MBAX6875 – Project Management
Summer 2006
CLASS LEADER: / James R. Marlatt (Jim)Resume: James Marlatt
E-mail:
Phone: 720-933-5541
Office: Business 311 / Home Page:
Office Hours: / I will be available before and after class as needed. I am also easily reached by e-mail or cell phone (see above).
Classroom Location/Date/Time / Fleming 156 Thursday 6:30 pm to 9:15 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
As organizations are expecting more and more from their resources, the growth and acceptance of structured project management methodologies is gaining widespread acceptance. In fact many organizations will not even consider someone for a project management position unless they are a certified professional project manager.
This course will serve three important objectives:
- Students will be able to choose between and apply structured project management approaches on current and future projects,
- Provide real-time feedback to students regarding their project management approach and style based on class discussion
- Prepare students for the PMI certification exam.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Gido & Clements, Successful Project Management, third edition, 2006
COURSE CONDUCT:
We will spend time at the beginning of the semester reviewing the syllabus, the learning environment and getting to know each other. Based on this information, I will make some changes to maximize our learning potential. These changes will be communicated in class or via e-mail
The class time during each week will be organized as follows:
- Review new concepts assigned for the day’s class,
- Apply these concepts to case and work examples,
- Review sample PMI exam questions,
- Review assignments for the next class.
All reading assignments are to be read prior to the day for which they are assigned. All written assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Because assignments may be discussed in class when due, no late assignments will be accepted without written approval one week in advance. Any assignments turned in after the due date/time will receive an automatic zero.
Exams must be taken when scheduled, per the syllabus, unless written approval is received at least one week in advance. Any missed exams will receive an automatic zero.
Disabilities:
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit a
letter to me from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may
be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on
documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, or
Religious Observances:
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every
effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of
religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or
required attendance. In this class, please inform me of any conflicts during the first week of the semester for written approval of assignment/exam due date changes.
See policy details at
Learning Environment:
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate
learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to behavioral standards may
be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat
students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion
and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which students express opinions.
See policies at
and at
Honor Code:
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for
knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution.
Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic
dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All
incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council
(; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation
of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions
from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited
to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Additional information on
the Honor Code can be found at
COURSE COMMUNICATIONS:
You will be responsible for any information I communicate to you during class or via e-mail. I expect you to check for messages at least once every 24 hours M-F. You are responsible for all messages sent after the second class period. Go to for more details on the campus e-mail policy.
I will communicate any clarifications, changes and/or additions during class or via the class e-mail list.
To Dos:
To subscribe to the email list, send mail to ,leave the subject line blank and placesubscribe mbax6875 your-full-namein the first line of the message body. I expect you to subscribe to the email list immediately, and to check for messages at least once every 24 hours M-F before class.
COURSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES / PointsFirst Report (due June 29th)
Second Report (due August 3rd) / 250
250
Class Participation / 200
Final Exam(take home final due the last day of class) / 300
Total / 1000
The following percentages define the course grading scale. If you miss an assignment, there will be no opportunity to make it up.
Grades: Points are converted to grades according to the following:
866 <= 895 B+ 766 <= 795 C+666 <= 695 D+ 0 <= 595 F
926 <= 1000 A 826 <= 865 B 726 <= 765 C626 <= 665 D
896 <= 925 A- 796 <= 825 B- 696 <= 725 C-596 <= 625 D-
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Attendance and contribution to class discussion
Students are expected to attend every class and to participate in the class discussions. Class participation grades are based on two aspects: your attendance in class and your contributions to the class discussions. Contributions to discussions will focus on the quality, not the quantity of the contribution; therefore students who participate often will not necessarily receive a better grade than those who participate less often. One must recognize, however, that there is an art to quality participation that is only learned by trial and error. Therefore, students are encouraged to begin contributing to the discussions early in the semester.
As the value of this course stems from class discussion and participation, your attendance at class sessions is critical to learning the material and to enhancing the discussions. Therefore, your participation grade will include your class attendance. If you never speak out in class or if you miss several classes, you will receive a participation grade of D. If you speak out occasionally, bur rarely say anything inspired, and you attend virtually all the sessions, your participation will be a C+. The best grades will be given to students who make contributions to the discussions. These involve applying conceptual material from the readings or lectures, doing some outside readings and applying them to the discussion, integrating comments from previous classes into the current discussion, taking issues (in a constructive manner) with a classmate's or instructor’s analysis and/or pulling together material from several different sources.
The instructor reserves the right to call on students, particularly on students who have not participated in a while. Students who are shy or uncomfortable with participation are encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor. This discussion should take place early in the semester to minimize the impact on the student's participation grade.
Class SCHEDULE & ASSIGNMENTS:
Week 1: Review Course Objectives and Syllabus
Week 2: Measurable Objectives and Scope: Read chapter 1, chapter 2 pages 26 to 30, chapter 4 pages 78 and 79, chapter 5 pages 103 to 107. Think about projects you have done in the past (or currently); would any of these techniques have helped you? Be prepared to discuss the two cases at the end of chapter 1 in class. PMI practice questions on project initiating and planning.
Week 3:PMI Exam Value and Process: Judy Samuelson will register you for PMI membership this week. Go to PMI’s website () and read about the exam requirements, exam process and review the PMBOK table of contents. PMI practice questions on integration.
Week 4:Accountability and authority: Read chapters 10 and 13. Case will be provided during class week 3. PMI practice questions on integration.
Week 5: Risk Management (FMEA and other approaches): Read Chapter 4 pages 80 to 83. Be prepared to discuss case study number 1. PMI practice questions on risk management.
Week 6:Effective Communications: Read pages 107-112, Read chapter 12. Be prepared to discuss case 1 and 2. PMI practice questions on communications.
Week 7:Managing and motivating teams that don’t report to you / team development: Read chapter 11. Be prepared to discuss case 1. PMI practice questions on human resources.
Week 8:Control mechanisms including scope, cost (earned value), schedule and quality: Read pages 84-87, chapters 6, 7 and 9. A case will be provided during class week 7. PMI practice questions on controlling, time, scope, quality, cost and integration.
Week 9:Project Management Software: Read Appendix A, also p.130-131, 169-171, 213, 240 & 273. Do a web search on Project Management Software and be prepared to discuss your findings. Check out . PMI practice questions on executing.
Week 10:Just say no, how to do this effectively: Reading materials will be provided during class week 9. PMI practice questions on communication, Human Resources, Integration, scope, risk, controlling,
Week 11:Resource planning and staffing: Read chapters 3 and 8. Be prepared to discuss case 1 in chapter 8. PMI practice questions human resources, procurement and professional responsibility.
Week 12:How do other companies manage projects? Speaker(s) and site visit will be scheduled. These may be done on other dates depending on speakers schedules. We will simply adjust as needed.
Week 13:Project closing and knowledge transfer: PMI practice questions on executing and closing.
Week 14:Open topic, final exam due in class.
Other Resources:
37signals - design firm
Agile Software Manifesto
Project Management Institute
Page 1