MGMT 409 - Penn State Erie

Penn State – Erie
Sam and Irene Black School of Business
MGMT 409 Sec. 001 Spring 2012
Instructor: Eric C. Jackson
Office: 275 Burke
Telephone: 898-6552
E-mail: ecj10@psu.edu
CMS: ANGEL
Office Hours: Tues, Thurs 3:45-6:00, or by Apt. Walk-ins welcome
Class time: Sec 001 2:30-3:45 Burke 105
Class Materials
Text: Project Management Achieving Competitive Advantage 2 nd Ed. by Jeffrey K. Pinto, Pearson Prentice Hall
SimProject by Jeffrey K. Pinto and Diane H. Parente Sim Professionals
Course Objectives
Mgnt 409 is designed to help Engineering students understand some of the greatest challenges that
organizations face today – the effective and efficient methods for implementing projects in organizations. Project
management, referred to by Fortune magazine as the #1 career choice of the coming decade, represents a skill that is
in high demand by all companies both domestic and international. This course will provide a comprehensive
overview of the skills needed and challenges to be faced in managing projects in organizations. One of these skills is
working effectively in teams. You will be assigned to a team for the simulation and the course project.
The course is divided into a series of major topic areas relating to different elements of project management.
After developing a sense of the strategic overview of project management, we will begin analyzing various
components of project management such as project selection, planning, organizing, and project control. The goal
is to shape the course to approximate the elements of project management and the challenges faced
chronologically: that is, first considering how to plan the project and then how to more effectively run the project.
The remainder of the course concentrates on making use of the theories by developing analytical and
interpersonal skills in the students that will be useful to them as project managers. Upon completion of this
course, you will be able to:
Understand the various aspects of effective project planning;
Schedule activities and develop the project’s critical path;
Monitor and evaluate project performance;
Recognize project critical success factors;
Apply basic knowledge of group development
Understand leadership approaches to managing project teams
Class sessions will be conducted as a combination of lecture and open-class discussion of important concepts
and exercises. Thus, pre-class preparation is important. Course reading will be supplemented at various times by
experimental exercises that relate to the topics being covered.
CLASS ADMINISTRATION
Academic Integrity Policy
This course will strictly adhere to the University Policies (see Policies and Rules for Students, Policy 49-20)
regarding individual academic integrity. Academic integrity comes under two general headings: behavior toward the
instructor and other students and general integrity. Violations of any section of Policy 49-20 is punishable by
receiving a failing grade, suspension from class, or other actions as outline in University policy.
Prerequisites
Engineering students with appropriate class standing.
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Penn State – Erie
Sam and Irene Black School of Business
MGMT 409 Sec. 001 Spring 2012
Missed exams
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. If an unusual situation has developed prior to the exam, contact
your instructor as soon as possible to discuss it. If a legitimate, documented (e.g. a doctors note, obituary, etc.)
reason exists an opportunity to write a course term paper will be offered to make up for the missed exam. This paper
will be at least ten pages excluding footnotes, graphs, etc. Topics will be chosen in consultation with the professor
and will be due the day of the next exam. Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstance. This
dispensation may be used once during the term and is not available for the Final exam. If you are awarded a special
dispensation and the reason for it is later proved to be fraudulent then this will be considered cheating.
If you have a discrepancy with a grade, you must address the issue in person with the instructor. No grading issues
will be discussed over the phone or email.
Web Page
Check the class webpage and your e-mail account at regular intervals to keep up with any announcements.
PERFORMANCE EVAULATION
Simulation
The class will run a project simulation during the semester that will total 50 points. Individuals will make period
decisions approximately twice per week during the semester. There will be both individual and team assignments for
the SIM during the semester. At the conclusion of the simulation a short summary on their performance will be
assigned. What decisions were made and why, what worked and why, what did not work and why etc. The
simulation score will be based on your objective evaluation of your performance not the ranking in the simulation.
NOTE: If you keep a running summary of your decisions and the results this report should be very simple to
compile.
Tests
We will have three (3) tests, involving some math-type questions, some term definitions, concept questions and
analysis. Cheating will result in a zero (0) grade for that test.
Assignments
There will be up to 100 points in assignments, pop quizzes etc. You must be present in class to hand in an
assignment. If you are not present you will receive a zero for that assignment. If less than 100 points in assignments
are assigned during the term the total point total for the course will be prorated accordingly.
Final Project Proposal and Presentation
Teams will develop and manage a project through its life cycle. Milestones will be introduced that will require on
going work on the project. The final presentations will consist of presenting the project to the class, including the
managerial actions taken in order to deal with unexpected problems. Papers will be double spaces in 12 point font
and will be long enough to adequately encompass the pertinent material related to the project. Failure to contribute
to your team will result in a prorating of your score.
Team participation
You are expected to contribute your fair share to your team. Conversely as a team member it falls to you to make
sure that your team members contribute their fair share to the work. All team members are responsible for all team
work. It is best to come to me with team problems ASAP, however I expect teams to resolve team problems
themselves if at all possible.
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GRADING:
Penn State – Erie
Sam and Irene Black School of Business
MGMT 409 Sec. 001 Spring 2012
ITEM Points
Exam 1 100
Exam 2 100
Exam 3 100
Team Simulation 50
Team Project 100
In Class quizzes, other deliverables
etc. up to 100 (prorated if needed) 100
Total 550
The final grade allocation is:
Course Grade PERCENTAGE
A 95-100%
A- 90-94.99%
B+ 87-89.99%
B 83-86.99%
B- 80-82.99%
C+ 77-79.99%
C 73-76.99%
D 65-72.99%
F 00-64.99%
.
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Penn State – Erie
Sam and Irene Black School of Business
MGMT 409 Sec. 001 Spring 2012
The schedule is tentative in that some topics may be covered more quickly then others and will result in changes in
the amount of time needed. There will be cases and reading beyond the text.
Time Topics Readings
Week 1 Introduction to course
a) Course expectations
b) What is Project Management
c) Team building
Chpt. 1
Week 2 Managing Project Teams Negotiation Skills
a) Team dynamics
b) Elements of effective negotiation
c) Conflict
Chpt. 6
Week 3 Organization Strategy, Structure and Culture
a) Types of Structure
Chpt. 2
Week 4 Engineering Economics Supplemental Material
Week 5 Project Selection
Chpt. 3
a) Business Decision support tools
Payoff tables
(This is material not in the text.)
b) Scoring Models
c) Financial Models
Decision trees
Exam 1 Will Cover these topics (Approximately end of week 5)
Week 6 Project Leadership
a) Elements of effective leadership
b) Characteristics of successful Project
managers
Chpt. 4
Week 7 Scope Management Chpt. 5
Week 8 Project Risk Chpt. 7
Week 9 Spring Break
Week 10 Cost Estimation and Budgeting Chpt. 8
Week 11 Project control – S curves, EVA
a) Critical path vs. critical chain
b) Crashing projects
Exam 2 will cover these topics (Approximately
beginning of week 12)
Chpt. 10
Week 12 Project Planning
a) Time estimation
c) Cost estimation
Chpt. 11
Week 13 Earned Value Management Chpt. 13
Week 14 EVM Cont. Chpt. 13
Week 15 Project Closeout Chpt. 14
Week 16 Project Presentations Attendance Mandatory
Last Exam As per final Schedule
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Penn State – Erie
Sam and Irene Black School of Business
MGMT 409 Sec. 001 Spring 2012
This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document is meant to anticipate the most common questions that
come up over the course of the semester. The questions are presented in the relative order that they usually
occur over the course of the semester.
I qualify for handicapper status and have some needs related to that. What should I do?
Notify your instructor immediately. This way, we can make sure that all the proper accommodations are made as
soon as possible.
Is attendance required?
Yes, but only during the team presentations. A 10% penalty to your project grade will be assessed for each missed
presentation period. If you miss your own presentation a greater penalty will be assessed.
I was asked to move during a test. Does the instructor think I was cheating?
Not necessarily. The instructor will ask people to move during the exam if it necessary to create more space
between people. To alleviate the issue of being singled out, the instructor will always try to ask two or more people
to move if that becomes necessary.
Oh, no! I am one point short of a _____ at the end of the semester! What can I do to get that extra point?
Unfortunately, you can’t do anything. One of the cold, harsh realities of the real world is that lines have to be
drawn, and some people will always come up one point short. (By the way, this also applies to people who are
graduating this semester).
Can’t I do any extra credit work to improve my grade?
No. There are no extra credit projects available for this class.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center (CDC) can assist students with the process of career and life planning
through a full range of programs and services. You may schedule appointments with the CDC staff to discuss
issues including interests, skills, values, and goal setting, as well as how to find career information,
internships, full-time jobs, and graduate schools. You are encouraged to utilize the services of the CDC every
year from your first semester to graduation.
CDC Location: First Floor – Reed Building
CDC Phone: 898-6164
CDC Web Site: http://pennstatebehrend.psu.edu/cdc
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