OPS 472
Project Management
Spring 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Web Site:
Office Hours:
L. Drew Rosen
2054 Computer Information System (CIS) Building
962-3677(W); 452-2025(H)
ROSENL@UNCW.EDU
http://csbapp.uncw.edu/data/fs/vita.aspx
http://www.csb.uncw.edu/people/rosenl/
Mon: 12:00 – 5:00, Wed: 12:00 - 5:00, (Please remember, you are MY
customer, I am available to meet you anytime you need help, just ask!)
Text: “Project Management in Practice” Fourth or Fifth Edition, by Mantel, Meredith, Shafer and
Sutton (4th Ed. available used) and “Critical Chain” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt (to be assigned later in
the semester, if we have time!)
Catalog description: Prerequisite: POM 370 or Consent of Instructor and admittance to the Cameron
School of Business. This course introduces the fundamentals of project management, beginning with
project definition and culminating in the post-project review. Students will learn techniques, terms
and guidelines that are used to manage cost, schedules, risk, group dynamics and technical aspects
throughout the life cycle of a project. The need for project leadership as well as technical management
of successful projects will be emphasized; along with software applications for project management.
Course Objective: Project management is becoming increasingly important in today’s rapidly
evolving business environments. Fortune magazine rated it as the #1 career choice for the coming
decade. The purpose therefore of this course is to expose students to both the hard and soft skills
required to be effective project managers. The course will cover organizational structures of projects,
the role of project managers, project auditing, project scheduling, project management software, etc.
Attendance and Exam Policy: Class attendance is expected of students. There will be a
considerable amount of material covered in class that is not in your text; therefore you are encouraged
to attend all classes. When outside material is covered, additional readings assigned or other
assignments given, absence from class will not be an acceptable excuse. Absences in excess of
University allowances will result in a lowering of your final grade. Make-up exams will only be given
when (1) instructor permission has been given prior to the exam, or (2) an excused absence prevents
you from attending the exam. The instructor has the right to request documentary evidence of such
an excuse. Any exams missed outside of the above guidelines will result in an automatic zero on that
exam. Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated, please refer to the Student Handbook and Code of
Student Life for further details.
Grading: Your final grade will be determined from the following:
Group
Case, Reading or Incident Presentation
15%
Written Cases Analysis
15%
Term Project
20%
Individual
Mid-term Exam
25%
Final Exam
10%
Class Participation
15%
The University (+), (-) grading scale will be used, with 90% and above constituting an A.
Your final grade may be adjusted (up or down) a full letter grade based on peer evaluations.
WARNING: Texting/Cell Phone use will not be tolerated, you will get no warnings. Your final
grade will be adjusted down for this activity!
Guideline for Case and/or Reading Writing Assignments:
Case write-ups cannot be longer than 5 pages (double-spaced) long using a 12 pitch font (i.e., typed)
and appropriate margins. There is a ten-point penalty for not following the length and font guidelines.
Group number and member’s names must be listed alphabetically! Questions at the end of each case
are just a starting point. You should incorporate material from class, the readings and the constantly
changing business environment around us.
Presentation Requirements:
The day of your presentation I MUST have a copy of your power points prior to your presentation!
(3 to a page please).
Course Outline: These are approximate dates; I will do my best to stay as close to this outline as
possible, it is your responsibility to know what topic we are currently covering (i.e. come to class).
Date
Jan. 12
Topic
What is Project Mgmt?
 Course Review
 Expectations
 Group assignments, etc
Text Reading
Homework
W = blackboard
B = book resource
* = group written case
Jan. 14, 19, 21
Introduction to Project Management
 Definition of a ‘Project’
 The Project Life Cycle
 Project Selection Models
 P.M. Career Paths
Chap. 1 Discussion Qu. (DQ) #12, 14, 17
1. Reading: Lessons for
Accidental Profession(W)
2. Reading: The New
Project Manager (W)
3. Reading: Four
Common Reasons Why
Projects Fail (W)
4. *Case: Disney’s
Expedition Everest, (W)
Jan. 26, 28,
Feb. 2
Project Manager, the Project Team,
Chap. 2
& The Organization
 Role of the Project Manager
 Special Demands on the Project Manager
 Selecting the Project Manager
 The Project Team
 Fitting Projects to the Parent Organization
Feb. 4, 9, 11
Project Planning
Chap. 3
DQ: 9, 16, 22
 What Is a Project Plan?
9. Case: Team
 The Planning Process
Problems (W)
 The Work Breakdown Structure and
10. Reading: How to
Linear Responsibility Charts
Make WBS Easier (W)

Interface Coordination & Multidisciplinary
11. *Case: St. Dismiss
Coordination
Assisted Living Facility (B)
DQ: 10, 11, 19
5. Case: Midsize
Pharmaceutical (W)
6. Reading: How to Select
a Project Manager (W)
7. Reading: Early Warning
Signs of IT Proj. Failure (W)
8. *Case: The Quantum
Bank (B)
Feb. 16, 23, 25 Introduction to Scheduling
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


Feb. 18
Mar. 1,
Background
Network Techniques: PERT and CPM
Project Uncertainty & Risk Management
Gantt Charts
Simulation
DQ: 14, 20
(‘Incident for Discussion’ IFD)
12. IFD – Springville Fire
Station (B)
13. Case- Transportation
Improvements (W)
14.*Case - Soccer Club (W)
TBA
Intro. to Project Scheduling Software
 Use of Project Scheduling Software
 Limitations of Microsoft Project
 Other Software Applications
March 3
Mid-Term Exam
SPRING BREAK
Mar. 15, 17, 22
Chap. 5
March 8 & 10
Budgeting the Project
Chap. 4
 Methods of Budgeting
 Cost Estimating
 Uncertainty & Risk Management
DQ: 7, 10
15. IFD: General Sensor (B)
16. Reading: 3 Perceptions
of Project Cost(W)
17.* Case: The Sharon
Construction Co. (W)
March, 29/30 Business Week (you will attend OPS sessions for this class, as advised)
Mar. 31,
Apr. 5, 7
Allocating Resources to the Project
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

Chap. 6
Expediting the Project
Resource Loading & Leveling
Conflict and Project Life Cycle
Scarce Resource Allocation
Goldratt’s Critical Chain(CCPM)
Apr. 12, 14, 19 Monitoring and Controlling the Project
Chap. 7
 The Planning - Monitoring - Controlling Cycle
 Information Needs and the Reporting Process
 Earned Value Analysis
 Designing the Control System
Apr. 21, 26
DQ: 12, 16, 18
Cases:
18. Case: Lab Results (B)
19. Reading: Critical Path Method
& CCPM (W)
20. *Case: Bathtub Period
DQ: 8, 12, 20
21.Reading: Planning for
Crisis in P.M.
22.Case: The Project
Mgr./Customer
Interface
23. Reading: Managing
Scope Creep (W)
24. *Case: Managing
Change at Global Green
Books Pub. (W)
Evaluation and Termination
Chap. 8
DQ: 10, 12, 16
 Evaluation Criteria & Measurement
 The Project Audit
Case: TBA
 Project Termination
Final Exam: Tuesday, May, 3, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM