MGMT 410: Project Management

Textbook Information

Project Management Achieving Competitive Advantage by Pinto: Pearson, 5th edition.

Published Remarks

None

Hardware Requirements

None

Software Requirements

None

Proctored Exams

Course Description

Project Management has been labeled by Fortune magazine as the number one career choice for the coming decade. Increasingly, organizations are adopting project management techniques and structures within their business framework. Project management offers the twin advantages of allowing organizations to create products and processes efficiently, through optimal use of resources, and rapidly, in order to respond to rapid time-to-market demands. This course would greatly aid business majors, as companies are in great need of a trained cadre of qualified project managers who can allow the business firm to operate to its highest potential. The role of the instructor in this course is to train students in the wide variety of demands and skills for which they must be qualified: the ability to exert leadership in managing project teams, an understanding of people and behavioral skills, and the ability to effectively use computer-based scheduling and tracking software to keep timetables and schedules. The course itself would be set up around semester-long projects, either developed by the instructor, or developed (in collaboration with the instructor) by students involved in business enterprises. As a result, students would have real-time experience in the challenges of creating a unified team, solving problems, tracking their projects, and presenting a final paper and presentation on the process.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for this course are completion of MGMT 301 and SCM 301.

Students who do not meet these prerequisites may be disenrolled according to Administrative Policy C-5. if they do not have the proper prerequisite override. Students who add the course after being disenrolled according to this policy are in violation of Item 15 of the Student Code of Conduct.

Course Objectives

Efficient project management has become an integral part of successful organizations.  The purpose of this course is to increase technical and people skills related to project management within a variety of organizational structures. 

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Describe and apply project management methodology in a business context.
  • Assess the financial viability of a project in terms of project selection and budgeting.
  • Develop team leadership skills essential to successful project management.
  • Analyze the project status in terms of risk and constraints by utilizing appropriate project management tools.

Grading and Course Requirements

Grades will be determined based on the percentage of total points earned in the following areas:
Category Point Value
Exams 200
Project Presentation and Participation 200 (100 Presentation, 100 Participation)
Assignments 100
Total Points 500

 

Exams:

  • Two exams will be given, each worth 100 points.  Concepts and problems will require the same skills that students learn through assigned homework problems, in-class examples/cases, and discussion.    
  • Notification for missing an exam must be given prior to test time.

 Project Presentation and Participation: 

In this course, students will work in teams on real-life projects. A stepwise project where incremental challenges are introduced throughout the semester. You will rotate to lead your teams and present project findings. This experience is intended to provide students with:

    1. A practice of real-life project tasks and activities. 
    2. Recognize leadership qualities and skills, group dynamics, and relationships. 
    3. An examination of PM real-life applications and real project challenges.
    4. A practice of cooperation and collaboration competencies in solving real-life project issues and risks.
    5. A model of real-life project experience.

Teams will present project findings and will be evaluated on presentation and participation.

Assignments:

  • Five 20-point assignments will verify mastery of key PM concepts and tools.

Grading Scale

The following cut-off percentages (of total points possible) will be used to determine letter grades:
Grade Percentage Range
A 93.0%+
A- 90.0 – 92.99%
B+ 87.0 – 89.99%
B 83.0 – 86.99%
B- 80.0 – 82.99%
C+ 77.0 – 79.99%
C  70.0 – 76.99%
D 60.0 – 69.99%

The letter grades and percentages given are firm.  No extra credit is available unless it can be offered to everyone.

 Keys to success in MGMT 410

  • Read assigned material and attempt assigned problems.
  • Participate in team discussions and presentations.
  • Participate in team discussions to enhance understanding of PM decisions and skills.