CHANDRAGUPT INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT PATNA

Post Graduate Diploma in Management

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Title Project Management

Instructor Prof. Kalyan Agrawal
Course Credit 3
Total No. of Sessions 20
Session Duration 90 Min each
Term V
Year PGP-II, Batch 2020-22

1. Introduction

Project Management is one of the key areas that require maximum attention from the
management. With more and more organizations shifting to “mission mode” operations,
the skills for completing these tasks within specified time and cost limits is on the rise. The
non-repetitive, irreversible nature of these activities and huge capital investment makes the
knowledge of scientific and advanced skills mandatory for proper management of projects.
The number of tasks and their interrelationship is very complex even in the case of small
projects and use of computer software is proving essential for successful management.
Many of projects have failed not due to lack of technical expertise but due to limited
knowledge of project management by the team leaders and managers. This course attempts
to develop necessary skills to manage large projects successfully.

2. Methodology

This is a core course. Apart from class lectures the course is designed to facilitate self-
learning through live projects, case studies and presentations, supplemented by lectures
and video presentations wherever necessary.

3. Objectives & Scope

This course is designed to impart necessary skills in managing large projects in different
domains ranging from construction to IT. The various phases of project development
cycle are dealt in detail with an in depth discussion on project formulation, design,
implementation, tracking, monitoring, control and closure. The course is designed in line
with the Project Management Body of Knowledge of Project Management Institute (PMI).

The course is essentially divided into two parts: In the first part, after a brief introduction
of the Project Management, the initial phases of project planning and implementation cycle
are discussed. This part will provide necessary skills to formulate, plan and design large
complex projects. The students will also learn basics of computerized project management
in this section. The second part of the course focuses on the implementation challenges of

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the projects. Issues involved in real time monitoring and updating of project is covered
during this stage. It would help students learn the tools and techniques of Project
Management, in the below areas:

 To be able to design and plan a project with clear set of goals

 To be able to appraise and build resource base to implement a project
 To be able to address the risks and uncertainties in project implementation
 To be able to build teams and lead a project from inception to conclusion; and
 To be able to use and able to plan, control and monitor project implementation using
computerized project management software such as MS Project or Primavera or Merlin
etc.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

 Apply the strategic project planning, and selection process.

 Write scope statement and project charter and prepare a project plan document.
 Effectively use MS-Project or any other chosen software of PM for Project
Scheduling, resource leveling and monitoring
 Work in project team, and share the group project work, and internalize the project
planning communication, costing and budgeting and monitoring processes.

Text Book
Project Management: the managerial process by Gray and Larson

Reference Books

1. Nicholas & Steyn (2008) Project Management for Business, Engineering and
Technology, Edn 3, Elsevier
2. Meredith, Mantel and Goplan(2006) Project Management: Core Text Book, Wiley
India
3. Ghattas & Mckee (2004)Practical Project Management, Pearson Education
4. E. Goldrat(1997) Critical Chain North River Press
5. Contemporary Project Management by Timothy J. Kloppenborg | Vittal S.
Anantatmula | Kathryn Wells

Websites
Visit the following website for supplementary material
www.pmi.org

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Submissions

All submissions should be mailed to pmassignments.cimp@gmail.com

Scheme of Evaluation

1. Projects: 25%
There will be two projects for this course as described below-

Project 1 (Individual): 10%

Topic: “Based on published reports (either on business media or on website”

prepare a short (3-4 pages) case study of a successful/failed project management
practice in an Indian corporate/organization (Please note that duplications are not
allowed)

Project 2 (Group): 15%

Topic: Select an industry or a service sector organization which had undertaken a

large scale project during the last 2 - 4 years and prepare a detailed report on the
various stages of project life cycle. Provide an independent assessment on the
success of the project, quality/maturity of the project processes followed, and the
risk management strategies adopted etc.

Presentation of Group Project: Sessions 16 onwards

Submission of project report: By 23.00 Hrs. on the day of Session-15

2. Quizzes, Cases, Class Participation, & Assignments: 15%

3. Mid-Term: 20%
4. End term: 40%

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 Session Plan

Session
No. Topic Method Text Reading Learning
1 Project Management – Discussion  What is a project?   Project is a temporary Endeavour
Overview, Importance,  Project Life Cycles undertaken to create a unique product,
Project Life Cycle and organization service or result
 Cost Time & Quality are key parameters
  Projects are, often utilized as means of
achieving an organizations strategic plan.
 Project Life Cycle measures its
completion as a function of time or
resources. It has 4 phases

2 Project selection & Discussion,
organizational strategy, Case -study
Project portfolio process.
 Strategy and project  Organization strategy is implemented
Mgt. through projects
  Two types of project selection methods:
 numeric & non-numeric
 Long run success is determined by
organization’s portfolio of projects &
actual mix

3 Defining the Discussion,  Defining the  Projects arise due to the strategy chosen
Project; Initiation, goals Case study Project to solve a problem or to take advantage of
& objectives; Scope - obtain approval for an opportunity, commensurate will
Management a project organizational strategy
 Project initiation &  Scope management includes the
Project Charter processes required to ensure that the
project includes all the work required and
only the work required to complete the
project

4 Project Organization
Discussion,  Project Life Cycle Different types of Project Organizations
Case study & organization are formed to suit complexity/nature of
Projects.
 Organizational culture is sensitive and
has an interaction with project
organizational structure. 

5-6 Project Planning, WBS, Discussion,  Careful project planning is strongly

Responsibility Matrix Case study associated with project success.
(RM)  Systematic breakdown of scope results in
WBS
 RM will provide clear responsibility on
who will do what

7 Budgeting the project Discussion,   Project budget is nothing more than the
Case study project plan, based on action plan or WBS
expressed in monitory terms. Budgeting
could be on top-down or bottom -up
approaches. Cost should not be
underestimated

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 8-9 Scheduling, Project Discussion,  Project network is a tool used for
Network, PERT / CPM Presentations, planning, scheduling & monitoring
Critical Path Exercises progress
 Scheduling, network diagram is useful to
set time baseline
10-11 Allocation of Resources: Discussion ;  Resource limited scheduling is a method
Resource leveling; Case study of developing the shortest schedules when
Resource limited the number or amount of available
scheduling resource is fixed
 Resource leveling is method of
developing a schedule to minimize the
fluctuation in resource requirement
12 Use of MS-Project Practice M.S. Project SW  Computerized package in Project
Software; Reducing sessions Management are useful in large and
Project duration (Project complex projects.
crashing)  Reducing of project duration can be
achieved by crashing techniques 
13 International Project  Extensive discussion of financial risks
Management; Project associated with international projects
Stakeholder Management  Internalization on stakeholders’
management

14 Project Manager & Team Discussion &  Role of Project Manager is key to
Communication mgt. Case study successful project management
 Team format , cohesiveness &
completeness are important
15 Project Monitoring & Discussion;  Project Monitoring system includes
Control, Earned value, Exercise collection, recording & reporting project
Project Closure information.
 Control uses monitored data and
information to bring actual performance
into agreement with Plan
 The Earned Value (EV) of a project is
 budgeted cost of work actually performed
16-19 Project Presentations Group Project  Working on project plan preparation
Presentation; helps internalizing project management
Review processes, tools and techniques and best
discussion & practices
feedback 
20 Project Audit & Closure;
Review and conclusion  Importance of audit and closure in
of the course project management

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List of Cases

Source Case No Title Author

HBS 9-904-080 Schmidt Co (A) John S Hammond

Publishing
HBS 9-190-128 Turner Corporation : Project control Robert Simmons
Publishing systems
HBS 606042 Terradyne Corporation : Jaguar Project Gary Pisano
Publishing

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