BUS1040

Introduction to Project Management

INTRODUCTION TO COURSE
Instructor: Farhad Eizakshiri, Ph.D.
George Brown College
Email: Farhad.shiri@georgebrown.ca
Week 1, Winter 2019

Project Management
@ George Brown College
My Background and Perspective
EDUCATION
 PhD in Project Management from University of Manchester, United Kingdom
 MSc in Project Management from University of Manchester, United Kingdom
 BSc in Civil Engineering from Tehran University, Iran

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
 Part-time Professor at School of Business, Conestoga College
 Part-time Professor at School of Management, George Brown College
 Part-time Professor at School of Management at Stanford International College
 Founder and CEO of Asanbar & Freightgram (Startups in the freight industry and the
Internet of Things IOT)
 Mentor and coach in Futurpreneur Canada
 President at IMEX Future Inc (Consultation enterprise providing education services)
 Project manager at European Flooring (A construction company)
 CEO of Farex Company (Exporting toys from China)
 Part-time lecturer at University of Manchester, United Kingdom;
 Commercial manager at Pol Sanat Felez (PSF) Co., Iran;
 Sales manager at Technoshant Co. (Podem Crane Co.), Iran.
Welcome to Project
Management world!
Learning Objectives
Before this class ends, we will achieve the following;

1. Review expectations for the semester

2. Learn what a career in project management entails
3. Introduce the project process and the role of a PM
4. Discuss the significance of managing trade-off’s
5. Engage in a fun first mini-group project
6. Discuss the group project which will be due Week 12
Some Key Dates
Date Course Progress Group Project Progress
Week 2 Participation Assignment Finalize Groups (5-6 ppl) & Proposal
Week 3 Participation Assignment Team Contract
Week 4 Participation Assignment First Draft – Project Definition
Week 5 Participation Assignment First Draft – WBS
Week 6 Midterm Exam Review First Draft – Project Plan
Week 7 Midterm Exam Mid-Point Peer Evaluation
Week 8 *No Class – Intersession Week
Week 9 Participation Assignment Status Report (Progress of Assignment)
Week 10 Participation Assignment In-Class Group Project Workshop
Week 11 Coaching Final Draft: Complete Report
Week 12 Written Reports Due
Week 13 Videos Due
Week 14 Final Exam Review
Week 15 Final Exam
The Need for Project Management

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 The Need for Project Management
Failure Statistics
• The Project Management Institute® (PMI®) estimates that the
United States spends $2.3 trillion on projects each year.
• Unfortunately, studies show that most of these projects will not
succeed.
• The Standish Group reports that only 29% of all projects are actually
delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.
• According to the PMI Fact Book, nearly 90% of all companies lack
the strategy to properly manage their project portfolio; only 17.6%
of companies have standard project management processes in place.

Although these statistics appear grim, there is

opportunity……

……and that opportunity is YOU!

http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/generic.asp?pageid=1331&country=United+States
The Need for Project Management
Why is Project Management Important?
• Allows an organization to have better Coordination and Control
• Improves employee, management and customer satisfaction
• Increases Project ROI, by Lowering Costs and Improving Margins
• Typically allows for a Higher Quality good or service to be produced

Effort

Time
What is a Project?
Definition
• Every project has a beginning and an end
• Usually a high degree of coordination and interdependencies
between tasks & resources
• Usually “Produces something unique” – Done One Time
• Differs from “Ongoing Operations” which have no end date
and are fairly routine & repetitive
Project Management Jobs
What Industries Typically Employ Project Managers?

GLASS DOOR.CA
https://www.glassdoor.ca
• Financial Services /Salaries/toronto-project-
manager-salary-
• Technology SRCH_IL.0,7_IM976_K
O8,23.htm
• Construction
• Event Planning
• Health Care
• Government
• Marketing
• Advertising
• Entertainment/Film
• Design
• Events
 Project Management Career Tracks
Typical Career Tracks
• Very few people start in the field as full-fledged project managers.
• Most are offered an assistant position on a project management
team and are assigned responsibility for one aspect of the work.
• As experience and results are gained, more and more management
tasks and responsibility may be assigned
• Sometimes subject-matter experts advance to become Project
Managers….this has advantages and challenges

Typical Job Titles that Lead to Project Management

• Project Coordinator
• Project Scheduler
• Assistant Project Manager
• Business Analyst
• Program Management Officer
• Team Lead
• Senior Manager (In a specific subject area)

http://www.wetfeet.com/careers-industries/careers/project-management
Project Management Career Considerations
Challenges & Frustrations
• Relying on Estimates - Missing promised dates
• Workload – Ultimately responsible for all aspects of the project
• Funding - No control over project budget and when it could be cut
• Authority - Responsible for outcome without cross-functional authority
• Personnel - Clashing personalities, different work ethics
• Managing Stakeholders - Often have changing expectations
• “Fighting Fires” - Often managing conflict
• Subject Matter Expertise – Don’t often have the best “technical skills”

Benefits & Rewards

• High Visibility throughout the organization
• Opportunity to work on high-priority initiatives
• Every project (and every day) is different
• Sought after skill set that commands respectable salary
• Usually the first name to be associated with a project success
• Opportunity to jump into different industries
What Does a Project Manager Do?

The Role
• Prepare estimates and support the business development process
• Define and document the projects requirements (i.e. the “WHAT”)
• Prepare a project plan and schedule resources (i.e. the “HOW”)
• Allocate and track project budgets
• Setup and monitor project progress and risks
• Facilitate communication with stakeholders
• Motivate and manage the team
• Ensure quality standards are met

A detailed job description for “Project Manager” can be found

through the HR Council of Canada at
http://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/right-people-job-descriptions-pr
oject-manager.cfm

On this page, there is also a sample job description from the

national economic development organization
http://hrcouncil.ca/docs/JD_Project_1.doc
 The Project Management Institute
What is it?
• Founded in 1969, this organization boasts over 200,000 members worldwide
• Perceived as the leading organization for project management professionals
• Created the “PMBOK” book of project management concepts & best practices

Benefits of Certification
• Standardization – Common thoughts, processes, and best practices for Pm’s
• Recognition – Employers identify people with these credentials as “Experts”
• Skill Development – Continuing education on the latest project management
concepts
• Networking – Build relationships with other people in the industry

Check it out @ www.pmi.org

PMI: The Toronto Chapter
What is it?
• 2nd largest PMI Chapter Worldwide with 4,700 members
• Opportunities to volunteer @ https://www.pmitoronto.ca/
PMI SOC: Students
What is it?
• SOC’s effort to focus their offerings to Ontario post-secondary enrolled
students

Check it out @ http://pmisocstudents.ca/about/

Participation Assignment – 2%
For Homework

1) Visit www.pmi.org

Find 3 different certifications that PMI offers

• Describe each of these certifications (i.e. who are they for, how are they different)
• What are the requirements for each of these certifications (i.e. experience,
education, etc)

2) Visit https://www.pmitoronto.ca/

List out 3 services that the Southern Ontario chapter offers it members
• For each, provide a few bullet-points that describe the service

3) Visit one of the Job Websites (e.g. www.pmjobs.ca,

workopolis, monster, etc.)

Find 1 project job posting for a “project” position that you would be interested in.
Copy the actual posting into the assignment and provide a link

Please TYPE out this 1-pager and submit it through

“Assignments” on the course Blackboard page
Participation Assignment: PM Jobs
To get a better understanding for the cross-section of Project
Management Jobs, browse some of the postings on the more popular
job-websites

http://www.pmjobs.ca/

http://www.workopolis.com/EN/
Common/HomePage.aspx

http://www.monster.ca/
 The Project Lifecycle
The Typical Stages of a Project

Project
Project Project Project
Definition
Planning Execution Close-Out

What are we trying How will we Let’s Do It How do we close

to Achieve? Achieve this? the project off?
• Project • Resources
• Who is work • Transitionin
Goals
needed? towards g
• Stakeholder completing
• What will • Formal
Goals the plan
they do? Closure
• Consistent and goals
• When will that have • Review
expectations
of high-level they do it been setup “Lessons
scope, in the Learned”
budget, and previous 2
time phases

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Eric Verzuh

 Functions of a Project Manager

Project
Project Project
Definition
Planning Control

Feedback, Changes, Corrective Action

* The three project management functions: The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management

Project Definition
• Requirements; Purpose, Goals, Constraints
• Stakeholders; Identify roles, Secure Buy-In
• Document; “What” is Required not “How”, Detail the “Rules of
Engagement”
Project Planning Project Control
• “How” to meet these Requirements • Identifying and managing risks
• Designing a project plan • Monitoring and Tracking Progress
• Scheduling and Estimating • Communication
• Detailing the project budget • Corrective Action

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Eric Verzuh

 Managing Project Trade-Off’s
Project Objectives
• A fundamental concept of project management is that there is a
relationship between the primary three project objectives…all of
which define project success.

• The completion of a project on-time and

Budget Time budget is quite considerably different
then the same scope delivered a year
later or even $20,000 over budget.
• Have to make sure these three
objectives match up with the objectives
of senior management and the customer
Scope

• Success is not only determined by the project managers ability to

manage these 3 objectives
• High staff morale (Low Burnout)
• Great relationship with the customer
• Vendors that can’t wait to work with you on the next project

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Eric Verzuh

 Group Project Benefits

• Students talk to real stakeholders around the college

• Valuable student perspectives are brought to these projects
• “Student-preneurs” emerge, recognizing opportunities and
taking initiative early in their college careers
• Culture-shift with students feeling school “ownership”
• Students gain tangible experience that makes them more
employable

student engagement student satisfaction

student experiences student spirit
student retention student referral buzz
Blackboard
https://bb-gbc.blackboard.com/
• Classroom Lecture Material
• Exam Reviews
• Grades
For Next Week

1. Log into Blackboard and Review the Week 1 Course

Content

2. Start thinking about a Group Project idea

3. Complete the homework participation assignment

regarding PMI and a PM Job Posting (submit online through
Blackboard by the start of next weeks class)