Course Introduction:
Project Management provides systematic coverage of the principles and techniques involved in managing information technology projects. Project management is presented as a way to combine and focus the efforts of team members from different functional departments, to develop teamwork, and to motivate team members to work together to achieve the specified objectives within the constraints of time, cost, and performance. Practical applications of project planning and control, appropriate to information technology, are emphasized. Also, the use of project management software to support project management activities is introduced.
You will learn how to apply the basic concepts of project management, planning and control, group and interpersonal dynamics, and project management techniques to practical situations. We will examine the use of project management techniques such as PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique), CPM (Critical Path Method) and Gantt charts, along with other techniques of planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. | |
Project Descriptions:
The Course Long Project: CLP = "Clip"
Requirements: Develop a project proposal and top level Microsoft Project Plan.
The purpose of the project assignment is to give students the opportunity to apply many of the project-planning techniques to a practical project of importance to them. They may choose a potential project from their work; from an area of personal interest, such as setting up a network or developing a small business; or from an area they wish to examine in detail.
The CLP is divided into five units, each with a different due date spread throughout the term. Please submit each CLP on or before the due date.
Students will complete each section separately and submit it separately (as a Microsoft Word attachment) to their Assignment Folder on or before the due date. The due dates for each section of the CLP will be in the Syllabus/Schedule with reminders in each of the Weekly Conference units or in the classroom.
The description of the work to be done will also be explained on this comprehensive syllabus.
Each CLP is 20 points. Five of the 20 points for each CLP (CLPs-1 through CLP-4) are directly related to following instructions and directions, organization, grammar, verb tenses, pronoun use, spelling, punctuation, and writing competency and other requirements such as late submissions.
PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING
REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH CLP:
1. WRITING QUALITY: Grammar, Verb Tenses, Pronoun Use, Spelling, Punctuation, and Writing Competency.
REMEMBER: spell-check, then proof read. Better yet, have a friend or colleague read it before submitting it.
There is not their, your is not you're, its is not it's, too is not to or two, site is not cite, and who should be used after an individual, not that. For example, "the person WHO made the speech" not "the person THAT made the speech."
Also in a professional paper one does not use contractions (doesn't, don't, etc.) and one does not use the personal you or your.
Use the impersonal as in the sentence immediately above. It is more business-professional than saying, "Also in a professional paper you don't use contractions."
2. REFERENCES
Use the APA format for references. Use a Reference List page when using references.
3. WORD PROCESSOR
Use Microsoft Word. If Microsoft Word is not available, Save As a Word document.
Use Page Setup in the Printer to configure the pages for:
1" margins top, bottom, left and right sides
Times New Roman, size 12
Double spacing
In all CLPs use appropriate headings and subheadings. Headings and subheadings should be placed at the left margin.
The first word of each new paragraph should be indented 1" from the margin.
For CLPs that are longer than one page, number each page in the bottom right corner. The cover page should never be numbered.
4. COVER PAGE
Use a cover page for each submission. In the center of the page, in this order, double spaced, put:
Your Name
IFSM 438: Project Management
Title or number of the CLP
Nothing else needs to be added to the cover page. Remember, the cover page is not a separate document, it is the first (unnumbered) page of your CLP and does not count in the number of CLP page requirements.
5. COMMENTS
Learn how to do the right things the right way so that they will become good habits and help in other courses. Moreover, this practice is good business and IT Project Management practice.
Using the CLP system, following the above requirements, and getting frequent feedback will help in this and other courses as well.
CLP-1: Due first class period of Week 2.
In 2003, business and IT professionals and/or project managers are involved with the development and management of a variety of small- and large-scale projects. They are also required to prepare documentation and guidelines associated with these projects. Therefore, you should determine what type of project you will develop for this class. It may be a real personal or professional project (past, present, or future) or it may be a hypothetical project. It does not have to be completed during this course's time-frame. The objective is to learn how to write a basic proposal and prepare a plan while considering such things as human, financial, and material resources.
Some examples include, but are not limited to,
1. Developing and planning a personal project.
2. Designing an inventory database.
3. Proposing a plan for hardware/software upgrades in both large or small organizations.
4. Proposing a migration from Windows 2000 to Windows XP in an office of 25 people.
5. Managing a software development project.
6. Developing a Web site.
7. Designing and planning the restructuring of an organization.
However, as you will quickly discover, I have set content and length limits on all CLPs and have been quite precise regarding my expectations; that is, what I want to see in each CLP. Why? Everyone needs to learn to be precise, direct, and efficient with their proposals. Therefore, it would be a great idea for you to review each CLP in future Weekly units prior to starting CLP-1. I want you to see the direction you will be expected to take for the overall assignment. Please read very carefully the Project Description section in the Syllabus before you start!
Your assignment for CLP-1 is - in no more than two pages of text - a) choose and describe your project and b) explain your reason(s) for selecting this particular project.
Keep in mind that you will be spending the rest of this term working with your selected project topic, so make sure you like your topic. Remember each CLP is independent.
Don't forget a cover page! Also, remember a cover page is not a separate document! It is the first page of your CLP, although it doesn't count in the two page limit!
CLP-2: Due last class period in Week 3.
For CLP-2, you should explain how this project (the outcomes) will benefit the organization; convince your senior management that this project is valuable and feasible.
Limit CLP-2 to two-three pages.
CLP-3: Due the last class period of Week 5.
Your assignment for CLP-3 is to present, discuss, and explain the background and scope of your project. This supports the benefits and feasibility you demonstrated in an earlier CLP.
Limit CLP-3 to three pages.
CLP-4: Due last class period of Week 6.
Your assignment for CLP-4 is to:
1) Present and explain the resources required to implement and complete your project; explain why they are important.
[Resources include financial, human, capital assets, and materials.]
2) Present and explain the project's time schedule; that is, how much time will it take to complete certain major tasks? Why?
Limit CLP-4 to three pages.
CLP-5: Due last class period of Week 7.
Your assignment for CLP-5 is to use Microsoft Project to prepare a high level, project plan to support your project proposal.
Include tasks, time (days) schedule, individuals, costs, and other resources.
Submit the project plan tasks and Gantt charts in MS Project. | |
Search
MyUMUC
WebTycho