University of Maryland University College
University of Maryland University College
Maryland in Europe
Computer Studies Syllabus
Course:
IFSM 438 Project Management
Instructor: Wendy Davis-Gruber
Center:
Distance Education
Term/Dates: II/III, Nov 5th, 2001 -
Mar 1st, 2002
Prerequisites: IFSM 202, IFSM300 or equivalent
Credit: Three (3) semester hours.
Text: Project Management, 4th Ed. By J. Meredith & S. Mantel Jr., Wiley & Sons, 2000
Description:
This course examines the use of formalized project management tools to accomplish a particular outcome usually within resource and/or time constraints. The approach presented in this course is novel in that it emphasizes both a managerial as well as an information system perspective rather than only an engineering or a mathematical one.
Project management covers the manner in which a project with limited resources and under critical time constraints is planned, scheduled, and controlled. The project design and development life cycle is examined in depth, as well as project management techniques such as PERT and GANTT charts.
Students in this course will complete a group term project assessing a major systems development project using a project management tool and present their results in both a written term paper and actual project web site that will store project tool files. Extensive group work is to be expected in this class!
Objectives: You should have a working knowledge of the following by the end of this course:
- The role of the PM in an organization and ways of structuring organizations to accommodate projects.
- The fundamentals of project scheduling, including scheduling projects under uncertainty and with constrained resources.
- Project budgeting and cost estimation
- Monitoring and evaluating project progress and termination
Course Evaluation : Grades for this course will be based on:
- Project 25%
- Homework/quizzes 20%
- On-line Midterm 15%
- Class participation 10%
- Final exam 30%
and will be assigned as follows:
- A 93 to 100
- B 82 to 92
- C 71 to 81
- D 60 to 70
- F(A) Less than 60
- F(N) Non attendance
Course Policies/ Student requirements:
Attendance: Class attendance is expected and required. So how do you interpret this in Distance education? Attendance in this course means that students are checking into the online classroom a few time a week! Our class is not an independent study course! Attendance is a prime indicator of a student’s interest and motivation. If you must miss checking in on-line for an unavoidable duty assignment or emergency, contact me, your instructor, for further guidance. Please refer to The Student Handbook. Please note that this course requires you to work extensively with a group to complete many of the course objectives. This means you need to commit to working with your group! The group earns the same grade on the project and requires equal commitment from all members. Please keep this in mind when signing up for this course.
Class Preparation / Participation: Assigned readings should be completed before the class session for which the topic is scheduled. Students are expected to read and master the assigned readings independently and ask questions for clarification during weekly on-line discussions. Students are additionally expected to complete homework, case analysis, hands-on exercises, and presentations during the week the assignments are given. Learning means being involved, participating, and enjoying the class. Participation is the degree to which a student makes a responsible effort in class and makes meaningful and thoughtful contributions to class discussions and other exercises. Participation is encouraged and expected. If you are absent on-line, then you are not participating!
Late Assignments: Permission must be obtained in advance if an assignment is to be submitted late. Late submission of assignments will result in a lower grade (15%) and is strongly discouraged.
Examinations: Students are expected to complete all exams/quizzes by the dates given. Students missing an announced exam for an emergency or illness must provide documentation before a make-up exam will be given. All other situations ( TDY, duty, etc) must be coordinated in advance so that the exam can be given prior to the student’s absence. Please refer to the UMUC European Division, Undergraduate Catalog for policy on make-up exams. Students who do not complete final exams as scheduled will be assigned the grade of FN.
Incomplete: The mark of I (Incomplete) is given only upon the request of a student who has completed at least 75% of the course work with a C or better, and is unable to complete the course because of illness or other circumstances beyond his/her control. Please refer to the UMUC European Division, Undergraduate Catalog for policy on Incomplete grades.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: Students can avoid plagiarism by carefully following accepted scholarly practices. Please refer to the UMUC European Division, Undergraduate Catalog, for policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism. In short - academic dishonesty is failure to maintain academic integrity. It includes, but is not limited to: Obtaining or giving aid on an examination; having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination; doing work for another student, resubmitting previously submitted work for another course - to include term papers and projects and plagiarism, Academic dishonesty can result in severe academic penalty, including failure in the course and/or dismissal from the institution. Plagiarism: First incident: a zero on the assignment, no make-up. Second incident ( by same person): FA for the class.
Schedule: The schedule is tentative and subject to change. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule for the successful progress of the course. It is the student’s responsibility to know if, when, and what changes have been made to the schedule.
Instructor Information:
I can be contacted via the following methods:
Email: wdavisgr@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
or
post: W. Davis-Gruber
Leighton Ed. Center
Unit 26229
APO AE 09244
Office hours: I am virtually available via email anytime! Please email me with concerns at the above address.
Ms Davis-Gruber earned her Masters in Systems Management - Information Systems and Logistics from the University of Southern California. In addition to university teaching, academic administration, and management, Ms. Davis-Gruber has over nineteen years experience in computer-based information systems. She currently conducts courses in Computer Studies and Business Management for UMUC, both in the classroom and via the Distance Education program. She joined the European Division in 1990.
Time / Reading Schedule IFSM 438
05 Nov Course Begins
17 Dec Midterm Week
21 Dec End of the first half of the course.
B R E A K ------ 22 December - 15 January 2002
15 Jan - Beginning of the second half of the course.
28 Feb - 2 Mar ONLINE/PROCTORED Exam Week
01 Mar - End of DE classes.
Updated Oct 1st, 2001