Course Syllabus
Project Management
Thursdays 11:30AM-1pm Room: WB 131
Professor: Kevin Castle Office Hours: Email for an appointment
Telephone: x5596 Office: WB 142
Email: kcastle@uvu.edu
Required Text and Website Access
1) Register for student PMI membership ($32.00) online with credit card here: http://marketplace.pmi.org/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?GMProduct=00101041900
2) A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Fifth Edition by Project Management Institute ISBN: 9781933890517. An electronic version of this is included for free with your student membership registration at www.pmi.org. This membership will also provide a discount on the CAPM test fee.
3) Online simulation to be used is “Project Management Simulation”, Austin, HBPS, 2010 accessed via http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/access/10701135 after registration. No fee for this but you will need to log in to the Harvard site.
4) If you take and pass the CAPM exam you will automatically get an "A" in this class and not have to take the final. To take the CAPM exam
5) Additional Materials will be posted on CANVAS and provided in class.
6) Additional training available: http://projectservices.lingos.org/online-courses/ The training is in 7 modules. It actually copies a lot of principles from the PMI PMBOK, and is partially developed by Virginia Tech.There are a few different terms and approaches that what PMI uses in their certifications so there are some issues for studying this alone for CAPM certification, but overall this is a good overview of project management and is more accessible to a wider audience as a self directed online course. I would encourage everyone to take a look at this and go through it as it does give a good overview of the general approach and themes in project management, albeit from an International Development perspective.
Student Learning Objectives
- Understand the profession of project management and related methodologies.
- Demonstrate the ability to use the three classic project management levers- scope, resources, and schedule –to improve project outcomes and understand how these levers interact.
- Demonstrate how changing project characteristics, including deadlines and team skill levels, impact team morale and work quality
- Demonstrate the effects of project manager’s decisions on team morale and work quality- e.g., how much time to spend on coaching or meetings, how much to rely on overtime or outsourcing, what skill level to set for a project team, and when to add or reduce project team members.
- Demonstrate the effects of poor-quality work on project outcomes and understand how to ensure projects are executed with quality as a focus.
- Demonstrate how unanticipated events influence project outcomes and risk mitigation strategies to deal with constant change in projects.
- Demonstrate how to make tradeoffs between desired project outcomes in situations where not all project objectives can be met.
- Demonstrate the importance of committing to realistic project objectives and minimizing scope change.
- Prepare to pass the CAPM exam.
- Allow students with specific projects on campus with Enactus, the University other community businesses and organizations a workshop to help them manage their real projects.
Introduction to Project Management
Project Management is the art of using a variety of techniques to combine inter-related resources, within defined constraints, in order to accomplish the goal of the project. The Project Manager is the individual ultimately responsible for managing the project.
Policies and Expectations
Learning model: Your work in this course is organized around this model with: 1) preparatory assignments through which you will learn new information, terminology, theories and analytical techniques, 2) engagement assignments/activities in which you will clarify and apply your understanding, and 3) assignments in which you will demonstrate your improvement or mastery of macroeconomic theory. While particular course assignments/activities may serve multiple purposes, the description of assignments in this syllabus identifies each assignment/activity in terms of its main focus: Prepare, Engage, or Improve.
Instructional methods: Instructional methods will include, but not be limited to: lecture, active learning exercises, case studies, workshops, online simulation, discussion, group work, and in class presentation. Segments may be taught online. Simulations will be taught in a 1.5 hour lab each week.
Preparation and study methods: There is no substitute for timely and consistent effort if you want to perform well in this course. Cramming and memorization will not be adequate. You will need discipline to keep up. The pace of the classroom is designed to allow students to practice and apply what they have already read and are prepared to engage in the classroom. Reading the PMBOK and doing test prep outside of class will be critical to passing the CAPM.
Class time: If you are confused in class, please ASK QUESTIONS. Listen hard in class, and participate in discussion and activities‑‑‑ try to understand. Don’t try to write down everything said in class. When you are busy writing, you can’t concentrate on what is being said. Then you end up trying to memorize your notes because you don’t understand them. The power point slides used in class other than quizzes will be available on CANVAS. Having the slides should reduce the pressure to focus too much on taking notes. Prepare to use classroom time to practice, discuss and explore project management methods, not to learn new vocabulary and content for the first time.
You will be assigned to a group for some assignments. Learning team work and executing as a team is a critical skill for project managers.
Conduct and Attendance: Consistent and punctual attendance is expected. This is both for your own benefit and as a basic courtesy to the teacher and other class members. You should refrain from behavior that may distract others or yourself from focusing on the classroom activity (including eating, talking to others, text messaging, using cell phone or internet, listening to music or wearing hats). Earphones/earbuds/Bluetooth devices are not to be used/worn during class. Any computer use during class must focus on note-taking or other class work.
Course Grade: Course grades will be based on the points you earn out of the following proposed possible points:
Prepare: (300 points) Group Presentations 50
Module Quizzes and Practice Tests 100
Project Charter 50
Project Plan (Group) 100
Engage: (300 points)
Online Simulation A 50
Online Simulation B 50
Online Simulation C 50
Peer Reviews/Weekly updates 100
Improve: (600 points)
Mid Term (CAPM Practice Test) 200
Online Simulation D (Test) 100
Online Simulation E (Test) 100
CAPM Comprehensive Final Examination 200
Basically, a 10% scale based on 1200 points is used for grading.
Prepare Assignments: The following assignments help you prepare for class and learn new concepts, theories, terms and ideas.
Project Charter: Prepare an effective project charter based on the template that will be provided. If the charter is not completed correctly, it will be returned and credit will not be given for the assignment until suggested improvements are made. Key deliverables are:
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Project Selection |
Goals & objectives |
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High-level deliverables, time, and cost estimates |
High-level constraints & assumptions |
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Quantifiable Need or Value of the Project to the customer |
Project description and problem statement |
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Define responsibilities of the PM |
High-level resource requirements |
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Completed Project Charter Document |
Key Quantifiable and Measurable Success Metrics |
Project Plan: Creating a project plan will help you learn the basic elements of a plan, and determining how to execute a project to success building on the project charter as a foundation. This is your capstone project for which you will be creating elements throughout the course. This is a group activity with an associated peer review. The general deliverables that are included in the project plan are:
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Scope statement and scope management plan |
Project Team |
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Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) |
Team roles and responsibilities with resource management plan |
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WBS dictionary (explanation of WBS) |
Network diagram |
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Time & Cost Estimate |
Critical Path |
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Schedule and schedule management plan |
Budget |
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Communications Management Plan |
Quality management plan |
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Risk management plan, (identification, qualification, quantification, and response plans for risks identified) |
Procurement management plan |
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Stakeholder management plan |
Project control plan |
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Develop a formal project plan |
Formal project plan approval from key decision maker(s) |
Engage Assignments: These assignments help you apply your growing understanding of project management and help you demonstrate what you have learned in class, with your team and online in the simulation.
Simulation A Simulation A will help prepare you to understand the basics of project management, as well as how to use the online simulation we will use throughout the class. Your success is dependent on working with your assigned team to successfully complete the tutorial and then run the simulation and achieve the highest score possible based on the scoring rubric provided to you in the simulation.
Simulation B Simulation B will challenge you to practice what you learned in class and in Simulation A on your own. In this simulation senior management expects you to release a new printer which will upstage the competitor's expected new printer announcement. The target schedule is shortened to allow you to ramp up manufacturing and marketing soon enough to pre-empt the competitor announcement with an announcement of your own. The budget will support a cost structure that permits a profit margin which is slightly better than the current printer's margin. Your own analysis of the work required and subsequent work breakdown structure has lead to you conclude that these targets are difficult but achievable. The simulation is scored based on your effective project management decisions. This will be followed by a lively classroom discussion to determine what went well and what could be improved.
Simulation C :Simulation C will test your ability to manage a complex project based on the previous simulations. Score will be based on the first score achieved in comparison to your peers in the class. Scores will be graded on a curve based on a total of 50 points.
Peer Evaluations After each team assignment you will be graded by your team based on your performance. This is used to help identify individual contributions within group projects, as well as providing a non-confrontational method for fellow students to help teammates establish their strong and weak points. Your contribution to the team's overall success in preparing the assignments and presentation, your teammates perception of you preparation and understanding of the contents of the assignments and cases, your contribution of original or novel ideas to the team's analysis and decision making activities, and your overall contribution to the team’s learning experience are some of the areas that will be assessed.
Group Project Kick Off Presentation
After the project plan is completed, your team will be tasked with creating a project kick off presentation, based on a template provided on CANVAS. This will be limited to 10 minutes and your score will be determined by the following: 50 points for professional and accurate creation of the presentation based on the template and the project plan, 50 points for professional pace (finish under 10 minutes), articulation, and presentation skills used, 40 points for the successful obtainment of project approval by your professor or key decision maker in writing to move forward to the execution stage (this may or may not be given with conditions).
Improve Assignments: Through these assignments you demonstrate the mastery of macroeconomics that you have developed during the term.
Online Simulation D Simulation D will be the final simulation test you will take. After completion of each week, you will need to document what decisions you made, what results you expected, and what results you achieved. Then after each simulation week you will document the gap between the results you achieved and what you expected. Propose an improvement plan after each week describing what you would do differently next time. After you complete the project, start it again repeating this process and implementing your proposed changes and comparing your expected results to the actual results and explaining any gaps that may occur. 100 points is based on the average of your first two rounds recorded in the simulation (only first two rounds will count), and 100 points based on the accuracy and completeness of your analysis.
Final Exam:
The final exam will be given at the testing center as scheduled and will simulate the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification exam. You may use a non‑programmable calculator. No dictionaries can be used. All 135 test questions will be multiple choice. There is a time limit of 3 hours. It is your responsibility to know the testing center’s operating hours and to plan to take your test taking accordingly. The final exam will be available on the day listed for our class period in the official university final exam calendar. The testing center may impose constraints on the hours the final exam. If you choose to take and pass the real CAPM exam during this semester, you will get an A in the class and do not need to take the final. Several students have successfully done this in the past.
Certified Associate in Project Management Certification To proceed and complete the formal CAPM certification process is the responsibility and choice of each individual student. At the successful completion of this course, you will have completed the necessary 23 hours of project management education required (this class fulfills this requirement) to take the CAPM certification exam. See http://www.pmi.org/en/Certification/Certified-Associate-in-Project-Management-CAPM/~/media/PDF/Certifications/pdc_capmhandbook.ashx
The exam requires a few weeks prior registration online at www.prometric.com/PMI/default.htm in order to schedule an exam. The fee is $300 (however you will get a student discount with your student membership!) and can be taken at any approved testing center worldwide. The BYUH testing center is the only approved CAPM testing center in Hawaii. Go to http://www.pmi.org/en/Certification/Certified-Associate-in-Project-Management-CAPM.aspx at www.pmi.org for more information. Note that you will need to achieve a score of at least 80% on this exam, and your final will be a good indication of your preparation readiness.
Make‑up, late & extra credit work: Make‑up tests are allowed without penalty only in the case of excused absences. You must obtain approval of an excused test absence in advance of the test deadline in order to be excused unless there is a true emergency preventing you from contacting me (such as you are in emergency surgery at the due date/time). No make‑ups for in-class assignments. Those students who receive a low peer review score from team members due to complete lack of contribution may also receive no credit for team assignments.
Extra credit assignments are not given. If you are having trouble handling the regular course material, I feel it would be unwise to add to your burden by giving you extra things to do. Just put extra effort into the work you already have to do.
Communication: I expect to use email and the announcement feature on CANVAS as ongoing modes of communication with you. You input your email address when you register on Course Compass. The campus email system uses the email address you list as your preferred email address in the official university records. It is your responsibility to make sure that these email addresses are, indeed, your preferred email address. When you email, please include your course number in the subject line along with a brief indication of the topic of your question. Please use my UVU email address (kcastle@uvu.edu) when contacting me via email about course matters. Occasionally I may reply to you from another address when replying from my phone if that allows me to respond to you more quickly, but you risk a delay in response if you write to my non-UVU email address. Please feel free to email me if you have questions or want to make suggestions about the course. I try to answer all queries within one working day.
Also, please make use of my office hours. These are hours in which students come first and those students who email and schedule time are given first priority. Although I am sometimes available during working hours, if you want to meet with me during times other than my office hours, it is best to email and schedule ahead of time because I may have other commitments (other classes, meetings, or necessary university duties).
Preventing Sexual Harassment: Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the UVU Human Resources.
Students with Disabilities: UVU is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere, which reasonably accommodates qualified person with disabilities. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the students with Special Need Counselor. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact Human Resource Services.
Course Summary:
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