MGT 460: Fundamentals of Project Management

Course Description

This course will focus on the practice of project management in a team environment. Topics include project management life cycles, basic planning and scheduling, team management, and control tools. Key issues include project goal and scope definitions, team composition and communication, risk and change management, rigorous tracking, and project closeout. (3 credits)

This course meets certain CAHIIM competencies for HIM Majors.

Prerequisites

ENG 101: English Composition 1
ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Understand the fundamentals of the project life cycle and project management.
Initiate a project, define goals and objectives, identify stakeholders and build a team.
Plan and breakdown the work into activities and tasks; schedule and assign resources.
Apply the widely used and basic tools - CPM, PERT and Gantt Charts.
Implement a project by leading, communicating, negotiating, tracking and reporting.
Evaluate and select project management software and explain the basics of MS Project.
Control and monitor project progress, take corrective action and manage change.
Close down a project, report and present results and disband the team.
Undertake the roles of project managers and project team members.

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Participation in Class Dicussions (Weeks 1-8)	50%
Individual Assignments (Weeks 1-8)	50%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak’s online bookstore

Horine, Greg. Project Management: Absolute Beginners Guide. 5th ed. Que, 2022. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-764695-1

Course Schedule

Note: Course week runs Monday 12:00 am EST - Sunday 11:59 pm EST

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignment(s)
1	1,9	Getting Started Topics: Project Management overview Project Managers roles, skills, and traits Essential elements for a successful project Readings: Horine, Chapters 1-3 Read the article Translating the Business Needs: The Role of the Project Manager	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 1 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 1 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
2	2,3	Defining and Planning a Project Topics: Project checklist (ch.4 and 5) Project definition (ch.4) Purpose for planning a project (ch. 5) Building a project plan (ch.5) Developing a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (ch. 6) Guidelines, importance, decomposition factors and key principles to build a WBS (ch.6) Readings: Horine, Chapters 4-6	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 2 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 2 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
3	4,7	Estimating the Work, Developing the Project Schedule & Determining the Project Budget Topics: Variables to consider when estimating the work: Importance, best practices, key methods, level of risk, sources of estimating errors.(ch.7) Points to consider when developing a schedule: importance, inputs, process, common issues, common Project Manager’s weaknesses, and goals. (ch.8) Factors to consider when determining project budget: Guiding principles, tools and techniques, cost sourcing and common issues.(ch.9) Readings: Horine, Chapters 7-9	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 3 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 3 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
4	7	Controlling a Project, Managing Project Changes & Deliverables and Issues Topics: Tools to help a Project Manager better control a project: defining what project control is, management fundamentals, techniques, performance reporting, challenges and components (ch.10) Key aspects to managing project changes: Best practices, common challenges, benefits of change control systems and what it entails (ch.11) Key considerations when managing project deliverables: best practices, common challenges, benefits, and configuration management plan. (ch.12) How to manage project issues: Best practices, key principles, issues log and issue management system (ch.13) Readings: Horine, Chapters 10-13	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 4 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 4 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
5	5	Managing Project Risks, Project Quality & Leading a Project Effectively Topics: Process , strategies, risks and risk mitigation strategies associated with managing process risk Definition of project quality , quality Tools, techniques, and challenges associated with managing project quality. Variables associated with leading a project: Importance of leadership, 12 key points, servant leadership, project leadership areas, leadership roles and qualities of successful PM's. Readings: Horine, Chapters 14-16	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 5 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 5 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
6	6	Managing Project Communications, Expectations & Keys to Better Project Team Performance Topics: Key points regarding managing project communications: Importance of communication, 7 key communication principles, general communication management, interpersonal skills, status reporting and meetings. (ch.17) Strategies and key concepts to manage expectations: Importance of managing expectations, aspects of expectations, key principles, importance and key elements to consider in kick off meeting and required management guidelines (ch.18) Concepts dealing with ways to better project team performance: components of a high performing team, proven techniques, ten principles and how to handle special situations such as poor performers, high maintenance staff and poor performers (ch.19) Readings: Horine, Chapters 17-19	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 6 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 6 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
7	7	Managing Differences & Vendors Topics: Strategies to manage potential conflict that may arise as a result of different cultures and projects: Cross- cultural projects, cross-functional projects, and virtual projects (ch.20) Key tips, skills and principles to better manage vendors (ch.21) Readings: Horine, Chapters 20 & 21	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 7 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 7 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)
8	7	Ending a Project, When Reality Happens & Intriguing Project Management Concepts and Topics Topics: Common challenges, and tips for ending a project successfully (ch.22) Common challenges and solutions associated with day to day management of projects: Dealing with difficult resources, turnover, managing hard milestones, and cultural issues.(ch.24) Intriguing PM concepts and topics: Agile approaches, critical chain management, mind mapping tools, project management training, portfolio management, Project Management Office (PMO) responsibilities and traits. (ch.25) Readings: Horine, Chapters 22, 24, 25 & 26	Read assigned material Review Lecture Material Participate in class discussions. 2 class discussions total on week 8 (response to original question due by Wed.; comments to 2 other peer posts due by Sunday 11:59 EST. Complete week 8 homework assignment (due by Sunday 11:59 EST)

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Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

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Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.