[AISWorld] Feedback- course structure in project management

[Cecil Eng Huang Chua]

Hi all,



I will be teaching a new graduate level course in project management and would like some feedback.  The way I want to position the course is as one for project managers (as opposed to subproject leaders).  Basically, it is a course about decision making in a project, as opposed to a course about mechanical project management.  So, it is more case study and simulation based, less on calculating critical paths, doing GANTT charts, and PERT charts, resource allocation etc.  My assumption is they have the foundation before coming in.



I am looking for overall comments and criticisms.  I am also looking for specific feedback as per the below.  One problem I have is that it is a new course and I do not know the course size.  Some things work well with 20 students but don't work well with 50 and vice versa.



The students have to produce two deliverables.  First, they have to produce a written project proposal.  Second, they have to produce both a written and oral presentation on a project failure case.  The oral presentations are meant to drive home a point- we make the same mistakes time after time.  The idea is each student will present a case, state here are the reasons for failure and what should have been done.  The next student presents a different case, presents reasons for failure and what should have been done.  The class as a whole will connect the dots.



The course outline is as follows:



Week 1. Introduction: Review of PM- Here I will review GANTT charts, PERT charts, 80 hour rule, critical path, resource allocation etc. Can someone recommend to me online material I can hyperlink to for any student who does not have the background?

Week 2. The Project Proposal- Here we will talk about how to write one of these things.  Things covered will be- the proposal is a sales pitch.  Translating departmental concerns into the business.  Project cost (financial and opportunity) vs. recurring cost (e.g., maintenance, capital depreciation).  ROI.  Cost-benefit analysis. References to material would be appreciated.

Week 3. Project Governance- The focus here is on how organizational and project rules and culture shape how people behave.  This will fundamentally be a lesson in Institution Theory.  I plan to do two things- first, play two variants of musical chairs.  I demonstrate how the variant rules create different behaviors in participants.  Next, a case analysis.  Anyone know a good governance case?

Week 4. Coordination- The focus here is on how coordination requires certain characteristics to be successful.  I plan to either play the Beer Game or Keith Rollag's Bikestuff to illustrate coordination, followed by a class discussion.

Week 5. The Triple Constraint- Requirements, Time, Resources.  Case study on satisficing.  Anyone know a good case?

Week 6. Negotiation- I plan to do principles of negotiation.  The students will play Ugli Orange.

Week 7. Discuss Proposals- This will be a class where I review students' proposals individually and as a group.

Week 8. Vendor Selection- Case study.  I plan to do Timberjack Parts unless someone has a good suggestion for another case.

Week 9. Project Reporting-Mum and deaf effect, traffic light reporting.  I plan to use the Taurus case study.  Open to countersuggestions.

Week 10. Change Management- Would like this to be a simulation or a case. Open to suggestions.

Week 11. Case Presentations- See early description
Week 12. Case Presentations- See early description



I am debating other topics such as Program Management (how to decide which projects to fund), Managing stakeholders, and After Action Reporting.  There are only 12 weeks so I have to decide what is most important. Again, suggestions welcome.



Cecil Chua
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