PJM380: Project Management Tools
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
This course will introduce you to the use of project management tools and software to plan, design, and
facilitate effective organizing, execution, monitoring, and controlling of projects. While you could use a variety
of software packages or combination of software, if you decide to work in the project management field you’ll
find that every major firm has its own home grown solution. The focus in this class will be on Microsoft Project.
Case studies are used throughout this course because the goal is to give you as much of a real-world feel as is
possible. In addition to learning best practices in project management, you will have the option to use either
Microsoft Project or a combination of other MS Office tools to complete numerous assignments, culminating in
the final portfolio project. Upon completion of this course, you should be able to plan and manage a project
using appropriate software applications.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Produce a project plan using a project management software package.
2. Demonstrate the ability to organize a project using a program management software package.
3. Explain how to monitor a project using a project management software package.
4. Describe how to control a project using a project management software package.
5. Define how to analyze a project using a project management software package.
6. Develop a level one, two, and three schedule for the project plan.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Pinto, J. K. (2012). Project management: Achieving the competitive advantage (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall. ISBN:13: 9780132664158
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
• Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
• Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
• Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week #
Readings
Assignments
1
• Chapter 1 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
•
HP Case Study
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
2
• Chapter 2 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
• Critical Thinking (60 points)
3
• Chapter 9 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
4
• Chapter 10 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (20 points)
• Critical Thinking (60 points)
5
• Chapter 7 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
• Critical Thinking (85 points)
6
• Chapter 5 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
• Critical Thinking (85 points)
7
• Chapter 11 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (10 points)
8
• Chapter 13 in Project Management: Achieving the
Competitive Advantage
• Discussion (25 points)
• Mastery (20 points)
• Portfolio (350 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking: Panama Canal Expansion Program—Case Study (60 Points)
Read the Risk Planning and Management for the Panama Canal Expansion Program (Alcaron, Ashley, Hanity, Molenaar & Ungo, 2011) article (linked on the Week 2 Assignments page) and provide a two- to three-page article critique. In your writing:
• Analyze key concepts, ideas, and perspectives that appear in course readings. How are these relevant to your work? How will they impact your work as a PM?
• Make specific connections between course reading(s) and your personal/business experiences. How can this be applied in the workplace?
• Pose questions and identify concerns that will help you develop a deeper understanding of ideas embedded in the readings. For example, what strategies were overlooked, missing, incomplete or underdeveloped? How could the readings improve?
•
Include page references. CSU-Global APA guidelines for APA formatting and style are required. Include atitle and a reference page that includes at least two outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking. Additional articles as a reference are located in the files section of the course
.
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Network Diagramming (60 Points)
Network diagramming is a logical, sequential process that requires you to consider the order in which activities should occur to schedule projects as efficiently as possible. All projects have predecessors (activities that must/should occur before the next step within a project plan can take place). Here’s a document that shows you how to create a network diagram using Microsoft Project 2010. In the instructions below you will find directions for completing this assignment with Microsoft Word, in case you don’t have access to Microsoft Project. Listed in the chart below are five major steps needed to build a prefabricated home.
Activity Predecessors
A – Survey Site —
B – Install Sewer and Storm Drainage A
C – Install Gas and Electric Power Lines A
D – Excavate Site for Spec House B, C
E – Pour Foundation D
Chart 3.1 Building a House, Predecessors Your assignment is to:
1. Construct a network diagram for this project using MS Project or MS Word and the data on the chart above.
Your diagram should include two logical sequential paths to completion and all nodes should be labeled. If you are using MS Word, you will need to use a combination of textboxes and arrows to create the network diagram.
2. Create an AON (Arrow on Node) network activity diagram illustrating the project activities with two paths to
complete the project and a defined critical path. Again if you’re using Word you will use textboxes and arrows to create an AON network activity diagram.
3. Explain your rationale for creating each path in the AON network activity diagram by using the notes feature in
MS Project or in MS Word if that’s where you created the diagrams. Your rationale should be at least 100 words and should demonstrate project management best practices (a forward path).
Module 4
Critical Thinking: A Gantt Chart Based Upon Project Variables (60 Points)
You are considering whether or not to crash project activities to expedite your project. You have calculated the costs per activity for both normal and crashed options. Your assignment is two fold: create a Gantt chart based on the data in the table below and answer the questions that follow using the notes feature. Your writing must, as always, reflect CSU-Global APA requirements for style and spelling. Your Gantt chart should include all project activities, duration, and cost variables as well as a project title and date. You will address the questions below using the notes feature in Excel or Project.
This assignment can be completed using either Microsoft Project or Excel. While Project does a lot of these tasks automatically, if you are using Excel you will need to develop the components separately. As such you would need to re-create the table below in Excel, then create a table that highlights the critical path. Afterwards create a table that highlights the critical paths you have prioritized as candidates for crashing and answer the following questions using the notes feature.
Table 4.1
Normal Crashed
Activity Duration Costs Duration Costs
A 6 Days $2,400 4 Days $3,600 B 7 Days $ 3,500 5 Days $5,000 C 5 Days $3,000 4 Days $3,800 D 3 Days $2,700 2 Days $4,500 E 4 Days $800 3 Days $1,500 F 5 Days $1,200 3 Days $2,100 G 8 Days $2,400 5 Days $4,200 H 3 Days $4,500 2 Days $7,000 Total Costs 20,500 31,700
1. Which activities are the most likely candidates for crashing (i.e., which are the most cost-effective to crash) and why?
2. Using the critical path from this activity network, consider A – C – D – F – H as the critical path and assume all other paths are less than fully crashed. Prioritize the candidates for crashing.
3. How does the activity network change the decision rule?
Module 5
Critical Thinking: de Havilland’s Falling Comet—Case Study (85 Points)
Read the de Havilland’s Falling Comet article and provide a two- to three-page article critique. In your article: • Analyze key concepts, ideas, and perspectives that appear in course readings. How are these relevant to your work? How will they impact your work as a PM?
• Make specific connections between course reading(s) and your personal/business experiences. How can this be applied in the workplace?
• Pose questions and identify concerns that will help you develop a deeper understanding of ideas embedded in the readings. Such as, What strategies were overlooked, missing, incomplete or underdeveloped? How could the readings improve?
• Include page references that follow CSU-Global APA and writing guidelines. Include a title and a reference page that includes at least two outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references.
Module 6
Critical Thinking: The Ford Edsel—Case Study(85 Points)
The Ford Edsel is often used as a model for what can go wrong with a project. Read the case study and answer the questions found at the end. Develop a level 1, 2, 3 plan depicting how you would have planned and managed the project. Your plan should be 2-3 pages long in a Word document, include a statement of work (SOW), a
responsibility assignment matrix (RAM), and a work flowchart. Your writing must, as always, reflect CSU-Global APA requirements.
Module 8
Portfolio Project: A Relocation Project: (350 Points)
Your job at Shosheam Logistics located in Denver, Colorado requires you (and family) to move to Thailand in 6-months’ time.
Part 1 – Project Scheduling
1. Using MS Project develop a Gantt chart with the activities necessary to accomplish the move project and order the activities in a precedence (logical sequential) manner. 2. Explain and describe (in writing) the number of tasks/activities you have outlined and the order in which you have placed the tasks/activities for project completion.
If you don’t have access to MS Project, you will need to develop the pieces MS Project does automatically, independently as separate documents in MS Excel.
• Using MS Excel, create a Gantt chart by entering the project dates and events into a table • Next create a bar chart depicting the events based on the Gantt chart that you created.
• For assistance on creating a Gantt chart in excel visit the MS office help files online and search: “Creating a Gant chart in MS Excel.” You may also visit: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/create-a-gantt-chart-in-excel-HA001034605.aspx
Part 2 – Monitor, Organize, Analyze
1. Develop an estimation chart showing each activity, the preceding activity required, and associated costs, with a 3 months, 4.5 months, and 6 months scenario.
2. Compare the costs of crashing the project from a 6-month timeline into a 4.5-month timeline:
a. Explain and defend (in writing) the pros/cons of crashing the project schedule. b. What is the impact on personnel and resources to crashing the project?
c. What are the associated risks of crashing the project and how will you manage the risks? If you don’t have access to MS Project, you will need to develop the pieces MS Project does automatically, independently as separate documents in MS Excel.
• First create a table with the variables in MS Excel. • Next create a table that highlights the critical path.
• Then create a table that highlights the critical path that you feel is the best candidate for crashing and explain why you selected this path.
Part 3 – Project Control and Closeout
1. Explain and defend the processes and procedures you suggest for closing the project. Include the handoffs, benefits, and lag required to begin operation at your new location. 2. Your assessment should be well structured. Make good use of bulleted lists, numbered lists, and tables to further provide structure and clearly communicate information.
The Portfolio Project must be submitted in a single document of 7-10 pages in length, not
including the title and reference pages. The three parts, above, must be included with a detailed
explanation of each required component.
In your submission include at least five outside supportive references, not including the course textbook, course materials, or other information resources provided as part of the course materials. These must be cited and integrated into your paper. These are expected to provide information and support for
assertions made in your writing. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these references. Formatting of your paper must comply with CSU-Global APA guidelines. Thoroughly proofread and grammar-check your final draft. Examine the Portfolio Project grading rubric to guide your project writing and presentation.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
10% Mastery Exercises
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
35% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Project
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
* Students who stop attending class and fail the course for nonparticipation will be issued the “FN” grade. The FN grade may have implications for financial aid and scholarship awards.
** An “I” grade may be assigned at the Instructor’s discretion to students who are in good standing (passing) in the course. Students should have completed a majority of the coursework in order to be eligible for the “I” grade. Students should request an "I" grade from the Instructor with a written justification, which must include explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented timely completion of the coursework. If the request is approved, the Instructor will require a written agreement consisting of a) the specific coursework to be completed, b) the plan to complete the coursework, and c) the deadline for completion. The agreement will be kept on file at CSU-Global Campus. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within the time frame stipulated in the agreement, but no later than the end of the following semester from the date the “I” was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall convert to an F and be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average.
