IT Project Management

1. Understand the genesis of project management and its importance to improving the success of information technology projects
2. Demonstrate knowledge of project management terms and techniques such as:

• The triple constraint of project management
• The project management knowledge areas and process groups
• The project life cycle
• Tools and techniques of project management such as:
  • Project selection methods
  • Work breakdown structures
  • Network diagrams, critical path analysis, and critical chain scheduling
  • Cost estimates
  • Earned value management
  • Motivation theory and team building
  • Etc.

1. Apply project management concepts by working on a group project as project manager or active team member
2. Use Microsoft Project 2016 and other software to help plan and manage a small project
3. Appreciate the importance of good project management

• Share examples of good and bad project management
• Prepare a journal throughout the course for personal reflection
• Use knowledge and skills developed in this class in other settings

Presentations:

Developing presentation skills is important for everyone, plus it’s a good way to share information. Each student will prepare and present one individual presentation and help with the group project presentations. The individual presentations must include at least three outside references, noted in footnotes and a reference page. Hand in a hard copy of your presentation notes, including a bibliography, or include the information in your handouts/visuals, if you plan to use any. We will brainstorm potential topics in class.  Presentations will be evaluated based on content, delivery, and audience response.

Group Projects:

The purpose of the group project (3-5 people per group) is to use a structured approach to project management in a team setting. As a class, we will select projects (or running cases), groups, and group project managers. Each group will hand in a project notebook at the end of the term and prepare a project Web site to facilitate communications throughout the project. 50% of the grade for the group project will be based on the group’s progress reports, final presentation, and Web site, and 50% will be based on the project notebook. Group project managers will earn a small amount of extra credit for successfully leading their project teams.

• Introduction to Project Management
• Project Management in the IT Context

• The Project Management Process Groups
• Project Initiation
• Project Integration Management
• Project Scope Management

Day 3:

• Project Time Management
• Project Cost Management
• Project Procurement Management

• Project Human Resource Management
• Project Communications Management
• Project Quality Management

• Project Risk Management
• Final Examination
• Final Group Presentations