1 PJM 5900 Foundations of Project Management (Virtual classroom) Winter 2016 CPS Quarter, 12-week term (crn 20523 Section 5) January 11, 2016 April 2, 2016 Contact Information Instructor: Cathy Walton MBA, PMP, CSM, CSSGB E-mail: cawblktrk@northeastern.edu Office Hours: I am available via Blackboard IM or email most weekday evenings and some weekends. I welcome you to email me to set up meeting times as needed. In your email please propose dates and times for a meeting so that we can chose a mutually convenient time. Please be sure to download Blackboard IM so that we can use the share/collaborate feature. You can access this course at http://nuonline.neu.edu and clicking the course link under the My Courses tab. Note: Courses you are enrolled in will not show up in CPS Blackboard until the start date of the term. For computer access, the NEU library can be used 7 days a week: http://www.lib.neu.edu/ Please Note: This syllabus is not a static document. It may be updated and modified slightly before and during the course. You must follow the Blackboard version throughout the semester as assignments, requirements, and information may be updated. The Course Materials section of the course website will be your primary information source. Required Textbook(s)/Materials 1. Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide, 5 th Edition Publisher: Project Management Institute; 5 edition (January 1, 2013) ISBN: 978-1935589679 Software & Related Equipment Blackboard Collaborate this free software allows us to have text chats, audio chats (if you have a headset), share a whiteboard and most importantly, share our screens so I can offer you help with your assignments. You can download this free from the Course Tools link on the left column at our Blackboard course site. Adobe Reader 9.3 or higher this free software is required to listen to the multimedia lectures. You can download it at www.adobe.com. You will also need speakers attached to your computer or headphones to hear the audio portion. Course Prerequisites None, this course acts as a prerequisite for all of the other project management courses. Course Description This course is strongly recommended for those students with little or no professional experience leading project tasks. You will have the opportunity to examine the differences between general management and project management. The 1
2 course provides a structured approach to managing any size project through a complete project life cycle. It also includes an introduction to MSProject, the most utilized project management software tool. You will complete hands-on exercises to apply the concepts through every phase of the project life cycle. Learning Outcomes This course is intended to prepare you for the Project Management Graduate Certificate Program. During the course, students will have the opportunity to: Distinguish between general management and project management Describe the relationship between project, program and portfolio management Use the process charts and framework within the PMBOK for guidance and to gain knowledge of project management Use a sample project to manage a project through the five process groups and lifecycle phases of a project, including: a. Create project objectives and identify stakeholders b. Demonstrate integration of all aspects of project planning; scope, WBS (work breakdown structure) creation, scheduling, cost and resource planning c. Learn and apply the knowledge areas to create project management assets and approaches d. Ensure closing processes are followed Course Methodology You will listen to lectures, read the textbook, and complete multiple assignments to apply what you ve learned. Each week, you will be expected to: 1. Review the week's learning objectives 2. Listen to and view all lectures and demonstrations for that week 3. Complete all assigned readings 4. Participate in the Discussion Board 5. Complete a weekly assignment 6. Complete a final exam (Boston time is the standard for all due dates/ times) 2
3 Class Schedule / Topical Outline Week Dates Topic Assignment 1 1/11-1/17 Introduction to Project Management 2 1/18-1/24 Project Lifecycle & Process Group Part 1 3 1/25-1/31 Project Lifecycle & Process Group Part 2 4 2/1-2/7 Knowledge Areas: Project Integration Management & Scope Management 5 2/8-2/14 Knowledge Areas: Stakeholder Management 6 2/15-2/21 Knowledge Area: Communications Management a. Academic Honesty Contract b. Week 1 Assignment - Project Document Project Introduction c. Reading - PMBOK @ Annex A1 through A1.3 d. Week 1 Primary Discussion a. Week 2 Assignment - Project Document Business Case b. Reading - PMBOK @ A1.4 & A1.5 c. Week 1 Secondary Discussion a. Week 3 Assignment Project Document - Process Group & Deliverables b. Reading -PMBOK @ A1.6 A1. 8 c. Week 3 Primary Discussion a. Week 4 Assignment Project Document Scope & WBS b. Reading - PMBOK @ Sections 5.3 & 5.4 c. WBS Project Document - include in Appendix d. Week 3 Secondary Discussion a. Week 5 Assignment Project Document Stakeholder Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 13 c. Week 5 Primary Discussion a. Week 6 Assignment Project Document Communication Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 10 c. Week 5 Secondary Discussion a. Week 7 Assignment Project Document Time and Cost Management 7 2/22-2/28 Knowledge Area: Time and Cost Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 6 -Figure 6-2 Scheduling Overview; Sections 6.1, 6.2.2; 6.3.2; 6.3.3; 6.5.2; 6.6.2; 6.6.3 Chapter 7 - Sections 7.2.2; 7.3.1; 7.3.2; 7.4.2 c. WBS with Tasks Project Document - include in Appendix d. Week 7 Primary Discussion 3
4 Week Dates Topic Assignment a. Week 8 Assignment Project Document Risk Management 8 2/29-3/6 Knowledge Areas: Risk Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 11 - Introduction - 11.3 and section 11.5 c. Week 7 Secondary Discussion a. Week 9 Assignment Project 9 3/7-3/13 Knowledge Area: Quality Management Document Quality Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 8 10 11 3/14-3/20 3/21-3/27 12 3/28-4/2 Introduction to MsProject Winter Break 11/13-11/29 Knowledge Area: Human Resource & Procurement Management Introduction to Project, Program, & Portfolio Management c. Week 9 Primary Discussion a. Week 10 Assignment Project Document Human Resource & Procurement Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ Chapter 9.1.2 & 9.2-9.4 and Chapter 12 c. Week 9 Secondary Discussion a. Week 11 Assignment Project, Program, & Portfolio Management b. Reading - PMBOK @ - Section 1.4 & two internet references found in the reading folder in the Week 11 course material c. Week 11 Primary Discussion a. Final Exam b. No Readings This Week c. Week 11 Secondary Discussion 4
5 Grading/Evaluation Standards Student participation is required in all aspects of the course. Participation in discussions is defined very clearly as contributing throughout the weeks to all of the discussions as noted. Minimal preparation is reading the material, and being able to summarize what it is about, what the issue is, and what you would recommend. Superior preparation involves being able to (i) summarize the situation/problem presented by the case; (ii) recommend a solution to the discussed problem; (iii) support your recommendation with relevant details and analyses; (iv) back up your sources with correctly formatted references; and (v) discuss innovative solutions, or why obvious solutions might be discounted. Students are expected to critically interpret the text, challenge assumptions, and use data from several sources (beyond the text), and to make their case and support their arguments. The course will require a substantial time commitment over twelve weeks. The course work as noted in the above schedule will be weighted as follows: Grading Rubric Letter Grade % score Assignment Score End of Term Week The instructor reserves the right to scale grades as needed. Running Points Per Week A 94-100 188-200 1 15 A- 90-93 180-187 2 25 B+ 87-89 174-179 3 40 B 84-86 168-173 4 50 B- 80-83 160-167 5 65 C+ 76-79 152-159 6 75 C 73-75 146-151 7 90 C- 70-72 140-145 8 100 F 0-69 0-139 9 115 10 125 11 140 12 200 5
6 Discussion Board /Standards Each two week period there is an assigned discussion topic. Students are expected to research the topic and contribute comments in the discussion forums. You are expected to post your primary response no later than Friday of the first week. Your must post at least two secondary posts by Wednesday of the second week. You will want to add to your classmates ideas and provide your own insight on the topics and approaches they take. Multiple good quality posts, beyond the above mentioned are allowed and factored into the grading. Late posts receive no points. There is no make- up or late extension allowed- please get these done on time. In drafting your responses, please keep the following guidelines in mind: Be timely in responses Be brief and to the point. Use section headers/bullets to denote sub-areas Make sure the answer adds substantially to the discussion Be collaborative, not combative Be positive in approaching the subject matter. Avoid the following responses: Simple I agree or Good point statements alone Overly long threads; keep in mind everyone is busy! Anything that could be interpreted as offensive by a fellow classmate Avoid off-color humor and language; at all times maintain courtesy and respect towards the other members of the class. How do you get other students to interact with your posts? By posting to theirs! Post early, post often. You may score a total of 5 points for the DB each week. Here is the basis for your grade: Primary response not in time (- 2.5 pts.) Secondary responses not in time (-2.5 pts.) Assuming all posts are on time then points are awarded as follows: Primary Post (There must be at least one primary post) Total possible score = 2.5 pts Response directly relates to the question and is well formed; e.g., bullets or headings are used if needed to make the content more understandable & accessible (1 pt.) Response is thorough gives specifics or details fully answers the question, uses research, data, historical information, aligns thought with textbook (1 pt.) Response contains no inaccuracies (.5 pt.) This refers only to information that has been covered in the course Secondary Post (There must be at least two secondary posts) Total possible score = 2.5 pts Secondary posts on multiple dates (.5 pt.) i.e., at least two secondary posts are completed on a different dates than previous posts Responses do not need to be as thorough as a primary post, but responses that do no more than agree with the original post or restate it in different terms will not count there must be a new idea with some specifics and/or examples: Secondary post response: Adds to Classmates ideas (1 pt.) Offers additional options and feedback (1 pt.) 6
7 Writing Quality Standards (All written assignments) Scoring Level High level of Proficiency Grammar, Mechanics, Usage While there may be minor errors, the paper follows normal conventions of spelling and grammar throughout and has been carefully proofread. Appropriate conventions for style and format are used consistently throughout the written assignment. Clarity and Coherence Sentences are structured and words are chosen to communicate ideas clearly. Sequencing of ideas within paragraphs and transitions between paragraphs make the writer s points easy to follow. Moderate Proficiency Half to full grade level Reduction (5-10%) Minimal Proficiency - greater than one grade level reduction (10% or more) Frequent errors in spelling, grammar (such as subject/verb agreements and tense), sentence structure and/or other writing conventions distract the reader, but the reader is able to completely understand what the writer meant. Writing does not consistently follow appropriate style and/or format. Writing contains numerous errors in spelling, grammar, and/or sentence structure which interfere with comprehension. The reader is unable to understand some of the intended meaning. Style and/or format are inappropriate for the assignment. Sentence structure and/or word choice sometimes interfere with clarity. Needs to improve sequencing of ideas within paragraphs and transitions between paragraphs to make the writing easy to follow. Sentence structure, word choice, lack of transitions and/or sequencing of ideas make reading and understanding difficult. If you need help to improve your written communication, the following free resources are available: Smarthinking (available free in Tool section of Blackboard) this allows students to submit personal written material in any subject and have it reviewed by an e-instructor within a 24-hour window (in most cases). The Purdue Online Writing Lab (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/) provides free writing resources with help in grammar, sentence structure and general writing skills 7
8 Communication Communications is important to your success, please refer to these guidelines: 1. Post comments related to class work in the Ask the Professor section of discussion board. It is best to subscribe to Ask the Professor so that you can see what your classmates are asking and see the responses from me and your fellow classmates. 2. Post general, non-assignment questions in the Student Networking area of the discussion board. Anyone can respond. 3. For extensions, issues or questions, feel free to email me at c.walton@neu.edu. 4. Be sure to check your NEU email or set up your NEU email to go to your personal devices. Announcements will be made on a regular basis. Submission of Work All course work must be submitted through the Blackboard system- I do not accept assignments via e-mail (per NEU policy) To submit assignments: 1. In the Assignments folder, click on the View/Complete Assignment link to view each assignment. 2. Attach your completed assignments and click on Submit. 3. Once your assignment has been graded, you will be able to view the grade and feedback I have provided by clicking on Tools, View Grades from the NEU Online Campus tab. Late Submission of Work Each assignment is due on the date/time indicated - late assignments will be penalized 10% per day. You must notify me and obtain my acceptance if you are unable to complete an assignment by the submission deadline. Special permission must be requested by e-mailing me 24 hours prior to the due date of the assignment. In the e-mail include the date and time when you plan to submit. There are no late submissions granted for the discussion board. The system time stamp will serve as the submission time. It is suggested to plan to submit early. Internet access, systems, travel or work issues are not excused personal emergencies. No late extensions are permitted the last week of class. Exams Two exams will be administered on the concepts covered in the textbook and the course. Reading the books, listening to the lectures and completing the assignments will provide the knowledge necessary for a high score. On average, it takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete the exam. Once you begin, you have two hours in which to complete and submit it, so relax and take your time. Your score on the exam will account for one third of your grade. Academic Honesty and Integrity Statement The University views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators. Here are some examples of academic dishonesty. While this is not an all-inclusive list, we hope this will help you to understand some of the things instructors look for. The following is excerpted from the University s policy on academic honesty and integrity; the complete policy is available at http://www.northeastern.edu/osccr/academichonesty.html Cheating intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in an academic exercise. This may include use of unauthorized aids (notes, texts) or copying from another student s exam, paper, computer disk, etc. Fabrication intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any data, or citation in an academic exercise. Examples may include making up data for a research paper, altering the results of a lab experiment or survey, listing a citation for a source not used, or stating an opinion as a scientifically proven fact. Plagiarism intentionally representing the words or ideas of another as one s own in any academic exercise without providing proper documentation by source by way of a footnote, endnote or inter-textual note. Unauthorized collaboration Students, each claiming sole authorship, submit separate reports, which are substantially similar to one another. While several students may have the same source material, the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the data must be each individual s. 8
9 Participation in academically dishonest activities Examples include stealing an exam, using a prewritten paper through mail order or other services, selling, loaning or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of heating, plagiarism, or other academically dishonest acts; alternation, theft, forgery, or destruction of the academic work of others. Facilitating academic dishonesty Examples may include inaccurately listing someone as co-author of paper who did not contribute, sharing a take home exam, taking an exam or writing a paper for another student. You are required to submit your agreement to the Academic Honesty Contract in Assignment 1A during the first week of the class letting me know that you agree with the above statements on academic honesty and intend to comply. If you do not intend to comply, you may be asked to withdraw from this program. 24/7 NU Online Technical Support Get immediate 24/7 technical support for NU Online by calling 855-836-3520 or email NUOnline@neu.edu. For answers to common questions you may also visit the NU Online support portal at: http://smartipantz.perceptis.com/neu/content/default.aspx MyNEU Technical Support Please contact the University help desk by calling 617-373-HELP (4357) or email help@neu.edu 9