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VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
MBA 8529:
CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN MANAGEMENT: PROJECT MANAGEMENT Dr. Matthew J. Liberatore
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and MS Word Version of Syllabus SYLLABUSDESCRIPTION: 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-monitoring-control 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. REQUIREDREADINGS
OPTIONAL: Meredith, J. R., and S. J., Mantel, Jr., Project Management: A Managerial TEXT: 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.
Liberatore, M. J., and Nydick, R. L., Decision
Technology: Modeling, 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. Understand the differences between projects and operations and know when to organize work as a project. 2. Apply the most effective methods for prioritizing project proposals. 3. Understand the role and responsibilities of the project manager and how to apply the lessons learned by successful project managers. 4. Understand the different approaches for setting up projects within an organization and when each should be used. 5. Understand how to form and manage high performing project teams. 6. Develop the project plan and effectively implement it. 7. Utilize proven techniques for schedule, resource, and cost planning and control. 8. Use Microsoft Project for project planning and control. 9. Understand the differences between conventional and critical chain project management, and the key issues to address when applying the latter. 10. Conduct a project audit in order to learn how to improve future projects. 11. Know when to terminate a project 12. 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. 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: 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 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.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all classes and participate in class discussions. You must be present in class to participate. 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 CourseTopics: Discussion of course organization and objectives; introduction to the nature of project management and its role in the contemporary organization
____________________________________________________________________________ 2 9/3/02 Project Selection MethodsTopics: choice and use of models and methods to select projects
______________________________________________________________________________ 3 9/10/02 Project ManagerTopics: analysis and discussion of the role of the project manager and characteristics of effective project managers and leaders
______________________________________________________________________________ 4 9/17/02 Project Organization and StaffingTopics: review and discussion of approaches for organizing for project management, including matrix and functional forms; staffing, team formation, and team building
_____________________________________________________________________________ 5 9/24/02 Project PlanningTopics: 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
______________________________________________________________________________ 6 10/1/02 Project SchedulingTopics: applying the critical path method to create a project schedule; developing the schedule using MS Project 2000
_____________________________________________________________________________ 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
_____________________________________________________________________________ 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
______________________________________________________________________________ 10 10/29/02 Project Information Systems Topics: computerized project management information systems, including enterprise systems; complete discussion of MS Project 2000; guest speaker
______________________________________________________________________________ 11 11/05/02 Project Integration and Risk Management Topics: integration of planning and control processes; project risk assessment, analysis, and mitigation
____________________________________________________________________________ 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
____________________________________________________________________________ 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
___________________________________________________________________________ 14 12/3/02 Project Plan Presentations ___________________________________________________________________________ 15 12/10/02 Second Examination – In Class____________________________________________________________________________ |
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