PJM535: Project Metrics, Monitoring, and Control
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
The purpose of this graduate level course is to provide the student with tools and techniques to help measure,
monitor, and control projects. In this course, students will learn financial and success metrics as well as the
techniques associated with monitoring and controlling a project. Projects are typically short in duration, and the
project manager must incorporate steps to monitor the progress of the project as well as develop an assessment
plan to measure the effectiveness of the project. Students in this class will learn the principles of scope, pricing,
cost, trade-offs, learning curves, and quality management within a project environment. (Prerequisite: PJM500)
Course Learning Outcomes:
Through course reading material and execution of assignments and final Portfolio Project, students will be
able to:
1.
2.
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7.
8.
Comprehend and evaluate techniques for minimizing scope creep.
Synthesize and evaluate the role of pricing and estimating in novel projects.
Apply methods for managing costs and schedule variance in project scope planning
Apply trade-off skills and techniques in a project environment.
Synthesize learning curves as a forecasting and pricing tool.
Comprehend the role of quality management in a project environment.
Apply the concept of Earned Value Management.
Comprehend the relationship between Project Scope and Earned Value Management.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Kerzner, H. (2013). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (11th ed.).
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781118022276
**All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or
supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course
module carefully.
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week #
Readings
Chapter 10 & 22 Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling
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Assignments
Discussion (25 points)

Chapter 14 in Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
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Chapters 15 & 12 in Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 16, trade-off Analysis in a project
environment in Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 18 Learning Curves in Project Management:
A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
1
2
3
4
5
Controlling
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Chapters 20 Quality Management in Project
Management: A Systems Approach to Planning,
Scheduling and Controlling
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
Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 15, Cost Control in Project Management: A
Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and
Controlling
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 15, Cost Control and 12, Network Scheduling
Techniques in Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling
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Discussion (25 points)
Portfolio (350 points)
6
7
8
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking: Project Financing Assignment (75 Points)
Read Chapter 14 of your textbook, Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling. Click
here to discover, there are several risks (Financial Risks, Development Risks, Political Risks, Organizational Risks, and Execution Risks) that
must be considered to understand project financing. Select two of the five risks and provide a mitigation report for each risk identified.
Your mitigation report should total 1-2 pages in APA format and should cite at least two current scholarly
resources, available from the CSU-Global library or as any other scholarly, online journals, to support your
assertions. One of the sources may be your textbook.
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Project Delays (75 Points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you to understand the project management task of cost control and
scheduling techniques.
Below are several variables that can cause project delays and cost overruns. Using Chapter 15 in your text and
content from the lectures, explain how these problems can be overrun. Explain how these problems can be
resolved.
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Poorly defined milestones
Poor estimating techniques
A missing PERT/CPM chart
Functional managers not having a clear understanding of what has to be done
Poor programming procedures and techniques
Changes constantly being made deep in the project’s life cycle
Your responses to the questions should total 3-4 pages long and should cite at least three current scholarly
resources, available from the CSU-Global library or other online scholarly sources, to support your assertions. CSU
Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required.
Module 4
Critical Thinking: Project Management Trade-off Skills (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is for you to understand trade-off skills that a project manager must possess.
Click here to read “Contracts: Their Influence on Projects,“ from your textbook. Then, answer the following five questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is a firm-fixed price contract?
What is a fixed-price-incentive-fee contract?
What is cost-plus-incentive-fee contract?
What is cost-plus-award-fee contract?
What is cost-plus-fixed-fee contract?
As a buyer, determine which contract you would consider beneficial and be most interested in obtaining? As a
seller, determine which contract you would consider as beneficial and be most interested in obtaining?
Your responses to the questions should total 2-3 pages and should cite at least three, current scholarly resources.
The CSU-Global Library is a great place to find these resources. CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style
are required.
Module 5
Critical Thinking: Learning Curve Essay (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you better understand how Learning Curves work.
Using Chapter 18 in your text, research why a Learning Curve Analysis is used for project management, and
research the necessary components of a Learning Curve Analysis using the textbook and the Internet. Using the
information you gathered, write an essay that contains your findings. The essay should explain the components of
the learning curve and describe how the learning curve analysis can be used by a project manager in a real-life
scenario.
Your essay should be 2-3 pages long and should include scholarly resources, available from the CSU-Global library,
or other online scholarly sources, to support your assertions. Your template should be included as an appendix to
your essay. CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required. Include a title and a reference page
that includes at least three outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking.
Module 6
Critical Thinking: Quality Management (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you understand quality management processes as they relate to project
management.
Using Chapter 20 in your text, and the other material provided within the unit, research Six Sigma. Explain and
describe how Six Sigma can be incorporated into process improvement to reduce defects. You should include a
discussion about the essential aspects required in an effective DMAIC process. Use relevant examples from your
workplace or from your Internet literature review to highlight the importance of implementing Six Sigma as a
quality initiative.
Your essay should be 3-4 pages long and should include scholarly resources, available from the CSU-Global Library
or other scholarly online sources to support your assertions.
CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required. Include a title and a reference page that includes
at least three outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking.
Module 7
Critical Thinking: Variance and Earned Value (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you to understand how to record material cost using earned value.
Review Chapter 15 and research the necessary components for recording material costs using Earned Value
Measurement. Using the textbook and the Internet (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/labor-cost-vs-material-cost11368.html), write an essay that explains the components between Material and Labor cost for control purposes.
Include a discussion about the importance of recording material costs using Earned Value Measurement.
Your essay should be 2-3 pages and should include scholarly resources, available from the CSU-Global library as
well as scholarly, online resources to support your assertions. Your template should be included as an appendix to
your essay. CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required. Include a title and a reference page
that includes at least three outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking.
Module 8
Portfolio: Project Metrics Proposal (350 points)
Read the case study “Franklin Electronics,” which is in your textbook. Based on the case study, answer the seven
questions found at the end of the case study and write a proposal to Franklin Electronics on what you would
do to turn the project around. When writing the proposal, assume the role of a highly regarded project
management consultant hired to review, analyze, and advise Franklin Electronics on the necessary direction to be
used to get the project back on track. Your proposal should address the following:
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Discuss Six Sigma process improvement for tracking time and cost, and the root cause of the problem. At a
minimum, your discussion should include:
o Problem
o Cause and Effect
o Solution
o New approach to tracking Earned Value and Scope
o New Schedule and timeline
Discuss your recommendations on how Franklin Electronics can use project management principles to meet
their goal of improving efficiency and empowering management to make better and informed decisions
through the use of Earned Value Management.
Discuss how an effective Earned Value Management System contributes to organizational effectiveness.
Finally, present your strategy on how Franklin Electronics can share best practices across the organization.
The paper should be 7-10 pages in length, well-written, properly referenced, and in conformity with CSU-Global
guidelines for APA Style. The paper must be supported by at least six scholarly references. Please use the CSU
Library as well as scholarly, online resources. One of the sources may be your textbook.
Course Policies
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
45% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
In-Classroom Policies
For information on late work and Incomplete grade policies, please refer to our In-Classroom Student Policies
and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating
academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and
APA Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment), unauthorized
possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSU-Global Library provides information
on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet
resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA
(based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For details on CSU-Global APA style, please
review the APA resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this
document should also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous,
respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in accordance
with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant?
How will the person on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the
instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic,
religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or
intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.