ONLINE PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM 2007-2008

COURSE SYLLABUS

OPRE 6373 Project Planning

This course covers project selection, interpersonal and organizational issues related to the initiation of projects. Specific topics
include investment criteria; project selection models; negotiation techniques and related interpersonal considerations.

Instructor’s Information:
Dr. Marie Chevrier
Dr. Sue Freedman
Jim Newstead
Jim Szot
Dr. Duncan MacFarlane
chevrier@utdallas.edu
suefreedman@sbcglobal.net
JRNewstead@aol.com
jimszot@utdallas.edu
dlm@utdallas.edu

Course Materials:

Textbook:
1. PMI. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd edition
2. Clifford Gray and Erik Larson. Project Management: The Managerial Process, 3rd edition
3. Lewis Ireland. Quality Management for Projects and Programs
4. John Nicholas. Project Management for Business and Engineering: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition
5. Erik Uyttewaal. Dynamic Scheduling with Microsoft Office Project 2003: The Book By and For Professionals
6. Robert B. Cialdini, Influence: Science and Practice, 4th edition
7. Roy Lewicki, David Saunders, John Minton. Negotiation: readings, cases and exercises.
8. Champoux, Organizational Behavior: Essential Tenets

Cases:
1. Krackhardt and Hanson, Informal Networks: The Company Behind the Chart (HBR 93406)
2. Katzenbach & Smith: The Discipline of Teams (HBR 4428)
3. Beyerlien, Freedman, McGee, and Moran. The Ten Principles of Collaborative Organizations (JOBE, sp 03)
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 Course Schedule:
Date Title Description Objectives Module Assignments
Mod#
Understanding 1. Negotiation and conflict management 1. Read Chapter 1 in Essentials of Negotiation by
Conflict and 2. The nature of conflict Lewicki, Saunders and Minton
3. Conflict behaviors
May 01 – Conflict 4. Functions and dysfunctions of conflicts 2. Complete the Personal Bargaining Inventory
May 07 Behavior 5. Personal Bargaining Inventory questionnaire. Review the compiled results and post
- Dr. Chevrier answers to questions on the Discussion Board.
- Module 19
Negotiation 1. Power, rights and negotiation in resolving Reading Assignments
Skills to conflicts 1. Read Chapters 2,3, 4 in Essentials of Negotiation
2. Advantages of using negotiations to by Lewicki, Saunders and Minton
May 08 –
Manage resolve conflicts 2. Suggested reading: Getting Past No by Ury
May 14 Conflict 3. The negotiation process
- Dr. Chevrier 4. Interests, issues and positions Role Play Assignment:
- Module 20 5. Alpha Project Simulation – Defining the Alpha Project
problem.
Communication This session explores the basic 1. Recognize the types and characteristics of Reading Assignments
s and Decision principles of communication and of various communication channels 1. Organizational Behavior: Essential Tenets
decision-making in organizations and 2. Types of & Barriers to Communication (Champoux) chapters 13-14.
Making explores the particular application of 3. Culture and Communication 2. HBR Article: Informal Networks: The Company
- Dr. Freedman these to project management settings 4. Identify and apply appropriate various Behind the Chart (provided)
- Module 21 decision Making Models
May 15 – 5. Better understand and be able to diagnose Individual Assignments
May 21 how Decisions are made in organizations 1. Discussion Board: Worksheet A
6. Understand the power of informal 2. Assignment: Worksheets B & C
networks in organizations.
Teleconference
1. Discuss informal networks

(4 pts)
Project This session explores aspects of Key elements focused on are as follows: Reading Assignments
Performance managing people’s performance, 1. The Performance Continuum 1. ICP Guide
focusing on four in particular: 2. Forced ranking 2. Managing the Project Team by Vijay Verma
Management 1. Establishing and measuring 3. Behavioral interviewing
- Jim Newstead organizational competencies, 4. Competency modeling Team Assignment
May 22 – - Module 22 2. Evaluating and ranking 5. Project Team Performance Assessment Selected Tools to practice and each team to prepare a
May 28
performance, presentation to report out at the teleconference
3. Learning effective ways of Teleconference
interviewing, and 1. Appoint one team member to report the
4. Providing effective feedback outcomes of your “tool” exercises
through project team
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 performance assessments
Scope This module explores the processes,
Management tools, and techniques that are used to
- Jim Szot initiate projects and manage their
- Module 23 scope. These include stakeholder
analysis and involvement, project
chartering, goal/objective alignment,
and deliverables definition. A team
project is initiated applying these
concepts.
Topics to be Covered
• Scope management performance
competencies
• Project initiation
• Project charter
• Project manager selection
May 29 – • Preliminary and detailed scope
Jun 04 statement
• Project management plan
• Scope management plan
• Project priority (flexibility)
matrix
• Issues log
Quality: This module emphasizes the need to
Foundations plan for the quality of both the
project product and the project
and Strategy management processes by exploring
Jun 5 – the quality planning process and the
Jun 11 - Jim Szot role of the project manager in setting
- Module 24 work standards, understanding
customer requirements, and
implementing these requirements.
As a result of this module you will be able to:
1. Determine and document project goals,
product or service deliverables, project
management process outputs, constraints,
and assumptions.
2. Define the project strategy by evaluating
alternative approaches.
3. Identify and list performance criteria.
4. Identify, estimate, and document key
resource requirements.
5. Define and document an appropriate
project budget and schedule.
6. Provide comprehensive information by
producing a formal project charter and a
preliminary scope statement.
As a result of this module you will be able to:
1. Describe the foundation of quality
improvement.
2. Consider project quality management
implications of:
• Determining and documenting
project goals and product/service
deliverables.
• Identifying, documenting, and
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(5 pts)
Reading Assignments
1. Gray and Larson: Chapter 4, Defining the
Project through Step 2: Establishing Project
Priorities, pages 99-105.
2. PMBOK
• Chapter 4, Project Integration Management
(introduction) through Develop Project
Management Plan, pages 77-91.
• Chapter 5, Project Scope Management
(introduction) through Scope Definition, pages
103-112.
3. Nicholas:
• Chapter 4, Systems Development Cycle: Early
Stages, pages 87-96 (up to Project Feasibility)
• Chapter 5, Systems Development Cycle: Middle
and Later Stages, pages 120-131 (up to Phase
C: Execution)
• Chapter 6, Planning Fundamentals, pages 159-
164 (up to Work Breakdown Structure)
4. Uyttewaal
• Chapter 1, Concepts of Project Management,
pages 41-53.
• Chapter 2, Setting up a Project, pages 55-121.
Team Assignment:
Prepare a project scope statement and presentation
following the guidelines provided in the module
instructions. Submit a written scope statement and
PowerPoint presentation on Blackboard by noon,
June 18, 2008 and present during teleconference on
June 18.
(7 pts – based on submitted scope statement,
presentation during teleconference, and peer
assessment of team participation )
Reading Assignments
• PMBOK: Chapter 8, Project Quality
Management (introduction) through Quality
Planning, pages 179-187.
• Ireland: Chapters I - IV and VI – VII.
• Nicholas:
• Project Quality and System Defects, pages
130-131.
• Quality Function Deployment, pages 463-
3
 Teams continue to develop a project
plan.
Topics to be Covered
• Quality initiative history.
• Project quality considerations.
• PMI on project quality
management.
• Applying Total Quality
Management on projects.
• Project quality plan template
Scope This module concludes the
Management discussion of the scope management
processes with the creation of the
- Jim Szot work breakdown structure (WBS)
- Module 25 and introduction of the monitoring
and controlling processes of scope
verification and scope (change)
control.
Topics to be Covered
• Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS)
• Relation to Activity Definition
process
Jun 12 – • WBS Dictionary
Jun 18 • WBS validation
• Scope baseline
• Scope verification
• Scope change control
Jun 19 - Interpersonal This session will explore all aspects
communicating project management
process outputs.
• Identifying and documenting project
constraints.
• Defining project strategy.
• Identifying/listing performance
criteria.
• Identifying/implementing project
controls.
3. Develop a project quality plan.
As a result of this module you will be able to:
1. Develop the Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS) using the Scope Statement,
Statement of Work (SOW), other project
documents, and decomposition
techniques.
2. Baseline the scope of work
3. Identify and implement project scope
controls.
1. Effectively frame the project for the
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470.
Team Assignment:
Prepare a preliminary project quality plan and
PowerPoint presentation consistent with your scope
statement Submit your written quality plan on
Blackboard by noon, June 18, 2008.
(5 pts – based on submitted quality plan, presentation
during teleconference, and peer assessment of team
participation )
Reading Assignments
• Gray and Larson: Chapter 4, Step 3: Creating
the Work Breakdown Structure though
Summary, pages 105-120.
• PMBOK: Chapter 5, Create WBS through Scope
Control, pages 112-122.
• Nicholas: Chapter 6, Work Breakdown Structure
through Work Packages, pages 164-173.
• Uttyewaal: Chapter 3. Entering Tasks, pages
127-167.
Team Assignment:
Prepare a WBS and WBS Dictionary for the team
project. Present approach and overview during
teleconference. Submit presentation and supporting
documents on Blackboard by noon, June 18, 2008.
Individual Assignment:
Complete Part I of the Conveyor Belt Project in
accordance with the instructions. Submit assignment
on Blackboard by noon, June 18, 2008
(7 pts – Team Project WBS and WBS dictionary
based on submitted scope statement, presentation in
teleconference, and peer assessment of team
participation
1 pts - Conveyor Belt Project – Part 1 [Individual
assignment])
Reading Assignments
4
Jun 25 Communication of communication, focusing on three basic project team 1. ICP Guide
- Jim Newstead in particular… 2. Create a commonly-developed set of 2. Managing the Project Team by Vijay Verma
- Module 26 1. Effectively communicating the words or phrases that best
project, define/describe the initiative Team Assignments
2. Facilitation, and 3. Take the team’s words and phrases down Prepare the elevator speech and deliver during
3. Presentation skills to a workable number and developing a teleconference
common “elevator speech” that can be
effectively used to shape behavior and
gain buy-in
4. Learn to effectively listen to each of the
team member’s thoughts and optimize
results.
5. Raise the level of expertise in facilitating
project meetings and, more importantly,
small groups of stakeholders who you
are trying to influence and gain support
through self discovery of the need to
change
6. Increase the expertise of project team
members in presentation skills for the
purpose of influencing all stakeholders,
including key stakeholders

This section explores the
requirements of and roles for teams
in organizations
1. Apply the Model of Team Effectiveness
to project teams and organizations.
2. Recognize the complex and dynamic
relationship between teams and the
organizations in which they function
3. Distinguish between teams and works
groups and recognize the discipline
requirements for successful team and
organizations.
4. Recognize and be able to develop
successful project teams, desirable team
members, and effective project meetings
Reading Assignments
1. Gray and Larson, chapter 11
2. Katzenbach & Smith: The Discipline of Teams
(HBR 4428)
3. The Ten Principles of Collaborative
Organizations (furnished article and handout)
Team Assignments
1. As a team, complete Kerzner Office Equipment
Case; (G&L page 380,)and the Franklin
Equipment, Ltd. (G&L page 383) Team.
Submit via Assignments on Blackboard

Individual Assignment
2. Using the Collaborative Organization
Assessment (hand out), identify the strengths
and weakness of your organization in terms of
collaboration. Submit via Assignments on
Teams in Blackboard
Organizations
Jun 26 - - Dr. Freedman (6 pts)
Jul 02 - Module 27
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 Quantitative Decision making tools under Students will understand the following topics:
Decision certainty, with risk and with ¾ Linear Programming
Jul 03 – uncertainty ¾ Expected Values
Making ¾ Decision trees
Jul 09
¾ Design of experiments
- Dr. Macfarlane
- Module 28
Quantitative Decision making tools under Students will understand the following topics:
Decision certainty, with risk and with ¾ Linear Programming
Jul 10 – uncertainty ¾ Expected Values
Making ¾ Decision trees
Jul 16
¾ Design of experiments
- Dr. Macfarlane
- Module 29

Major Assignment:
Major Assignment#3: Covers modules 19-29
Released: May 1, 2008
Due: August 06, 2008, midnight
Graders: Jim Szot and Jim Newstead
Format: Program Format (posted under syllabus information on Blackboard)

Grading Information:

Major Assignment #3 50%

Module #19 - 20 Dr. Chevrier 10%
Module #21 Dr. Freedman 4%
Module #22 Mr. Newstead 5%
Module #23-25 Mr. Szot 20%
Module #26 Mr. Newstead. 5%
Module #27 Dr. Freedman 6%

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