Course Overview
This course provides a foundational and comprehensive introduction to project management principles, tools, and methodologies aligned with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Students will learn to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control, and close projects across a variety of industries and contexts. Topics include project lifecycle phases, scope management, scheduling, cost planning, risk management, communications, procurement, and stakeholder engagement. Students will apply industry-standard tools including Gantt charts, network diagrams, and project management software throughout the course.
Learning Outcomes
•Define project management concepts and the role of the project manager across the project lifecycle.
•Develop project charters, scope statements, and work breakdown structures.
•Build realistic project schedules using network diagrams, CPM, and Gantt charts.
•Prepare project budgets and apply cost management techniques.
•Identify, analyze, and respond to project risks using a risk management framework.
•Develop project communication and stakeholder management plans.
•Apply project closure procedures and conduct post-project evaluations.
Weekly Schedule & Assignments
Week Topic Assignment Guide / Instructions
Week 1 Introduction to Project Management Project Management Reflection Paper
Think about a project you have participated in (personal, academic, or professional). Using PM terminology from the PMBOK, analyze how the project was managed. Identify two things done well and two areas for improvement. Write a 2-page reflection.
Week 2 Project Lifecycle & Organizational Context
Organizational Structure Analysis
Compare functional, matrix, and projectized organizational structures for project management effectiveness. Using a provided company profile, recommend and justify the best organizational structure for managing a new product launch. Write 2 pages.
Week 3 Project Initiation & Charter Development Project Charter
Using the provided project scenario, develop a complete project charter. Include: project title, purpose, objectives, scope boundaries, deliverables, milestones, budget estimate, risks, stakeholders, and sponsor authorization. Minimum 2 pages.
Week 4 Scope Management & WBS
WBS and Scope Statement
Write a project scope statement for your charter project. Decompose the project into a WBS with at least three levels and 20 work packages. Develop a WBS dictionary for five work packages. Submit the scope statement, WBS diagram, and dictionary.
Week 5 Project Scheduling I: Activities & Dependencies
Activity List & Network Diagram
Define all project activities from your WBS. Establish sequencing and dependencies. Draw a precedence network diagram and identify the critical path. Calculate early/late start and finish times for all activities. Submit diagram and calculations.
Week 6 Project Scheduling II: Gantt Charts & Milestones
Gantt Chart Development
Using MS Project, Excel, or a free PM tool, build a Gantt chart for your project covering all activities and milestones. Ensure the chart includes durations, dependencies, and resource assignments. Submit the Gantt chart with a 1-page narrative.
Week 7 Project Cost Management
Project Budget Development
Develop a detailed cost estimate for each WBS work package. Aggregate into a project budget. Create an S-curve showing planned expenditures over time. Write a 1-page cost management plan addressing cost tracking and change control.
Week 8 Quality Management
Quality Management Plan
Develop a quality management plan for your project. Define quality standards, quality assurance activities, and quality control checkpoints. Include at least one quality metric per major deliverable. Minimum 2 pages.
Week 9 Project Risk Management
Risk Register & Response Plan
Identify 12 risks for your project. For each, assess probability and impact (use a 5×5 matrix). Prioritize risks and develop response strategies (avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept) for the top five. Submit the risk register and a 1-page risk narrative.
Week 10 Communications Management
Project Communications Plan
Develop a communications plan for your project. Identify stakeholders, information needs, communication channels, frequency, and responsible parties. Create a stakeholder communication matrix. Submit the plan and matrix (minimum 2 pages).
Week 11 Procurement & Contract Management
Make-or-Buy Analysis & SOW
Perform a make-or-buy analysis for three project components using provided cost and capability data. For one outsourced component, write a Statement of Work (SOW) specifying scope, deliverables, timeline, and acceptance criteria (minimum 2 pages).
Week 12 Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Identify all project stakeholders and assess their current vs. desired engagement levels. Develop specific engagement strategies for three key stakeholders. Write a 2-page stakeholder engagement plan tied to your communications plan.
Week 13 Project Execution & Change Control
Change Control Process Design
Design a change control process for your project. Define how changes are submitted, reviewed, approved, and documented. Create a sample Change Request Form and a Change Log template. Write a 1-page change management policy.
Week 14 Project Monitoring & Control
Project Status Report
Using provided mid-project performance data (scope, schedule, cost actuals), write a formal project status report. Assess overall project health, highlight variances, identify risks, and recommend corrective actions. Format as a professional 2-page status report.
Week 15 Project Closure & Lessons Learned
Final Project Management Plan & Lessons Learned
Compile all project management documents into a final integrated Project Management Plan. Include an executive summary and a lessons learned register with at least five entries. Present key findings in a 10-minute recorded presentation or written report (min 8 pages).
