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Last Updated: December 09
MIS 460
Project Management
Course Credits: 3
The goal of this course is to give you the foundation for participating in and managing
projects. Although project management techniques can be applied to any discipline, we
will focus on managing the development of information systems. We will cover the
concepts, techniques and tools used by a project manager. The human issues that a project
manager must address and the interpersonal skills that s/he must possess represent an
important thread of this course.
We will cover the various duties and skills required of a project manager and discuss, in
depth, the processes that comprise the project management discipline. Throughout the
course, we will use computerized tools for assignments, including project management
software (Microsoft Project). We will strive to increase your comfort level with
productivity software (Project and other MS-Office tools). You will, also, have a chance
to demonstrate organizational, presentation and communication skills within the context
of an information systems development project.
Even if you are not planning to pursue a career in Information Systems, this course has
something important to offer you. It will increase your ability to take a complex
assignment, decompose it into manageable pieces, and deliver those pieces within the
constraints of time and money.
The course is designed to address various learning styles by utilizing different methods of
working: lecture and discussion, demonstrations, individual hands-on tutorials, as well as
projects. You will have the opportunity to use many kinds of skills: analytical, writing,
research, technical, practical and presentation.
Textbooks/Materials:
Information Technology Project Management, Kathy Schwalbe, 6th Edition. (Required)
ISBN (13): 978-0-324-78692-7
ISBN (10): 0-324-78692-1
Microsoft Project software (Installed in the MIS lab – a trial version is included in the text).
USB Memory Device.
Note concerning the text: The text includes a CD with MS-Project and other resources
on it. It also includes an access code for the companion web-site. Should students buy
the text used (or international version, etc), these items may not be included and the
student will be responsible for obtaining them.
Instructional Outcomes
(upon successful completion of this course)
Knowledge
•
•
•
•
•
•
Understand the processes that comprise project management: initiating,
planning, executing, controlling, and closing.
Understand the knowledge areas that comprise project management: project
integration management, project scope management, project time
management, project cost management, project quality management, project
human resource management, project communication management, project
risk management, and project procurement management.
Recognize the interrelationship between systems analysis and project
management.
Develop a solid grounding in the application of project management
techniques through an actual information systems development effort.
Learn the terminology and concepts associated with the field of project
management.
Become familiar with online and print resources for project managers.
Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Initiate, plan, execute, control, and close an information systems development
project within time and budget constraints.
Use various software tools to project management the development effort (i.e.
develop a project schedule).
Develop and deliver project status reports to your customer.
Learn how to handle human resource issues, both from a customer and a
project team perspective.
Learn project management terminology.
Learn the characteristics that make for a successful project.
Improve written and oral communication skills, supported by the use of a
computer.
Attitudes
•
Respect the customer, their needs and the business point of view.
•
•
Establish an ethic of efficiency as well as thoroughness.
Strive to create value for the organization.
Values
•
•
Place a premium on quality throughout the systems development process.
Value the ethics of the project management profession as defined by
professional societies.
Requirements:
Multiple written assignments and a semester project relating to various topics covered in
the course.
There will be weekly quizzes and a final, which will cover the textbook readings, lectures
and class work.
A final in-class presentation will also be required (unless previous arrangements have
been made).
If you elect to drop this course, you must complete the appropriate forms in the Office of
Student Services. Students still enrolled at the end of the semester will receive a final
grade based on their point accumulation during the semester.
Students with documented disabilities, including learning disabilities, may be entitled to
appropriate accommodations. Please make an appointment with the instructor to discuss
your situations and possible needs. Timely communication will allow us to work with the
Ursuline College Academic Support and Disabilities Center, if needed, to arrange for
appropriate accommodations.
Procedures for Assignments:
Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due one week following the week they are
assigned. Early submissions are always acceptable. A 10% per day point deduction
will be applied to late submissions. Unless other arrangements have been made, any
assignment not submitted at the beginning of class on the day it is due will be
considered late.
Work should be submitted to the ANGEL site for this class and placed in the drop-box
for the assignment. Please also bring a paper copy of your work to class. Staple all pages
together before submission; make sure your name or initials are on all pages..
Specific instructions for assignments will be distributed as the assignment becomes due.
BACKUPS: Be sure to save all of your work for the course in electronic and paper
format until you receive your final grade at the end of the course. Instructor is not
responsible for lost assignments.
Academic Honesty:
You are expected to submit your own work and not that of others for credit. During
exams, no notes, texts or assistance of any kind will be allowed unless specified by the
instructor. Any individual submitting another's work for credit or attempting to gain an
advantage during an examination through notes, texts, or the assistance of others is guilty
of academic dishonesty. Violators can expect a failing grade for the course.
Grading:
Tests / Quizzes
35%
Weekly Assignments & Exercises 35%
Project
20%
Class Presentation
10%
College Grading Scale:
A 93-100%
B+ 90-92%
B
86-89%
C+ 83-85%
C
76-82%
D+ 73-75%
70-72%
D
F
0-69%
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP ONE
Information Technology Project Management:
1.
Read Chapters 1 – 3
2.
Be prepared to answer the Discussion Questions at the end of the chapters
WORKSHOP ONE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand the growing need for better project management, especially for
information technology projects.
2. Explain what a project is, provide examples of information technology projects,
list various attributes of projects, and describe the triple constraint of projects.
3. Describe what project management is and discuss key elements of the project
management framework, including project stakeholders, the project management
knowledge areas, common tools and techniques, and project success factors.
4. Understand the systems view of project management and how it applies to
information technology projects
5. Describe the differences among functional, matrix, and project organizational
structures
6. Explain why stakeholder management and top management commitment are
critical for a project’s success
7. Understand the concept of a project phase and the project life cycle and
distinguish between project development and product development
8. Discuss the unique attributes and diverse nature of information technology
projects
9. Describe the five project management process groups, the typical level of activity
for each, and the interactions among them
10. Understand how the project management process groups relate to the project
management knowledge areas
11. Discuss how organizations develop information technology project management
methodologies to meet their needs
12. Review a case study of an organization applying the project management process
groups to manage an information technology project
13. Understand the contribution that effective project initiation, project planning,
project execution, project control, and project closing make to project success
ACTIVITIES:
1. Facilitator’s introduction to the class: Objectives, assignments, grading criteria,
general admin.
2. Group discussion defining our interest in Project Management and the specific
outcomes we hope to realize at the close of our course work.
3. Class Discussion of Chapters 1, 2, and 3
4. Review of project control documents (Appendix D and ‘real-life’ examples)
5. Review assignment for Workshop 2
6. Lab exercise, MS/Project – Get familiar with MS/Project.
7. Workshop One: Review and Fast Feedback.
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP TWO:
Information Technology Project Management:
1. Read Chapters 4 - 5 and be prepared to answer the Discussion Questions
2. Chapter 1 – Exercise 2: Project Manager Interview
3. Pick out a running case: either the Green Computing Research Project, the Project
Management Videos project (from Appendix C) the Remote Capture project, or
the Short Film (from ANGEL).
4. Chapter 3 – Exercise 1: Gantt chart. Bring a printed copy to turn in at the
beginning of class and post to the drop-box in ANGEL.
5. Complete assignment on Project initiation documents: Business Case, Charter,
Contract, and Scope Statement. Bring a printed copy to turn in at the beginning of
class and post to the dropbox in ANGEL.
WORKSHOP TWO
OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe an overall framework for project integration management as it relates to
the other project management knowledge areas and the project life cycle
2. Explain the strategic planning process and apply different project selection
methods
3. Explain the importance of creating a project charter to formally initiate projects
4. Describe project plan development, including project plan content, using
guidelines and templates for developing plans, and performing a stakeholder
analysis to help manage relationships
5. Explain project execution, its relationship to project planning, the factors related
to successful results, and tools and techniques to assist in project plan execution
6. Describe the process of monitoring and controlling project work
7. Understand the integrated change control process, planning for and managing
changes on information technology projects, and developing and using a change
control system
8. Describe how software can assist in project integration management
9. Understand the elements that make good project scope management important
10. Explain the scope planning process and contents of a scope management plan
11. Describe the process for developing a project scope statement using the project
charter and preliminary scope statement
12. Discuss the scope definition process and work involved in constructing a work
breakdown structure using the analogy, top-down, bottom-up, and mind mapping
approaches
13. Explain the importance of scope verification and how it relates to scope definition
and control
14. Understand the importance of scope control and approaches for preventing scoperelated problems on information technology projects
15. Describe how software can assist in project scope management
ACTIVITIES:
1. Review of Workshop One Materials
2. Quiz on Chapters 1 – 3
3. Class Discussion on Chapter 4 – discuss and practice NPV and other evaluation
techniques.
4. Class Discussion on Chapter 5 – in-class WBS development exercise
5. Lab exercise, MS/Project
6. Review assignment for Workshop 3
7. Workshop Two: Review and Fast Feedback
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP THREE:
Information Technology Project Management:
1. Read Chapters 6 - 7 and be prepared to answer the Discussion Questions
2. Complete assignment on Work-Break Structure and developing an initial
Gantt chart, per facilitator instructions.
3. Complete assignment on Resource Loading the Project Schedule and Cash
Flow Forecasting per facilitator instructions.
WORKSHOP THREE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand the importance of project schedules and good project time
management
2. Define activities as the basis for developing project schedules
3. Describe how project managers use network diagrams and dependencies to assist
in activity sequencing
4. Understand the relationship between estimating resources and project schedules
5. Explain how various tools and techniques help project managers perform activity
duration estimating and schedule development
6. Use a Gantt chart for schedule planning and tracking schedule information
7. Understand and use critical path analysis
8. Describe how to use several techniques for shortening project schedules
9. Explain the basic concepts behind critical chain scheduling and Program and
Review Technique (PERT)
10. Discuss how reality checks and people issues are involved in controlling and
managing changes to the project schedule
11. Describe how software can assist in project time management and review words
of caution before using the software
12. Understand the importance of good project cost management
13. Explain basic project cost management principles, concepts, and terms
14. Discuss different types of cost estimates and methods for preparing them
15. Understand the processes involved in cost budgeting and preparing a cost estimate
for an information technology project
16. Understand the benefits of earned value management and project portfolio
management to assist in cost control
17. Describe how software can assist in project cost management
ACTIVITIES:
1. Review of Workshop Two Materials
2. Quiz on Chapter 4 - 5
3. Class Discussion on Chapter 6 – 7
a. Network Diagramming exercise
b. Critical Path development exercise
c. In-class exercise on Earned Value
4. Lab exercise, MS/Project
5. Review assignment for Workshop 4
6. Review assignment for Final Project
7. Workshop Three: Review and Fast Feedback
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP FOUR:
Information Technology Project Management:
1. Read Chapters 8 - 10 and be prepared to answer the Discussion Questions
2. Complete assignment on Critical Path Analysis per facilitator instructions.
3. Complete assignment on tracking Earned Value and Status Reporting per
facilitator instructions
4. Complete assignment on Change Request process per facilitator instructions
WORKSHOP FOUR
OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand the importance of project quality management for information
technology products and services
2. Define project quality management and understand how quality relates to various
aspects of information technology projects
3. Describe quality planning and its relationship to project scope management
4. Discuss the importance of quality assurance
5. List the main outputs of the quality control process
6. Understand the tools and techniques for quality control, such as Pareto analysis,
statistical sampling, Six Sigma, quality control charts, and testing
7. Describe important concepts related to Six Sigma and how it helps organizations
improve quality and reduce costs
8. Summarize the contributions of noteworthy quality experts to modern quality
management
9. Describe how leadership, the cost of quality, organizational influences,
expectations, cultural differences, and maturity models relate to improving quality
in information technology projects
10. Discuss how software can assist in project quality management
11. Explain the importance of good human resource management on projects,
including the current state and future implications of human resource
management, especially on information technology projects
12. Define project human resource management and understand its processes
13. Discuss human resource planning and be able to create a project organizational
chart, responsibility assignment matrix, and resource histogram
14. Understand important issues involved in project staff acquisition and explain the
concepts of resource assignments, resource loading, and resource leveling
15. Understand team development through projects with training, team-building
activities, and reward systems
16. Explain and apply several tools and techniques to help manage a project team and
summarize general advice on managing teams
17. Understand the importance of good communication on projects and describe the
major components of a communications management plan
18. Discuss the elements of project communications planning, including information
distribution, performance reporting, and administrative closure
19. Discuss various methods for project information distribution and the advantages
and disadvantages of each
20. Understand individual communication needs and how to determine the number of
communications channels needed for a project
21. Understand how the main outputs of performance reporting help stakeholders stay
informed about project resources
22. List various methods for improving project communications, such as managing
conflicts, running effective meetings, using e-mail effectively, and using templates
ACTIVITIES:
1. Review of Workshop Three Materials
2. Quiz on Chapter 6 - 7
3. Class Discussion on Chapter 8 – Quality Management
4. Class Discussion on Chapter 9 – HR Management
5. Class Discussion on Chapter 10 - Communications Management
6. In class review for Final Exam
7. Review assignment for Workshop 5
8. Workshop Four: Review and Fast Feedback
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO WORKSHOP FIVE:
Information Technology Project Management:
1. Complete assignment on RACI and Pareto Charts to include in final presentation
2. Prepare final presentation
3. Study for Final Exam
WORKSHOP FIVE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand what risk is and the importance of good project risk management
2. Discuss the elements involved in risk management planning and contents of a risk
management plan
3. List common sources of risks on information technology projects
4. Describe the risk identification process and tools and techniques to help identify
project risks
5. Discuss the qualitative risk analysis process and explain how to calculate risk
factors, use probability/impact matrixes, the Top Ten Risk Item Tracking
technique, and expert judgment to rank risks
6. Explain the quantify risk analysis process and how to use decision trees and
simulation to quantitative risks
7. Provide examples of using different risk response planning strategies such as risk
avoidance, acceptance, transference, and mitigation
8. Discuss what is involved in risk monitoring and control
9. Describe how software can assist in project risk management
ACTIVITIES:
1.
Class Discussion on Chapter 11 – Risk Management
2.
Final Examination
3.
Project Presentations as scheduled
4.
Course evaluations and close out