MIS750 - Project Management
Syllabus
Instructor: Robert Judge – Project Management Principles
Email:
rjudge@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone:
(760) 505-7075 mobile
Room:
GMCS-313 Time: MW 6:00 - 9:40PM
Office:
SSE - 3114
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
Prerequisite: Business Administration 662.
Managing projects. Includes network modeling, defining activities and events, cost estimating
and reporting, single and multiple resource allocation and leveling. Computerized project
management software will be used.
INTRODUCTION
The world’s technical knowledge is doubling every two years, more companies are competing
internationally for scarce resources, and competitive advantage is shifting ever faster. Companies
cannot afford to be static – they must change to face a rapidly changing world. They need to be
able to understand their current processes for creating value and then identify ways to improve
on it. Project management is the set of tools and methods that allow organizations to change or
create new processes, products, tools and organizations while managing risk to schedule and
budget. This course provides the opportunity to learn project management principles that apply
to any program and industry. You will learn how projects are initiated, planned, executed, and
monitored and how knowledge is captured for use by future project teams. As a practical
application of the course reading and lectures, you will produce a full project plan covering all
phases and knowledge areas of project management.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
All students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in project management. In order to
demonstrate good project management practices during the project duration, students are
required to complete assignments related to the course content. There will be significant in class
time for working on team assignments (Learning by Doing). Assignments will require students to
be able to:
 Explain and discuss the phases and knowledge framework for the methods used in project
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management.
Understand the genesis of project, program, and portfolio management and their importance
to enterprise success.
Demonstrate the ability to conduct a gap analysis by identifying “as is” and “to be” vision of
the project.
Create a Charter and Scope for a project.
Apply project management concepts by working on a team project as project manager or
active team member.
Demonstrate the use of Microsoft Project to link all activities and resources to produce a
detailed project schedule and budget.
Identify the critical path, calculate its variance and estimate the probability of completing the
project within a stated time.
Produce and integrate planning for Schedule, Budget, Communication, Human Resources,
Quality, Risk, and Procurement.
Demonstrate knowledge of project management terms and techniques such as
o The triple constraint of project management
o The project management knowledge areas
o Tools and techniques of project management such as:
 Cognitive mapping
 Process flow charts
 Work breakdown structures
 Gantt charts, network diagrams, critical path analysis
 Cost estimates
 Crashing a project
 Earned value management
o Leadership and team building
REQUIRED RESOURCES
Texts:
Kloppenborg, T. Contemporary Project Management, South-Western Cengage Learning, 2012.
2nd or 3rd Edition. (Note: 1st edition is also just fine – not much change).
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 5th. ed. Softcover, Project Management
Institute, 2004. ISBN: 1-93069945X. (Note: If you become a student member of the PMI it
costs about $40 and you can download this as a .pdf).
Self-Paced MS Project Tutorial: (2006) Blackboard
Microsoft Project® and Microsoft Visio® software (This will be free through the Microsoft
DreamSpark Program)
Free Mind Software – Available for free download http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
IDS 752 – Project Management - Page 2 of 8
Team Projects:
There will be extensive team activities of putting together detailed project plans. The purpose of
the team assignments (3-5 people per team) is to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to
manage a project. Each team will select a meaningful project. The project can be work related
(preferred) or something of team interest. Suggestions and examples of past projects will be
provided to help formulate your own project ideas. One of the first team assignments is to
produce a Charter for your project. This charter will either be approved or rejected for revision.
Once approved – it is the project all your team’s assignments will be based on. Some examples
of past projects have been: 1) redesign of the DMV operations, 2) construction of a Tutoring
facility on campus, 3) remodeling a bar, 4) creating a website for foreign student registration, 5)
design of a smart refrigerator, 5) creation of a tour company, 6) implementation of an ERP
system, 7) developing a phone app, and 8) greening the Angels' baseball stadium. Make it fun
and interesting and the assignments will flow much easier. Also, it does help a bit to base it on
something you know at least a little about.
Written Assignments:
All written assignments will use line spacing = 1.5 and font = 11-point. Any stated maximum
length for the assignment does not include any attachments or appendices you may wish to
include. The expectation is that all assignments will be professionally written and will be graded
using the following criteria.
 Completeness (60%)
o Effectively communicates all aspects of the subject (depth and breadth)
o Anticipates and answers the reader’s (stakeholders) questions/concerns
o Incorporates course materials/concepts
 Structure and Clarity (30%)
o Well organized – leads the reader through the subject. Flows from one concept
logically to the next
o Clear
o Concise
 Grammar and Spelling, MLA Style and Citations (10%)
Class Attendance and Participation:
This class has a considerable amount of team effort. Each week will have time set aside for
working on the team assignments. As such, it is imperative that you attend all sessions so the
team does not suffer by the absence of your skill, knowledge and abilities.
Team dynamics:
Sometimes teams have difficulties. There might be differences in styles, goals in the class, and
abilities. These are also frequent in workplace teams. In the workplace we have time and support
to properly pull a team together. This class, however, moves very fast. If for any reason you do
not feel a team member is contributing at the desired level, I need to know right away so we can
address the concern. It is expected that all members will contribute fully to the team’s success.
At the end of the semester, each student will rate the other team members based on their: 1) level
of participation, and 2) quality of work produced. Team members who do not adequately
contribute to their team may have their team points drastically reduced.
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NOTE: There will be a peer review at the end of the semester. Each student will rate each
member of their team as either High, Medium, or Low with respect to their contribution
and the quality of that contribution on the team assignments. Those students who receive at
least two "medium" scores will receive only 90% of their team points. Those who receive at
least two "low" scores will receive only 70% of their team points. A mixture of "medium
and low" scores will receive only 80 % of the team points. Those who are expelled from the
team will receive zero team points.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
The following outline introduces the sessions in this course. The specific scope of each week
may be modified throughout the course – but any changes will be well communicated in class.
All assignments are due end of day Sunday on week assigned. Late assignments will lose
20% of the possible points for each day it is late. It is HIGHLY advisable to complete the
readings prior to class. We will have substantial time in class to work on the team assignments:
that time will be a waste if you are not prepared by having read the material. Templates and
examples of the team assignments will be posted in Blackboard.
Module/
Topic
Week 1
Due
Dates
7/7 & 7/9
Session Objectives & Assignments
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Introduction
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Week 2
7/14 &
7/16
Charter and
Scope
Week 3
HR and
Procurement
7/21 &
7/23
Review of syllabus, class methodology and 
expectations of students
Provide an introduction to Project Management

Review software and download process (bring
laptop if you have one – we will download and
use in class)
o Freemind
o MS Visio
o MS Project
Demonstrate Freemind
Form Teams for rest of course
Individual Assignment: Produce a cognitive map
for the material addressed in Chapter 1- 3
(Kloppenborg) and PMBOK pages 1 - 62
 Describe the process for selecting projects
o Financial analysis
o Weighted scoring
o Strategic
 Develop “as is” and “to be” process flows
 Develop a Charter
 Develop a Scope
 Scope Management
 Demonstrate Visio
Individual Assignment: Produce a process flow (30
blocks)
Team Assignments:
1) Produce two process flows (“as-is” and “should
be”) – min. of 50 blocks each.
2) Produce a charter
3) Produce a Scope
4) How will you manage the scope?
 Managing HR
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 Procurement planning
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Team Assignment:
1) Produce a plan for managing HR
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Readings
Chapters 1- 3:
Kloppenborg
PMBOK: pages 1 - 62
Download instructions
(Blackboard)
Review Blackboard
videos: how to create a
Cognitive Map using
FreeMind.
Read: Portfolio Project
Management Success
Factors (posted in
Blackboard)
Chapters 4 & 6:
Kloppenborg
PMBOK: pages 63 140
Review Blackboard
videos: how to use
Visio to create a process
flow.
See examples of Charter
and Scope posted in
Blackboard.
Chapter 12 - 13:
Kloppenborg
PMBOK: pages 255 286, & 355 – 390
Read: Factors
Module/
Topic
Week 4
Due
Dates
7/28 &
7/30
Schedule and
Cost Mgmt
Week 5
8/4 & 8/6
Quality, Risk,
and
Communications
Week 6
Session Objectives & Assignments
Readings
2) Produce a plan to manage procurement
Individual Online Exam: Complete the exam
chapters 1-4, & 6, 12 & 13 (Kloppenborg) by end
of day July 27. Open book and notes – no
discussion with friends or classmates.
 Creating the project schedule
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 Producing the cost estimates and budget
(WBS)
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 Demonstrate MS Project
influencing project
success_ the impact of
human resource
management (posted in
BB)
Chapter 7 - 9:
Kloppenborg
PMBOK: pages 141 –
226.
Team Assignment:
1) Create a schedule for the project (show critical
path, WBS numbering, use predecessors and load
and level all resources) – Min. of 70 activities.
Rollup costs.
2) Rollup WBS for a project budget and cost plan.
Individual Assignment: Produce a project schedule
for any project you wish to make up. Goal is to
demonstrate the same skill set as in the above team
assignment. Min. of 30 activities.
 Managing Quality
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 Planning Risk
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 Creating the Communication Plan
Review Blackboard
videos: using MS Proj.
Team Assignment:
1) Produce a plan for project quality.
2) Produce a plan for Risk.
3) Produce a plan for project Communication.
8/11
Executing,
Monitoring and
Controlling
projects
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Monitoring and controlling projects
Closing out the project
Lessons learned
Best practices
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Final Exam is in class on Wednesday 8/13
It is Cumulative.

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Chapter 5, 10, & 11:
Kloppenborg
PMBOK: pages 227 254, 287 - 308, & 309 –
354
Read: Project Quality
Management (posted in
BB)
Chapters 14-15:
Kloppenborg
Read: Informating the
Clan (posted in BB)
Closing out the
project
8/13 Final
Exam
Read: Monte Carlo
Scheduling Analysis –
Deloitte
GRADE COMPONENTS
Students are graded on the following components of the project course. The points are awarded
according to the following table. The points are awarded in each category on the basis of 96100% for exceptional responses, 90-95% for excellent responses, 84-89% for very good
responses, 80-83% for good responses, 70-79% for average responses.
Assignments
Scoring Methodology
50 + Blocks
2 + Swimlanes
2+ Blocks (color coded with data)
Use of Legend
Reference indicators
30 + Blocks
Individual
2 + Swimlanes
Process Flow
2+ Blocks (color coded with data)
Chart
Use of Legend
Reference indicators
Depth of content (50%)
Cognitive Maps
Use hyperlinks (20%)
Use of notes (10%)
Use of color, structure, and icons
(20%)
Completeness (60%)
Project Charter
Structure and clarity of document
and Scope
(30%)
Grammar and Spelling, MLA Style
and Citations (10%)
WBS numbering and logic
Individual Project
PERT Durations used
Schedule
Leveled resources
Critical path
Proper linkage
WBS numbering and logic
Team Project
PERT Durations used
Schedule and
Leveled resources
Cost Mgmt.
Critical path
Proper linkage
Completeness (60%)
Project Plan
Structure and clarity of document
Quality, Risk, &
(30%)
Communication
Grammar and Spelling, MLA Style
and Citations (10%)
Completeness (60%)
Project Plan
Structure and clarity of document
Human
(30%)
Resources ,
Grammar and Spelling, MLA Style
Procurement
and Citations (10%)
Team Process
Flow Chart
Number of
Assignments
or
Submissions
Points per
Assignment
Total
Possible
Points
2
25
50
1
50
50
1
50
50
1
200
200
1
100
100
1
200
200
1
200
200
1
200
200
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Midterm Exam
Score
50
4
200
Final Exam
Score
100
4
400
Total
1650
There are plenty of opportunities to collect points to achieve a given class grade. At the end of
the semester your grade is final. Please do not expect me to alter your grade because you are
short a higher grade by just a few points. Your total score and the final grade will be based on
the following scale:
93 - 100%
90 - 93%
87 - 90%
83 – 87%
80 – 83%
77 – 80%
73 – 77%
70 – 73%
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C-
COMMUNICATION
E-mail inquiries are welcome through rjudge@mail.sdsu.edu at any time for any questions
students might have. Please include a descriptive subject for your e-mail communications. BE
SURE TO indicate your name.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
SDSU’s policy on academic integrity is expressly integrated into this course. Any deviation
from the standards of this policy may result in a grade of “F” for the course.
Honesty:
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an exam or
assignment, failure in the course, and/or expulsion from the college. For more information, refer
to the “Academic Honesty” policy in the student catalog
(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fits.sdsu.ed
u%2Fdocs%2FTURN_Plagiarism_AcadSen.pdf&ei=hKgcSoOzJJyytAPUyv2NCg&usg=AFQjC
NEFuwRNvgA6C-5okEjjimj4-0fReQ&sig2=NMoSM4mz0-B-QOAUPvLEhw).
Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed,
or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the university as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit
to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by
another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when
quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings
of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or
sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies.
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