Introduction to Project Management

IS378 Spring 2014

Todays objectives
To Understand: what this course is about what a project is what a project management is what project life cycle is why projects are important what triple constraints are

Course objectives
Initiate, describe, and prioritize projects Manage project teams including the fundamentals of leadership and team motivation Manage project communication Manage project schedules (time management) Manage project resources: human resources, capital equipment, and time Manage project risk and value Measure project success and document progress Manage project closure

Mode of instruction
Lecture
to frame the issues and lend meaning to the reading and exercises

In-class discussion and exercises

opportunities to participate and ask questions

Materials
Project Management text Case studies

Evaluation
Midterm Exam Assignments and participation Project and presentation Final Exam Total 25% 25% 25% 25% 100%

Term project
In order to develop both your project analysis and written communication skills, you are required to work in a group on a project and submit a group report. Within limits, any topic that relates to project management is appropriate for your project. It is important that you describe in your report what you learned from your project exercise and how that relates to what you learned in this course. I will meet with each team during the semester to check progress and to provide feedback. Your report (electronic and hard copy) is due by the start of the presentation week.

Study hints
Ask questions when you dont understand the material Treat the in-class exercises as a learning experience Take notes during class and soon after class review your notes and: Translate material into your own words Find and correct errors; ask me, no later than next class, to clarify Summarize key ideas if not done by me in class Link material to previously learned material covered in class Link material to your work and life experience To turn class material and discussion into your own words will take time. This is active learning

What is a project?

What is a project?
A project is a non-routine one-time job limited by time and budget to meet a specified need of the customer
often cross functional and cross organizational Increasingly involve activities that are outsourced or offshored.

Why study PM?

Projects are notorious for budget overrun and delay More importantly, the challenges of satisfying rising expectations for better management of projects has made this skill set critical in modern organizations

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Project management career

Domains IT PM New Product Development Construction Professional certification Project Management Institute Salaries for PM Entry level Las Vegas: $73,000--$94,000 Journeyman level: $88,000--$111,000

What is project management?

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Project management is
the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project.
Source: PMI, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 1996, p. 6

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Project management helps

Resource allocation: Human Financial Structural Organizational Meet objectives: Time Budget Functions

Attributes
Projects
are temporary have a specific purpose have primary sponsors or customers involve uncertainty require resources (human, financial, ) are subject to expectation change

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 Different project life cycle models exist. A typical project goes through:
Initiating

Life cycle

Planning

Developing

Implementing

Closing

Project life cycle

Constraints
Projects are impacted by scope, time and cost
An increase in scope

Scope

Time

Leads to an Increase in time ...

and/or an increase in cost

Cost

Important PM skills
Communication skills Organization/documentation People skills Fiscal understanding Change management Leadership Time management Problem solving Administrative skills/closure
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Course perspective
A three-fold perspective:
the job of project management the person responsible for the project the tools and procedures necessary to accomplish project objectives

These are interrelated and difficult to discuss separately.

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Course perspective
The job
What kind of subject area it is What it entails How it relates to other subject areas What opportunities and challenges it provides Why it is important for business professionals

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Course perspective
The person
What kind of skills are needed How much technical expertise is required How much management talent is necessary What individual traits are important to be successful at this job

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Course perspective
The tools
What tools there are for managing time What software tools are available and how to use them How to measure quality How to measure performance What techniques are available for quality control What methods are most useful for keeping track of events and activities
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Reflections on ethics
Have you been true to the purpose of the project? Have you treated everyone alike, giving everyone a chance? Have you been consistent, do people know where you stand? Have you been fair in your evaluation of others? Have you been open to suggestions and opinions? Have you accepted responsibilities and admitted mistakes?

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