OSCM 493: Management of Technology Master Syllabus
Course Instructor:
Office Number:
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Course Materials: (Required)
Students are required to have access to a text and MHHE Connect software for assignments.
Project Management: The Managerial Process (8th ed.) by Clifford Gray and Erik Larson. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Copyright 2021 Connect Access Card: Includes eBook for Larson Project Management: The Managerial Process 8th edition ISBN: 9781260736175
(I suggest you view the below video for information on MHHE CONNECT SW access)
Video
A free copy of MS Project is available for download from MSDNAA website
MS Project access by Lab access also as desired – see video tutorial in course material
Course Website
Canvas
Course Objective
Managers are increasingly involved in the management of technology projects. These projects may involve the development of information systems, new products/processes or infrastructure development projects for the public or private sector. Project management is widely used in business to accomplish unique outcomes with limited resources under critical time constraints. Many managerial problems are associated with planning, directing, and controlling resources to meet the technical, cost, and time constraints of projects.
This course focuses on various areas of project management such as project organizations, teams, scheduling, cost control, earned value analysis, risk management, and managing project quality. On completing the course, the student should have a thorough understanding of complex, dynamic, and multi-dimensional issues in project management. Students will also learn to use project management software- Microsoft Project – in planning, directing and controlling projects.
Learning Objectives
- To gain exposure to various tools/techniques used to define, plan, and manage a technology project
- To develop logic and analytical thinking required in handling real-world technology projects
- To gain experience and knowledge in Microsoft Project software
- To understand the skills required as a project leader and a team member in a technology project
Learning Tools for the Course
- Quizzes – 16 short multiple choice, True/false, fill in the blank, graph interpretation, or matching questions will be given in class. The quiz maybe on new material to be discussed that day/class to ensure preparation and awareness of topics. It mays also be give as a summary to assess retention and application of concepts discussed from the lecture and or exercises. NOTE: 16 quizzes will be administered- 1 per chapter
- Chapter short case exercises: These 16 short case learning experiences, to be completed individually by each student and posted as an assignment to George Mason Canvas. The short cases are in the textbook at the end of the chapters and are identified in the schedule. The students are to read the short case and provide a 1 - 2-page single spaced summary of the case ad especially the application of the chapter/text materials to that case or situation. The student must demonstrate a knowledge of the application of the concepts described in the chapter/text.
- Individual Assignments: There are a few individual assignments for review of course materials and videos to orient the students to the class and to be able to use the Learning Management System (LMS) as well as other required resources. There is no course extra credit offered due to the depth and breadth of the course. Microsoft Project is a key resource for work identification, organization, scheduling, resource planning, and optimization. You will be required to use the MS project tool or equivalent in your assignments. You are responsible for obtaining and installing the tool as required for your use, limited instructions and lab access instructions will be provided for access to George Mason resources.
- Exams – There will be 2 exams a midterm and final exam for the course. The mid-term will cover chapters 1 - 7 and the final exam will focus on chapter 8-16 but will also refer to comprehensive concepts. The exams consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, and several short problem cases requiring a calculator or excel. The exams are open book, open notes but are timed and subject to tight time constraints. Exams are to be administered online and will be scheduled according to the course schedule over one to two selected days as published. There is no question backtracking, and one question provided at a time. Multiple choice questions will be graded automatically. Please realize the questions come from the broad topics of the course which are more than the limited book solutions. You are to select the best answer, and in some cases, there are multiple answers but one has been highlighted in the course material to include the supplemental material. The TEXT solution is not always the BEST answer!
Performance Evaluation and Grading
| Activity | Grade % |
|---|---|
| Connect & Smart book video | 2% |
| Professional Resume submission | 2% |
| Commercial Job Search (2 strong opps.) | 4% |
| MS project Submission | 4% |
| Chapter assessments (Quiz) (16@1.5) | 24% |
| Chapter Short cases in book (16@1.5) | 24% |
| Exams (Midterm Exam) | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
| Grade | Percentages |
|---|---|
| A | 93% and above |
| A- | 90 - 92.9% |
| B+ | 87 - 89.9% |
| B | 83 - 86.9% |
| B- | 80 - 82.9% |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9% |
| C | 70 - 76.9% |
| D | 60 - 69.9% |
| F | Below 60% |
NOTE: This syllabus is a guide to the data and topics to be presented in the OSCM 493 course and may be revised for schedule and student comprehension purposes as coordinated with the GMU SOB, ISOM department administration and registered students.
NOTE: Chapter short case summaries from the chapter end must relate to and reference material from the chapter.
Attendance Policy
This is an asynchronous class and there is no required attendance policy, however review of professor office hours video is required since supplemental material is included for course completeness. Attendance in this class is highly recommended to be successful in learning the course content.
Communications
All communications from me to you will be directed via e-mail. I will address all of my emails and replies ONLY to your @gmu.edu e-mail address for concerns of privacy and confidentiality. If you use another e-mail account as your primary e-mail, please be sure to forward your George Mason e-mail to that account.
Make-up Homework, Assignment, & Exams
Grades revision or appeals on any assignment/test/homework need to be made formally and in writing within one week of the graded deliverable being returned. Notice will be given before each exam; if you cannot take the exam at the designated time, you must make arrangements with the instructor before the exam is given. Exams may be made up only under extreme emergencies AND at the sole discretion of the instructor. A penalty for lateness may be assigned. Missed exams will be assigned a score of zero. Late homework or missed quizzes will not be accepted without pre-coordination and approval by the instructor. Homework and assignment are due per course schedule and are automatically enforced by the Learning Management System, submissions will be closed automatically on the date due.
Class Etiquette
Be courteous to and respectful to the instructor and your colleagues in class! Talking, texting, playing on laptop, doing work from other classes, or anything else that detracts from the in-class learning environment is not acceptable in the class.
Learning Goals for the ISOM Major (note: Goals addressed in this course are highlighted in bold text)
- Apply knowledge of information technology and business functions to understand its application in assessing, designing and improving business processes.
- Develop data organization, storage and processing solutions to support organizational needs for information management. They will also have the option of developing skills in the area of supporting decision making through business intelligence solutions.
- Use knowledge of computer networks as part of the IT solutions for improving business processes. They will also have option of developing more advanced skills in the areas of network and security.
- Effectively manage information technology projects.
- Understand the overall systems development life cycle and be able to recommend IT system solutions accordingly. They will also have option of learning appropriate development tools to develop prototype of IT solutions for business management.
Course Topics and Schedule
A tentative list of topics is given below. The list follows the basic order and coverage of topics in the required text and is subject to change during the semester.
Proposed Course Schedule (some minor adjustments may occur)
| Week 1 | Introduction to Project Management |
| Week 2 | Project Management Context The Project Manager |
| Week 3 | Project Organization |
| Week 4 | Project Planning/Scheduling Work Breakdown Structure |
| Week 5 | Project Cost/Effort Estimation Models for software Cost Estimation, COCOMO, SLIM, Function Points |
| Week 6 | Project Scheduling AOA, AON, PERT and CPM, Gantt Charts |
| Week 7 | Using Project Management Software Microsoft Project for Windows |
| Week 8 | Project Resource and Cost Management |
| Week 9 | Project Monitoring and Control Information Needs - Measurement and Analysis, Earned Value Analysis |
| Week 10 | Project Teams |
| Week 11 | Project Risk Management |
| Week 12 | Project Quality Management/Quality Assurance ISO 9000 and Capability Maturity Model |
| Week 13 | Metrics and Measurement Implementing a Metrics Program |
| Week 14 | Project Management in an International Context |
| Week 15 | Project Termination |
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