Syllabus

ISMN 5370/6370/6376: Information Technology Project Management

Summer 2011

Instructor Information

Professor: Terry A. Byrd, PhD

Office: 416 Lowder Business Building

Auburn University, Alabama 36849

Phone: (334) 844-6543

E-mail: byrdter@auburn.edu

Office Hours: Monday / Wednesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Pre-requisite: None

Course Material

Schwalbe, Kathy, Information Technology Project Management, 6th Edition, Course Technology, ISBN-13 : 978-0324786927.

Course Description

The past several decades have been marked by rapid growth in the use of project management as a means by which organizations achieve their objectives. Project management provides an organization with powerful tools that improves its ability to plan, implement and control its activities as well as the ways in which it utilizes people and resources. The focus of this course is on information technology (IT) projects. IT projects are among the most popular types of projects in organizations today since IT is an integral part of almost every business process in small and large organizations.

Project management has emerged because our society has demanded the development of new methods of management. Of the many forces involved, three are paramount: (1) the exponential expansion of human knowledge; (2) the growing demand for a broad range of complex, sophisticated, and customized goods and services; and (3) the evolution of worldwide competitive markets for the production and consumption of goods and services. All three forces combine to mandate the use of teams to solve the difficult, emerging problems that have resulted from these forces. These three forces combine to increase greatly the complexity of goods and services produced plus the complexity of the processes used to produce them.

This is a survey course that attempts to examine a broad range of topic areas that are relevant to project management. The objectives of this course are to (1) understand project management and its applications; (2) demonstrate knowledge of project management terms and techniques; and (3) apply project management concepts by reviewing and discussing well-known cases in IT.

Course Objectives:

Students will become familiar with the essential tools and techniques of IT project management as well as ways of dealing with the "people" issues that must be addressed in order to make the tools and techniques most effective. <O:P>

</O:P>Course Grade Components:

For on-campus students, I expect each student to read the material before class and be ready to discuss this material in class. This is an imperative. We will discuss the material together and not use a “lecture” for class. Your participation is crucial to having a good in-class experience. I expect every student to attend all classes and participate.

Exam 1: 25%
Exam 2: 25%

Exam 3: 25%

Project: 25%

Grading Scale:

A >= 90%
 B >= 80%
 C >= 70%
 D >= 60%
 F < 60%

Exams:

Exams will cover material in the readings as well as class discussions. The only excused reasons for missing an exam are those listed in the Tiger Cub as official University excuses. If you are unable to take an exam at the scheduled time, you must inform me within 5 days of the exam. Only students who have informed me within 5 days of the exam and who have an official University excuse will be allowed to take a makeup exam, except, of course, in medical emergencies. Otherwise, a grade of zero will be entered for the exam.

Tentative Schedule:

(Additional readings may be assigned as course dictates)

June 27: Syllabus and Discuss Class

June 28: Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Project Management

Chapter Objectives

Understand the growing need for better project management, especially for information technology projects
Explain what a project is, provide examples of information technology projects, list various attributes of projects, and describe the triple constraint of project management
Describe project management and discuss key elements of the project management framework, including project stakeholders, the project management knowledge areas, common tools and techniques, and project success
Discuss the relationship between project, program, and portfolio management and the contributions they each make to enterprise success
Understand the role of the project manager by describing what project managers do, what skills they need, and what the career field is like for information technology project managers
Describe the project management profession, including its history, the role of professional organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI), the importance of certification and ethics, and the advancement of project management software

June 29, 30: Chapter 2 Project Management and Information Technology Context

Chapter Objectives

Describe the systems view of project management and how it applies to information technology projects
Understand organizations, including the four frames, organizational structures, and organizational culture
Explain why stakeholder management and top management commitment are critical for a project’s success
Understand the concept of a project phase and the project life cycle and distinguish between project development and product development
Discuss the unique attributes and diverse nature of information technology projects
Describe recent trends affecting IT project management, including globalization, outsourcing, and virtual teams

July 1: Chapter 3 Project Management Process Groups

Chapter Objectives

Describe the five project management process groups, the typical level of activity for each, and the interactions among them
Understand how the project management process groups relate to the project management knowledge areas
Discuss how organizations develop information technology project management methodologies to meet their needs
Review a case study of an organization applying the project management process groups to manage an information technology project, describe outputs of each process group, and understand the contribution that effective project initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing make to project success

July 5: Chapter 4 Project Integration Management

Chapter Objectives

Describe an overall framework for project integration management as it relates to the other project management knowledge areas and the project life cycle
Explain the strategic planning process and apply different project selection methods
Explain the importance of creating a project charter to formally initiate projects
Describe project management plan development, understand the content of these plans, and review approaches for creating them
Explain project execution, its relationship to project planning, the factors related to successful results, and tools and techniques to assist in project execution
Describe the process of monitoring and controlling project work
Understand the integrated change control process, planning for and managing changes on information technology projects, and developing and using a change control system
Explain the importance of developing and following good procedures for closing projects
Describe how software can assist in project integration management

July 6: Catch-Up & Review

July 7: Exam I

July 8, 11: Chapter 5 Project Scope Management

Chapter Objectives

Understand the importance of good project scope management
Discuss methods for collecting and documenting requirements in order to meet stakeholder needs and expectations
Explain the scope definition process and describe the contents of a project scope statement
Discuss the process for creating a work breakdown structure using the analogy, top-down, bottom-up, and mind-mapping approaches
Explain the importance of verifying scope and how it relates to defining and controlling scope
Understand the importance of controlling scope and approaches for preventing scope-related problems on information technology projects
Describe how software can assist in project scope management

July 12, 13: Chapter 6 Project Time Management

Chapter Objectives

Understand the importance of project schedules and good project time management
Define activities as the basis for developing project schedules
Describe how project managers use network diagrams and dependencies to assist in activity sequencing
Understand the relationship between estimating resources and project schedules
Explain how various tools and techniques help project managers perform activity duration estimating
Use a Gantt chart for planning and tracking schedule information, find the critical path for a project, and describe how critical chain scheduling and the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) affect schedule development
Discuss how reality checks and discipline are involved in controlling and managing changes to the project schedule
Describe how project management software can assist in project time management and review words of caution before using this software

July 14: Chapter 7 Project Cost Management

Chapter Objectives

· Understand the importance of project cost management

· Explain basic project cost management principles, concepts, and terms

· Discuss different types of cost estimates and methods for preparing them

· Understand the processes involved in cost budgeting and preparing a cost estimate and budget for an information technology project

· Understand the benefits of earned value management and project portfolio management to assist in cost control

· Describe how project management software can assist in project cost management

July 15, 18 Chapter 8 Project Quality Management

Chapter Objectives

· Understand the importance of project quality management for information technology products and services

· Define project quality management and understand how quality relates to various aspects of information technology projects

· Describe quality planning and its relationship to project scope management

· Discuss the importance of quality assurance

· Explain the main outputs of the quality control process

· Understand the tools and techniques for quality control, such as the Seven Basic Tools of Quality, statistical sampling, Six Sigma, and testing

· Summarize the contributions of noteworthy quality experts to modern quality management

· Describe how leadership, the cost of quality, organizational influences, expectations, cultural differences, standards, and maturity models relate to improving quality in information technology projects

· Discuss how software can assist in project quality management

July 19: Catch-up and Review

July 20: Exam 2

July 21: Chapter 9 Project Human Resource Management

Chapter Objectives

Explain the importance of good human resource management in projects, including the current state and future implications of the global IT workforce
Define project human resource management and understand its processes
Summarize key concepts for managing people by understanding the theories of Abraham Maslow, Frederick Herzberg, David McClelland, and Douglas McGregor on motivation, H. J. Thamhain and D. L. Wilemon on influencing workers, and Stephen Covey on how people and teams can become more effective
Discuss human resource planning and be able to create a human resource plan, project organizational chart, responsibility assignment matrix, and resource histogram
Understand important issues involved in project staff acquisition and explain the concepts of resource assignments, resource loading, and resource leveling
Assist in team development with training, team-building activities, and reward systems
Explain and apply several tools and techniques to help manage a project team and summarize general advice on managing teams
Describe how project management software can assist in project human resource management

July 22: Chapter 10 Project Communications Management

Chapter Objectives

Understand the importance of good communications on projects.
Discuss the process of identifying stakeholders and how to create a stakeholder register and stakeholder management strategy
Explain the elements of project communications planning and how to create a communications management plan
Describe various methods for distributing project information and the advantages and disadvantages of each, discuss the importance of addressing individual communication needs, and calculate the number of communications channels in a project
Recognize the importance of managing stakeholder expectations
Understand how reporting performance helps stakeholders stay informed about project progress
List various methods for improving project communications, such as managing conflicts, running effective meetings, using e-mail and other technologies effectively, and using templates
Describe how software can enhance project communications management

July 25, 26: Chapter 11 Project Risk Management

Chapter Objectives

· Understand what risk is and the importance of good project risk management

· Discuss the elements involved in risk management planning and the contents of a risk management plan

· List common sources of risks in information technology projects

· Describe the process of identifying risks and be able to create a risk register

· Discuss the qualitative risk analysis process and explain how to calculate risk factors, create probability/impact matrixes, and apply the Top Ten Risk Item Tracking technique to rank risks

· Explain the quantitative risk analysis process and how to apply decision trees, simulation, and sensitivity analysis to quantify risks

· Provide examples of using different risk response planning strategies to address both negative and positive risks

· Discuss what is involved in monitoring and controlling risks

· Describe how software can assist in project risk management

July 27: Chapter 12 Project Procurement Mangement

Chapter Objectives

· Understand the importance of project procurement management and the increasing use of outsourcing for information technology projects.

Describe the work involved in planning procurements for projects, including determining the proper type of contract to use and preparing a procurement management plan, statement of work, source selection criteria, and make-or-buy analysis
Discuss what is involved in conducting procurements and strategies for obtaining seller responses, selecting sellers, and awarding contracts
Understand the process of administering procurements by managing procurement relationships and monitoring contract performance
Describe the process of closing procurements

· Discuss types of software available to assist in project procurement management.

July 28: Catch-up and Review

July 29: Exam 3

August 1: Project Due

Communication:

I will communicate primarily through class lectures and discussion, however, I will use the class roll e-mail function in AU Study as a communication supplement. This means that you should regularly check your university email account. Or, you should contact the Office of Information Technology Help Desk (26 L Building; helpdesk@auburn.edu; 844-4944) to get your mail forwarded to whatever account you regularly use. I may send changes in homework assignments, tips, corrections, etc. to the entire class. You are responsible for checking your mail frequently. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail if you have questions, suggestions or problems. Grades will be posted on my web page, as well as class notes and assignments.

Course Policies:

· No computers are allowed to be turned on during class time.

· Turn off all wireless communications devices in class. Do not make or receive calls during class. Further, making or receiving calls during an exam will be viewed as an Academic Honesty violation.

· No extra credit will be assigned at the end of the semester.

· I can only change grades after the semester if I have made an error. Therefore, feel free to contact me if you think there has been an error.

· If youIIf you come to class, do not leave early. It is rude. It is also distracting to me and a good number of your classmates. If you have a medical appointment or similar situation, please let me know you have to leave early before class.

· Take responsibility for your TTake responsibility for your actions (or inactions). Do not blame me at the end of the semester that you did not learn anything. It is my responsibility to teach and direct and your responsibility to learn. You have many opportunities to participate in the class in many different ways. Always do the maximum work for any assignment that you have for the class, not just the minimum to get a grade. That is the way you learn. You must be active and participate in your own learning.

Academic Honesty: <O:P></O:P>

All violations or alleged violations of the Student Academic Honesty Code (see SGA Code of Laws in the Tiger Cub) will be reported to the Office for the Vice President for Academic Affairs. <O:P></O:P>

Students with Disabilities:

<O:P> </O:P>

Students who need special accommodations should make an appointment as soon as possible with Dr. Clark to discuss their Accommodation Memo. It is essential for faculty members be aware of necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course. If you do not have an Accommodation Memo but need special accommodations, contact the Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, 334-844-2096 (Voice T/O).