate excused late submittals. I suggest that you make use of the archived
class session as soon as possible. You are responsible for the material that was covered.
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ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
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IF YOU WANT HELP:
- My office hours, phone numbers, and e-mail address are listed at the top of this syllabus.
Please include the Teaching Assistant Cenk Karahan on distribution for any emails to
me: karahan@usc.edu
-
I encourage you to e-mail me at any time to discuss project problems, questions, etc. During
the course of the semester there will be times I will be able to respond almost immediately;
at other times I may take several days due to travel or other work considerations. If you have
not received a response within a few days, please ask again.
PROJECT GUIDELINES
Class project:
The class project consists of a group project where project management skills will be
demonstrated. The groups will be created by the professor during the fourth week of class.
The groups will develop a project package that will include at a minimum the major project plan
items presented in class (i.e., a project description, charter, statement of work, project plan,
WBS, schedule, Risks to achieving the plan, etc). The class project will be graded based on the
class presentation, final report and a 360° team rating.
Quality Expectations:
Professional deliverables are expected at all times, both for content and presentation. This means
that all the homework, project, presentation and other artifacts must be prepared using a word
processor, spreadsheet or any other relevant computer software. These must be in a format
readable on a Windows PC by Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft
Excel 2003, Microsoft Project 2003, or Adobe Reader 7.0, unless another format is coordinated
with the instructor. Make sure all documents have at a minimum:
 Your name and/or your team member names

No spelling mistakes

Date and document title

Professional analysis, conclusions and/or recommendations

Naming conventions for files:
o Individual submissions: Last Name_Assignment #
o Team Submissions: Team_X_Assignement #_ Description of file (Schedule,
WBS, SOW, etc.)
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ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
-
Please feel free to e-mail me or the TA for help in structuring your project plan. I will gladly
work with you to identify sources, publications, Internet sites, etc.
-
If English grammar, spelling and syntax are not your strong points, I strongly suggest that
you obtain help in editing your text. Your grade depends on the clarity of presentation.
DELIVERY:
The homework, Project Presentation, Evaluations and final project
package should be submitted to the DEN Blackboard system (at the Course
website, http://den.usc.edu).
 The homework is due no later than the start of the following class.
 The final project package is due no later than the start of the last class.
o In addition to delivering the final project via the DEN Blackboard
system, a hard copy should be delivered by 12/02/2008.
Note: if your employer requires a written statement (or a signed postcard) for reimbursement for this class, then please provide me with the appropriate paperwork and a
self-addressed, stamped-envelope (or postcard) before the end of the semester.
Schedule of Class Sessions: Late schedule is likely to change, based on availability of guest
lecturers
We
ek
Date
Planned topic
Reading
M&M = Meridith
& Mantel
P = PIMBOK
1
Aug 26
2
Sept 2
3
Sept 9
4
Sept 16
5
Sept 23
6
Sept 30
7
Oct 7
Homework #1 due
Assign project teams
Homework #2a due
(team leader
identified and project
selected)
Homework #2b due
Introduction
What is a project and why Project
Management?
Project Selection, Lifecycles, Triple
Constraint and Processes
Project Planning – Selecting a Project
Manager, Project Charter, SOW, Plan
Project Scope Management Planning con't, WBS, Organization
M&M 1
Project Scheduling, resource Allocation &
Time Management
Review for midterm exam
Midterm Examination
M&M 8 & 9
P6
Project Scheduling, resource Allocation &
Time Management (con’t)
Project Cost Management
M&M 7
P7
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P1
M&M 2
P2&3
M&M 3 & 5
P4
M&M 4
P5
ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS
8
Oct 14
9
Oct 21
10
Oct 28
11
Nov 4
12
Nov 11
13
Nov 18
14
Nov 25
15
Dec 2
16
Dec 9
17
Dec 16
Homework #3 due
Homework #4 due
Homework #5 due
Project Monitoring, Control, and Quality
Management
Project Human Resource Management
Different cultures, Limited resources
Handling project changes
Project Risk, Opportunity and Issue
Management
(Quest Lecture Opportunity)
Procurement Management
Root Cause Analysis
Project Communications Management
Marketing, Customers and other stakeholders
(internal and external), Conflict Resolution
(Quest Lecture Opportunity)
Project Close-out, Ethics in Engineering
Project Management
Class project presentations
Project Packages due
Class project presentations
Review and answer questions for Final Exam
Presentation
Scorecards and 360
degree reviews due
***Study Day. No Class***
***Final Examination: 12/16/2008. 7pm – 9pm***
Assignments
Assignment Name and Description
Homework #1:
 Introduction – Resume

Why you are taking the class and what do you hope to get out of the
class

How much experience you have with Project Management

Where you are located

Picture

Contact information, phone, e-mail address
Homework #2:
 Part I: Project Description, Charter, SOW, Project Plan Outline

Part II: Your Team’s Charter, WBS and schedule for completing all
work for the class. Schedule should be to a level of detail so that all
lowest level tasks are assigned to individual members. Include SPI.
Homework #3:
 Activity Sequencing Problems

Part I: Project Plan Outline, Project Org structure
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M&M 10 & 11
P8
P9
P 11
P 12
P 10
M&M 13
P 4.7
ISE 515: Project Management (Knopp-McKendree)
Spring 2008
SYLLABUS

Part II: Status Team Project schedule for completing all work for
the class. Include SPI.
Homework #4:
 Part I: Project WBS and Schedule. Include Critical Path in schedule

Part II: Status Team Project schedule. Include SPI
Homework #5:
 Part I: Project Risks, Opportunities, and Issues

Part II: Status Team Project Schedule, List any Team Project Risks
with mitigation plans
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