PROGRAM DESIGN IN ORGANIZATIONS
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY
Online Course Syllabus – Fall 2006
Course No.: TMAC 3013-WB
Credit: 3 Credit Hours
Dates of Course: 08/21/06-10/13/06
Instructor: J. F. Pickens, Ed.D.
Phone: (918) 595-7002
EMAIL: jpickens@eocu.okcu.edu
Texts: (1) David I. Cleland & Lewis R. Ireland, Project Management, 4th Ed.
McGraw- Hill, (Required) (ISBN 007-1393102)
(2) Ed. David I. Cleland, K. M. Bursic, R. Puerzer, and A. Vlasak, Project
Management Casebook, 1998, Project Management Institute. (Required)
(ISBN 188-0410451)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Program design and Project Management are processes that help organizations to achieve
their mission through successful completion of a series of projects, focusing on an end
product or service leading to the completion of a total program. Program design activities
focus on solving problems with consideration given to person power, determination of
available resources, organizational skills, finances, time lines, and coordination of schedules.
Project Management is the means used to coordinate and accomplish the schedule of
activities to bring projects to completion for goal accomplishment. The course will include
consideration of the importance of open communication, scheduling methods, organizational
skills and culture, consideration of diversity, authority, responsibility, and accountability.
The course will address planning strategies, monitoring project information, the control
function, and assessment methods of the program. Creative problem solving techniques will
be used in relation to people processes, development of the program and product/service
development through project management. Activities will also include exercises to
strengthen creative thinking and to develop additional strategies for enhancing organizational
skills, and problem solving. Students will develop programs, consisting of a series of projects
that assist in solving organizational problems.
A final report will be required for completion of the course. This report will require
selection of a program to be designed, use of the Program Design/Project Management
Forms, a minimum of four (4) projects needed to complete the program. This project
must include a feasible time line for the program/projects completion and a method of
program/project assessment.
Course Objectives
1. To become acquainted with different program design and project management issues
in organizations through casebook review.
2. To review the steps in project management including problem definition, project
planning, plan implementation, monitoring, control progress and bringing closure to
the project.
3. To examine the importance of the components of designing organizational programs
through project completion.
4. To review the importance of selection of projects for organizational mission
accomplishments, with consideration given to the importance of the planning process.
5. To determine the types of information needed for program and project management,
effective utilization of resources and documentation of program/project status for
periodic reporting, program completion and closure.
6. To review the steps in project management including problem definition, project
planning, plan implementation, monitoring, control progress and bringing closure to
the project.
7. To develop a better understanding of the importance of team building, collaboration
and communication.
8. To provide the opportunity for students to apply the information presented in the
course to organizational program/project management to determine the process of
fitting the program into the overall organizational scheme.
Teaching Methods:
This is an online course that incorporates the use of experiential learning and the use of
case studies as a means of helping students learn about the practical application of the
theoretical concepts of Program design and Project Management, to the business setting.
Students are expected to use effective time management and plan their time for optimum
utilization to achieve course completion. Every effort will be made to help students apply
the information obtained in the course to “Real World” issues in business organizations.
Assignments:
Assignments for the course are: (1) read both texts and be prepared to use the
information; (2) actively participate by completing your assignments on time; (3)
successfully complete the following:
a. Brief Introduction – Briefly introduce yourself to me by email and include
information including your reasons are taking the course, how you plan to use the
course and the material, perhaps in your work. If you want to develop a Program, and
would like to use this for your Individual Project, please do so. Briefly discuss your
plans for your individual project and any other information which will help me
become acquainted with you and understand what you need in the way of information
in order to complete the course. (10 Points) (Due 8/27/06)
b. List of Program Design and Project Management Issues: Make a list of 20
organizational programs and/or projects concerns you believe could have been
handled more efficiently and effectively through proper planning, developmental
design and project management. These issues must be from your own business
experiences or observation. Be specific about the items that you question. What
would you recommend to improve or correct the situation and what was the impact on
the organization? (20 Points) (Due 9/04/06)
c. Develop Four (4) Brief Case Studies (1 page) involving a problem situation
pertaining to organizational program design/project management issues in business
organizations. Provide enough background information about the organization and
indicate why these problem issues should be resolved. Do not use real names of
individuals/organizations. At the end of each case study, include your recommended
course of action. Case studies must represent in-depth student thought and will be
handed in with the solution for credit. These cases should be from your personal
experience in business organizations. NO TEXT BOOK CASES WILL BE
ACCEPTED! (Each case = 10 points, x 4 = 40 Points ) (Due 9/18/06)
d. Mid-Term Examination – Short answer, Open Book. (50 Points Total) (Available
9/20-24/06)
e. Internet Research –Research 10 Internet articles on Program Design/Project
Management. Read article, list Internet address and a brief abstract of 3-5 sentences
discussing the article. Do not hand in complete article. Do not include company
advertisements. (5 Points per article = 50 Points)(Due 10/02/06)
f. Course Questions – The Instructor will post a series of eight (8) questions taken
from different area of the text material, which will relate to different aspects of the
course. Students are expected to submit their answers to all questions by 10/09/06.
Please submit answers to these questions all together, at one time. (5 Points x eight
(8) questions = 40 points)
g. Text Book Readings (Required)
This course will focus on your discussion of the following readings, the assigned case
studies and your demonstrated ability to apply this information to your individual
case study. The preparation and completion of your individual case study report will
require a good foundation in these areas.
Chapter No. Due
1.
(08/28/06)
2.
(08/28/06)
3.
(09/04/06)
Chapter
Week Assignment Page
Why Project Management?
1
1.17
38
The Project Management Process 1 2.14
59
When To Use Project Management 2 3.20
103
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
(09/04/06)
The Strategic Context of Projects 2 4.19
132
Omit Chapter 5____________________________________________
Omit Chapter 6____________________________________________
(09/11/06)
Strategic Issues in Project Mgt.
3
7.18
222
(09/18/06)
Organizing For Project Mgt.
4
8.25
254
(09/25/06)
Project Authority
5
9.24
280
(10/02/06)
Project Maturity
6 10.15
306
(10/09/06)
Project Planning
7 11.36
347
(10/09/06)
Project Termination
8 12.21
375
Students are encouraged to read and use information from the following chapters in
their coursework: Chapters 5, 6, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22, for a more complete
understanding of Program Design and Project Management.
h. Write a critical analysis of each of the following cases in the “Project
Management Casebook.” (See the assigned cases below) What could have been
done differently and how would you have approached it? According to your text,
what elements of Project Management are present and which element are missing?
What resources were available? Were there any supply and demand issues? What
human resource issues were involved? Use your Project Management forms to help
you in this analysis. What caused the case to be successful or a failure? (Each case
analysis =10 Points x 8 cases = 80 Points)(See Due Dates for each case.)
Cases for Analysis (See “Project Management Casebook”)
1. “Making Affordable Housing Attainable Through Modern project Management.”
(Due 8/27/06)
2. “Goal Definition and Performance. Indicators in Soft Projects. Building a Competitive
Intelligence System.”
(Due 9/04/06)
3. “Communication Risk Management in Municipal Government Projects: City of New
Orleans Computer-Aided Dispatch System Project.”
(Due 9/10/06)
4. “Land Reserve Modernization Project: The Future of Army Infrastructure.”
(Due 9/17/06)
5. “Communication Strategies for major Public Works Projects: The Los Angles Metro
Rail Program Under Siege.”
(Due 9/24/06)
6. “Saturn’s Vision for Program Management: A Different Kind of Approach.”
(Due 10/01/06)
7. “Giving Mother Nature A Helping Hand.”
(Due 10/01/06)
8. “The Space Challenger Incident”
(Due 10/08/06)
Students should review and be familiar with the following “Casebook Cases” to enhance
their project management background: (Critical Analysis is not required for the
following cases.)
1. “Legal Standards for “Prudent Project Management.”
2. “Total Quality Management and Project Management”
3. “Prudent and Reasonable Project Management”
i. Individual Project: Select a program that you want to design to meet a community or
organizational need. This program may address a business management issue for either
profit or non-profit organizations or a community social issue. Students will be expected
to design a program with not less than 4-6 projects. A final report will be required for
completion of the course. This report will require selection of a program to be designed, a
minimum of four (4) projects with the necessary detail to bring the projects to
completion, strategies for implementation, a time line for implementation of the various
components of the projects for the program and a method of program/project assessment.
This is an excellent opportunity for students to design a program with the
accompanying projects to address a “Real World” issue. (60 Points) (Due 10/11/06)
j. Final Examination – The Final Examination will be comprehensive. The purpose of
the examinations is to allow students to demonstrate their mastery of the text material
and apply the components of program design/project management to “Real World”
business issues. (50 Points Total) (Available 10/11-13/06)
k. Course Completion – All work for credit must be turned in by 12:00 A.M.,
10/13/06. No work for credit will be accepted after this date unless prior notice has
been given and the extenuating circumstances have been discussed with the
Instructor. The course must end on time. An Incompleted (I) will not be given due
to inability to complete the course due to time management issues.
Evaluation Techniques:
Grade will be based on evaluation of the assignments listed above, mid-term examination
and a final examination. These activities will incorporate the information presented in
class and material in the textbook.
Grading System:
370-400 = A
360-369 = A350-359 = B+
330-349 = B
320-329 = B310-319 = C+
290-309 = C
280-289 = C270-279 = D+
250-269 = D
240-249 = DBelow 240 = F
Incomplete grades will not be assigned except in extreme circumstances. Inability to
complete the course within the scheduled time frame will not qualify the student to
receive an “I.” Successful completion of online courses is dependent upon efficient,
effective time management and students are expected to plan the use of their time
accordingly.
Attendance Policy
Since examinations will cover the material presented in class assignments, it will be
extremely difficult to receive a satisfactory grade without reading course materials and
completing the assignments. Students are expected to complete each assignment in a
timely manner and if time is missed, to complete the missed assignments.
Make-up Examinations:
Students unable to complete examinations when scheduled, are responsible for contacting
the instructor to arrange for a make-up examination before the date of the examination. A
make-up examination will be scheduled at the earliest opportunity provided that the
circumstances for missing the examination were beyond the control of the student. Makeup examinations will be as soon as possible, unless instructor permission is obtained for
deviation from this requirement. Students who have not made prior arrangements will not
be allowed to take the examination on a make-up basis.
Questions about the Course
Questions regarding this course may be directed to the Instructor by using the course
email system at: jpickens@eocu.okcu.edu. Conferences with the Instructor are available
upon request.
The following guidelines may be of assistance in helping plan and scheduling time
management for successful course completion within the course time frame.
Summary of Assignments
Point Values
Due Dates
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5.
6.
Introduction
10 Pts.
8/27/06
List of Program Design/Proj. Mgt. Issues
20 Pts
9/04/06
Case Studies (4)
40 Pts
9/18/06
Mid Term Exam
50 Pts Avail 9/20/06
Internet Research
50 Pts
10/02/06
Course Questions (8)
40 Pts
10/09/06
Cases Analyses (8 X 10 Pts per case)
Case 1
due 8/27/06
Case 2
due 9/04/06
Case 3
due 9/10/06
Case 4
due 9/17/06
Case 5
due 9/24/06
Case 6
due 10/01/06
Case 7
due 10/01/06
Case 8
due 10/08/06
Total Cases for Analysis
80 Pts
10/08/06
All Cases to be submitted for credit must be received by 10/08/06
7. Individual Project
60 Pts
10/11/06
8. Final Exam
9. Semester Ends
50 Pts
Avail 10/11-13/06
10/13/06
Total Possible Points
400 Pts
Please note: All assignments must be completed and submitted for credit in order to
complete the course. Any work to be submitted for credit must be received by
10/13/06.