BA 462

PROJECT MANAGEMENT – Concepts, Techniques, Practice

Winter 2007

Instructor: Jim Moran Bexell 334 moranj@bus.orst.edu 737-8871

Office Hours: Monday 10-11am Tuesday 2-3pm Wednesday 11-12am & by appointment

Course Description

Welcome! This course focuses on a holistic approach to project management. The content deals with planning, scheduling, organizing, and managing projects - e.g., product development, construction, information systems, new business, and special events. The course includes major topics such as Strategy, Priorities, Organization, Project Tools, and Leadership. Primary class emphasis is on the project management process and tools. Project management is becoming increasingly more important in today’s world. Mastery of key tools and concepts could give you significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Course Objectives

A. To provide experience in using the concepts, techniques, and decision tools available to project managers.

B. To enlarge the student's basic understanding of the importance of work breakdown structures and networks to planning, scheduling, and controlling projects.

C. To create an awareness of potential conflicts and problems that can occur on projects.

D. To identify appropriate behavior for successfully managing a project.

E. To provide the student with a framework for a complete computer-based information system for managing projects.

F. To prepare the student to effectively participate as a project team member.

Learning Resources

READINGS: The main text for this class: Project Management: The Managerial Process 3^rd Edition by Cliff Gray and Erik Larson (Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2006).

COURSE MATERIALS: Located in the Blackboard Learning System è http://my.oregonstate.edu

SOFTWARE: The “official” software for the class will be Microsoft Project 2003 for Windows which is available on the COB Computer Lab PC’s; or a copy for your PC which is on the textbook CD or at the MSDNAA website:

http://MSDN05.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Home.aspx?campus=ORSU_BUS

· Assignments, hand-ins, slides, handouts, etc., are available in http://my.oregonstate.edu
Be sure to bring hard copies of the Chapter Slides & Handouts to class.

· Review of training videos (developed by Dr. Erik Larson) on MSProject and other topics are highly recommended and are available in the textbook CD and at è http://faculty.bus.oregonstate.edu/larson/facultypage/project02/index.htm

It is imperative that you bring the text and handouts to class!!!!

Grading

APPROXIMATE Distribution of Points for Final Grade & Grade Breakdown:

200--Examination I & II (100 each) 50--TP#1&#2 + Case Studies (25+25) 125--Term Paper (25 + 100) 10--Quiz 15--Miscellaneous 400--Total

A B C D F

92% 82 70 60 <60

Exams, Schedules, & Attendance

· No communication devices of any type are allowed in the classroom during exams/quizzes.

· No make-up exams or quizzes will be given. Students will receive zero points unless: there are extreme circumstances; the instructor is notified in advance; and an acceptable written excuse or official verification is presented prior to rescheduling.

· Regular class attendance is strongly encouraged. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to pick up missed handouts, etc. I strongly suggest you team-up with another student to cover for you in the event you do miss a class.

· All work which is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of this course must be solely completed by the student submitting the work. Violations of this requirement will be formally addressed and students will receive no credit for the assignment. This does not preclude the opportunity for students to “work together” before submitting the assignment.

Important Matters

· Students with Disabilities
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.

· Student Conduct
Be sure to review the university policy academic issues and student conduct è http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm

Major Course Requirements
A. PROJECT: TERM PAPER (TP) – See separate handout “Term Paper Guidelines”

B. EXERCISES & REQUIRED TERM PAPER HAND-INs

There are four term paper hand-ins and four exercises. The four term paper hand-ins are required and will be graded. The exercises are highly recommended but not required hand-ins. If you do submit the exercises on the due date, I will give you written feedback. All four of these exercises provide information and MSProject tasks which are critical to your success on the term paper. It is highly recommended that you do all four exercises.

· Use Microsoft Project 2003.

· Submit as a formal memo to the instructor and in the proper format (stapling, landscape/portrait, etc.). The details are in the instruction sheet for each assignment.

The Term Paper exercise requires four hand-ins, including a mid-term report and a final report (which is the final exam).

4 – Term Paper Hand-Ins (TP #1, TP #2 plus the Midterm and Final reports)

4 – Exercises (not a required hand-in)

2 – Examinations

C. CLASS PARTICIPATION

Students are expected to come prepared to discuss the material assigned for that date and take an active role in class activities. During several classes, you are asked to participate in the review of specific case studies. Be prepared to contribute to class discussion. During most lectures, several students will be asked to make a brief presentation on case study questions or exercises. The presentation is required and is graded.

All are expected to contribute significantly to all class discussions. The following describes my expectations of your class participation (which is critical to the success of the class). You are expected to participate in class, like a member participates within a project team. (Note: Responding to questions from the instructor is not considered adequate “class participation”; nor is just class attendance, although attendance is necessary.):

· Excellent: Regularly asks good questions, makes valuable observations, and answers questions effectively on an ongoing basis.

· Acceptable: A frequent participant, but all questions, answers, or observations are not always effective, or not on an ongoing basis.

· Not Acceptable: Only participates infrequently or very rarely, or questions/answers do not reflect adequate preparation

Note: If you have not had your COB picture taken or if it is “out-dated”, be sure to have it taken by the COB electronic photo staff, before the second class of the term. They are located in the COB Computer Lab, basement of Bexell Hall.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This syllabus is a guide, not a contract, and therefore may be changed as necessary. If changes are made, I will announce and discuss them in class.

For Additional Course Materials, login to the Blackboard Learning System èhttp://my.oregonstate.edu/