MPEM 5020
Project and Engineering Management

Instructor
Craig Ehlert, Adjunct Instructor, Montana State University.

Text
Project Management for Business and Technology by John M. Nicholas Prentice Hall

General Policies and Procedures
The distance learning format of the course presents unique challenges for the student and instructor. The responsibility for learning the concepts in this course will be based on student self-study with guidelines for reading and discussion questions provided to give the student direction. The course elements are designed to give the student experiential learning that can be fed back to the instructor for evaluation and comment. A series of lecture slides for each module will be provided. Homework style questions and problems will be suggested for the student to assist them in preparing for course evaluation elements such as exams and key learning questions. Evaluation elements will be designed to challenge the student, but recognize that in this learning environment, the normal closed book evaluation may not be practical or controllable.

Grading Policies
All assignments will be awarded points based on "correctness" or ""depth of response" to the assignment or exam. Points for the entire course will be added with final grades awarded based on the total points earned. Typically, A's will be awarded for successfully earning 90% or more of the points, B's for 80%, and C's for 70%. The instructor will evaluate all students on a comparative basis for final distribution of grades if different than the scale indicated above. The distribution of points for the various course elements is shown below:

Description
An introduction to the management of projects for engineering projects and business applications.

Objectives

• Basic understanding of project management philosophies and concepts
• Basic understanding of how project management systems are developed
• Understanding various methods of defining and planning project tasks
• Understanding how project management concepts are developed
• Learning about the project management organization and structure
• Understanding how to end and evaluate the success of the project

Outline
The course is divided into 6 modules covering the course objectives. Course work will consist of chapter readings and discussions, case studies, quantitative modeling of project management tasks, and an element that has the student report on course issues applied in a real world project of their choosing.
Module Key learning concepts:

Module 1
Project Management Philosophies and Concepts

• The need for project management
• Project goals
• Project management functions
• Project systems & principles
• Systems analysis approach

Module 2
Systems Development Cycle

• Systems life cycle
• Project conception
• Initiation & feasibility
• Project execution
• Operation phase
• Evaluation

Module 3
Defining & Planning Project Tasks

• Planning Fundamentals
• Planning & Scheduling Charts
• Network Diagram Development
• Critical Path Evaluation Tools
• Managing Resource Constraints

Module 4
Project Development & Management Concepts

• Cost Estimating and Budgeting
• Managing Risks in Projects
• Project and Cost Control Process
• Project Information Management Systems
• Contract Management

Module 5
Project Management Organization and Structure

• Project Organization Structure and Integration
• Project Roles, Responsibility, and Authority
• Managing Participation, Teamwork, and Conflict

Module 6
Ending the Project

• Project Evaluation, Reporting, and Termination
• Project Failure, Success, and Lessons Learned

Learning Elements

Examinations: Three exams are designed to test learning of key course concepts and understanding of quantitative modeling approaches necessary for good project management. Exams, each covering two modules, will include some True/False and Multiple Choice type of questions with some quantitative modeling problems in Modules 3 and 4. The exams will also include essay questions that will challenge the student to apply course concepts in new ways, potentially using the book as a key reference.

Key Learning Concept Questions: Each module will have a series of questions the student will answer as the module progresses. These questions will be based on module learning concepts and will give the student a chance to explore the course concepts with the aid of the text and other resources. Some of these questions will include quantitative modeling problems.

Case Studies: A series of case studies are designed to give the student a chance to think outside the box on simulated situations, applying the module lessons to explore new ways of solving problems in the form of short essay responses to the issues explored in the cases.

Project Monitoring: Each student will follow a project of their own choosing, preferably from their existing workplace, to explore how the course concepts are actually applied or not applied, with evaluations made of their effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.

Questions or Comments:
Kumar Ganesan ● MPEM Director ● 406-496-4239
Cindy Dunstan ● Graduate School ● 406-496-4304