VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF COMMERCE AND FINANCE
MBA 8529: CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN MANAGEMENT: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
FALL 2002
Dr. Matthew J. Liberatore
Voice Phone No.: (610) 519-4390
Fax Phone No.: (610) 519-5015
E-mail address: matthew.liberatore@villanova.edu
Homepage: http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/matthew.liberatore
WEB CT Homepage: http://webct.villanova.edu
Office: 3072 Bartley Hall
Regular Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. and
by appointment
______________________________________________________________________________
SYLLABUS
DESCRIPTION: This course will address the subject of project management using a life cycle
approach. After an introduction that addresses the role and importance of projects and project
management within our society, we consider project selection methods and systems using
decision support software. Next we address the formation and organization of the project team,
including the selection of successful project managers, key staffing and group process issues, and
the various organizational approaches used to structure and house projects. We then cover the
project planning process in detail, culminating in the creation of a baseline plan and budget using
Microsoft Project. Here we address project scope and objectives, deliverables, milestones, tasks,
work breakdown structure, responsibility and authority, project network, critical path analysis,
costs, and resource allocation and leveling. We highlight the important role of negotiation during
this discussion. We then turn to project implementation, and discuss the planning-monitoringcontrol cycle, the use of information systems, the types of control processes, and earned value
analysis. The life cycle approach is complete with a consideration of project auditing and
termination.
REQUIRED
READINGS:
Harvard Business Custom Casebook (cases and readings), 2002.
Goldratt, E. M., CriticalChain, The North River Press, Great Barrington,
MA, 1997.
Course notes and additional assigned readings and cases will be available
in electronic format.
1
OPTIONAL:
TEXT:
Meredith, J. R., and S. J., Mantel, Jr., Project Management: A Managerial
Approach, 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2000.
SOFTWARE:
Microsoft Project 2000 will be used for project planning. WEB CT will
provide access to course materials and assignments, and offer
opportunities for communication and collaboration among the students
and the instructor.
PREREQUISITES:
MBA basic core
It is the student’s responsibility to be certain that the prerequisites have
been successfully completed. If at any time during the semester it is
determined that a student has not completed the prerequisites, the student
can be administratively dropped from the course without credit or tuition
refund.
PERIODICALS
PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
PM NETWORK
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PROJECT MANAGMENT
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
WALL STREET JOURNAL
Articles on project management topics also appear in most major business
publications.
REFERENCE
BOOKS:
Cleland, D. I., Project Management: Strategic Design and
Implementation, 3rd ed., New York, McGraw-Hill, 1999.
Friedrichsen, L., and Bunin, R. B., New Perspectives on Microsoft Project
2000 – Introductory, Cambridge, MA, Course Technology, 2000.
Graham, R. J., Project Management As If People Really Mattered, Bala
Cynwyd, PA, Primavera Press, 1989.
Gray, C. F., and Larson, E. W., Project Management: The Managerial
Process, New York, Irwin McGraw-Hill, 2000.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Project
Management Institute, 2000.
Kerzner, H., Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning,
Scheduling, and Controlling, 7th ed., New York, John Wiley & Sons,
2000.
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Liberatore, M. J., and Nydick, R. L., Decision Technology: Modeling,
Software, and Applications, New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2003 (in
press).
Mantel, S. J., Jr., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., and Sutton, M. M.,
Project Management in Practice, New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Understand the differences between projects and operations and know when to organize
work as a project.
Apply the most effective methods for prioritizing project proposals.
Understand the role and responsibilities of the project manager and how to apply the
lessons learned by successful project managers.
Understand the different approaches for setting up projects within an organization and
when each should be used.
Understand how to form and manage high performing project teams.
Develop the project plan and effectively implement it.
Utilize proven techniques for schedule, resource, and cost planning and control.
Use Microsoft Project for project planning and control.
Understand the differences between conventional and critical chain project management,
and the key issues to address when applying the latter.
Conduct a project audit in order to learn how to improve future projects.
Know when to terminate a project
Avoid the major pitfalls of project management.
METHOD:
This course stresses the factors that impact the performance of project managers and the methods
that have value to them. The primary course delivery vehicle is class discussion of course notes,
cases, and assigned readings. In addition, there will be some hands-on exercises in project
planning using MS Project 2000. Global and ethical issues will be integrated throughout the
class. WEB CT is used to support the delivery of course materials and assignments and for
electronic course communications.
EXAMINATIONS:
Examinations 1 and 2 are unit exams that cover the material discussed in the course notes, cases,
readings, exercises, and class presentations. The first portion of each exam focuses on the theory
and concepts discussed. The second portion requires the use of MS Project for the solution of one
or more problems. Makeup examinations are discouraged and will be given only if requested at
least two weeks prior to the scheduled examination. Failure to take an examination will result in
a grade of F for the examination.
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HOMEWORK:
Homework solutions will not be graded, but all students are expected to be prepared for class
discussions. Homework helps to solidify understanding of the concepts and methods discussed,
and to prepare for the examinations.
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Much of the class time will devoted to discussion of cases and concepts. Active participation in
class discussions is an important part of this course, and students are expected to be present and
prepared for every class. To guide your preparation, review questions and problems (quantitative
topics) for the class notes and discussion questions for selected cases and readings will be
assigned for each class. I will feel free to call on anyone in class, at any time, for analysis or
comment. Credit will be based primarily on the quality of your contributions. Irrelevant,
redundant, or unresponsive comments are discouraged and may have a negative impact on your
participation evaluation.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Group Assignments
Students should form teams of two or three students to work on the group assignments. These
include: 1) submission of a written case, 2) the presentation of a different case, and 3)
preparation of a written project plan and presentation of this plan. EACH GROUP MUST
SUBMIT THE NAMES OF THEIR GROUP MEMBERS BY THE BEGINNING OF THE
SECOND CLASS.
The written case will require the student teams to address a specific set of questions outlined in
the case. This case will be the same for all student teams. In addition, student teams will be asked
to present their solutions to specific case questions. These presentations and ensuing discussion
will be factored into the class participation grade.
Each student team will be assigned another case for class presentation. This presentation should
include a summary of the business situation, the problems and issues faced, and a discussion of
alternatives and proposed solutions. For some cases, additional questions may be posed by the
instructor.
This written plan should be based on an actual project, either proposed, in process, or completed.
It may be drawn from your work situation (preferred) or from your personal life. The project plan
consists of the following elements: project title, executive summary, purpose of the project,
scope statement with objective statement and deliverables, general approach (managerial and
technical), contractual aspects (as appropriate), initial (pre-leveled) and final project network and
Gantt Chart, resources required (personnel, materials, equipment) and initial and leveled loading
chart for each resource, budget process used (bottom-up, top-down, both) and budget by type of
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resource and by task over time and in total, project evaluation methods to be used, potential
problems, and risk management plan. The report should also include a critique of the project
planning approach used, including benefits and shortcomings, and a discussion of what was
learned. Students will also hand in their supporting MS Project file. The project plan presentation
should address all of the components of the plan, and the presenting team should be prepared to
address questions and comments by other class members and the instructor.
Ten points will be deducted for each day a written assignment is turned in late. All group
members must be present and participate in group presentations. A GROUP MEMBER WHO
IS NOT PRESENT AND DOES NOT ACITVELY PARTICIPATE DURING THE
GROUP’S PRESENTATION WILL GET A ZERO FOR THE PRESENTATION GRADE.
Individual Assignment
Each student will be assigned at least one article (or a portion of the Goldratt book) for class
presentation. Each presentation should include a summary, key issues raised, and take-aways.
The presenting student should be prepared to address questions and comments by other class
members and the instructor.
GRADING:
Examination 1
Examination 2
Written Project Plan
Project Plan Presentation
Case Presentation
Article Presentation
Case Report
Class Participation
Total
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
100%
Final grade ranges:
100 -- 92
91 -- 89
88 -- 86
85 -- 82
81 -- 79
78 -- 76
75 -- 70
69 --
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
F
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all classes and participate in class discussions. You must be
present in class to participate.
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:
The Code of Academic Integrity of Villanova University addresses cheating, fabrication of
submitted work, plagiarism, handing in work completed for another course without the
instructor’s approval, and other forms of dishonesty. For the first offense, a student who violates
the Code of Villanova University will receive 0 points for the assignment. The violation will be
reported by the instructor to the Dean’s office and recorded in the student’s file. In addition, the
student will be expected to complete an education program. For the second offense, the student
will be dismissed from the University and the reason noted on the student’s official transcript.
DISABILITY:
If you have a disability that may affect your success in this course and wish to discuss academic
accommodations, please arrange to meet with me as soon as possible and not later than the end of
the second week of the semester.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
The WEB CT calendar contains the due dates for all class activities and assignments.
Class
Date
______________________________________________________________________________
1
8/27/02
Introduction and Overview of Course
Topics: Discussion of course organization and objectives; introduction to the nature of project
management and its role in the contemporary organization
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
______________________________________________________________________________
2
9/3/02
Project Selection Methods
Topics: choice and use of models and methods to select projects
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-396-311 BAE Automated System (A): Denver International Airport
 BH021 J. K. Pinto and O. P. Kharbanda, “Lessons for an Accidental Profession,”
Business Horizons, March-April 1995, 41-50.
 M. J. Liberatore, “A Decision Support System Linking Research and Development
Project Selection with Business Strategy,” Project Management Journal, Vol. 19, No. 5,
November 1988, 14-21.
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3
9/10/02
Project Manager
Topics: analysis and discussion of the role of the project manager and characteristics of effective
project managers and leaders
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-192-151 Concordia Casting Co.
 94503 H.K. Bowen, “Make Projects the School for Leaders”, Harvard Business Review,
September-October 1994, 131-140
 B. Z. Posner, “What It Takes To Be a Good Project Manager,” Project Management
Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1, March 1987, 51-55.
______________________________________________________________________________
4
9/17/02
Project Organization and Staffing
Topics: review and discussion of approaches for organizing for project management, including
matrix and functional forms; staffing, team formation, and team building
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-195-141 Oticon A/S: Project 330
 M. A. Cusumano, “How Microsoft Makes Large Teams Work Like Small Teams,” Sloan
Management Review, Fall 1997, 9-20.
 M. Townsend, S. M. DeMarie, and A. R. Hendrickson, “Virtual Teams: Technology and
the Workplace of the Future,” The Academy of Management Executive, August 1998, 1729.
 T. R. Block, “The Project Office Phenomenon,” PM Network, Vol. 12, No. 3, March
1998, 25-30.
_____________________________________________________________________________
5
9/24/02
Project Planning
Topics: project planning concepts, including scope statement with objectives and deliverables,
defining work packages, milestones, work breakdown structure, responsibility-authority; the
project charter; introduction to MS Project 2000
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-398-008 Providian Trust: Tradition and Technology (A)
 9-398-035 Providian Trust: Tradition and Technology (B)
 H. F. Spirer, “D. U. Singer Hospital Products Corp.” 1980.
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
6
10/1/02
Project Scheduling
Topics: applying the critical path method to create a project schedule; developing the schedule
using MS Project 2000
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 M. J. Liberatore and R. L. Nydick, Decision Technology: Modeling, Software, and
Applications, chapter 17, New York, Wiley, 2003.
 H. F. Spirer, “D. U. Singer Hospital Products Corp.” 1980 (continued).
 UVA-OM-0803 “Tastee Snax Food Company”
_____________________________________________________________________________
7
10/8/02
Project Resource and Cost Analysis
Topics: resource analysis, including loading charts, leveling, constraints, and time-cost analysis;
applications developed in MS Project 2000; types of budgeting processes, cost estimation issues,
learning curve
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-193-071 Porsche AG
 M. J. Liberatore and R. L. Nydick, Decision Technology: Modeling, Software, and
Applications, chapter 18, New York, Wiley, 2003.
 H. F. Spirer, “D. U. Singer Hospital Products Corp.” 1980 (continued).
_____________________________________________________________________________
8
10/10/02 – 10/12/02
First Examination
Distance Learning Format for the Exam
______________________________________________________________________________
10/15/02
Fall Break – No Class
_____________________________________________________________________________
9
10/22/02
Project Control
Topics: planning-monitoring-control cycle; types of control processes, design of control systems,
scope creep; earned value; complete discussion of MS Project 2000
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-681-091 Corning Glass Works: The Z-Glass Project
 9-396-312 BAE Automated System (B): Denver International Airport
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
H. J. Thamhain and D. L. Wilemon, “Controlling Projects According to Plan,” Project
Management Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 1986, 75-81.
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
10
10/29/02
Project Information Systems
Topics: computerized project management information systems, including enterprise systems;
complete discussion of MS Project 2000; guest speaker
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-193-013 American Airlines: The InterAAct Project (A)
 9-193-014 American Airlines: The InterAAct Project (B)
 B. Pollack-Johnson and M. J. Liberatore, “Project Management Software Usage Patterns
and Suggested Research Directions for Future Developments,” Project Management
Journal, Vol. 29, No. 2, June 1998, 19-28.
______________________________________________________________________________
11
11/05/02
Project Integration and Risk Management
Topics: integration of planning and control processes; project risk assessment, analysis, and
mitigation


Class Notes (PowerPoint)
J. Robbins, M. J. Liberatore, and D. E. Stout, “The XYZ Investment Company: A Project
Management Case Study,” 2002 AICPA Professor-Practitioner Case Competition
Submission.
 P. S. Royer, “Risk Management: The Undiscovered Dimension of Project Management,”
Project Management Journal, Vol. 31, No.1, March 2000, 6-13.
 E. F. Jones, “Risk Management – Why?”, PM Network, Vol. 14, No. 2, February 2000,
39-42.
____________________________________________________________________________
12
11/12/02
Critical Chain Project Management
Topics: discussion of the principles of critical chain project management and how they differ
from conventional project management
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 Goldratt, E. M., CriticalChain, The North River Press, Great Barrington, MA, 1997.
 L. P. Leach, “Critical Chain Project Management Improves Project Performance,” Project
Management Journal, Vol. 30, No. 2, June 1999, 39-51.
 98203 J. Elton and J Roe, “Bringing Discipline to Project Management,” Harvard
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Business Review, March-April 1998, 153-160.
____________________________________________________________________________
11/19/02
NO CLASS
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
13
11/26/02
Project Auditing and Termination
Topics: purpose of audit, construction of the report, audit life cycle; types of termination, when
to terminate a project, final report
 Class Notes (PowerPoint)
 9-696-083 Biogen, Inc.: rBeta Interferon Manufacturing Process
 9-600-021 Learning from Projects: Note on Conducting a Postmortem Analysis
 BH010 J. K. Pinto and O. P. Kharbanda, “How To Fail In Project Management (Without
Really Trying),” Business Horizons, July-August 1996, 45-53.
___________________________________________________________________________
14
12/3/02
Project Plan Presentations
___________________________________________________________________________
15
12/10/02
Second Examination – In Class
____________________________________________________________________________
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