Main Content
Syllabus
BA 421 Project Management
BA 421 Project Management (3) Introduction to Project Management covering all phases of a project including proposal development, planning, execution, and closing.
Overview | Course Objectives | Materials | Library | Technical Requirements | Course Schedule | Course Requirements | Grading | Academic Integrity | Policies
Overview
Project Management is designed to provide the fundamental skills necessary for success in the business environment. BA 421 is one of a series of courses that collectively develop the skills and competencies necessary for business administration students.
The course will also explore the application of the Theory of Constraints to project management, and will use project management software to demonstrate and reinforce class concepts. The software will also be instrumental in the execution of a business project.
Prerequisite: B A 321 or B A 322
Course Objectives
After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate project management concepts and techniques by generating a project plan document (the “Integrated Project”). Students will present this document in stages throughout the semester to their classmates.
- Define key project management terms and concepts and demonstrate understanding by completing the Weekly Assignments, Exams, and participating in class discussions.
- Demonstrate basic skills in project management software (Microsoft Project or ProjectLibre) by completing a tutorial in the software package and the Integrated Project.
Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Project Management Software
This course requires that you use Project Management software (Microsoft Project or ProjectLibre, depending on your computer system).
- Windows Users: The most commonly utilized Project Management software is Microsoft Project. This course requires that students that do not have access to Microsoft Project download the free MS Project Professional (preferably 2013). You will not be able to download the free software until after the drop/add period has passed. Please follow the MS Project Product Key and Download Instructions.
- Mac Users: Microsoft Project is not available for Mac users. There are a variety of open-source software options available for non-Windows users, one of the most popular being ProjectLibre. ProjectLibre’s interface is very similar to Microsoft Project, including the use of the Ribbon and Gantt Chart functionality. ProjectLibre may be found at the following website: ProjectLibre Community Edition (Please use the Community Edition, rather than the Cloud version).
Additional information regarding Project Management Software can be found in Lesson 11.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments.
Note that all dates reflect North American eastern time (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live. All lesson assignments must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the last day of the timeframe indicated below for the lesson unless otherwise stated. Discussion forum first posts are due Wednesday of the lesson week assigned.
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
Other:
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
Textbook
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
| Readings: |
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Course Requirements
| Item | Quantity | Points | Total Points | % of Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated Project (IP) | 8 | 30 | 240 | 29.5% |
| Cases | 12 | 20 | 240 | 29.5% |
| Exercises | 7 | 20 | 140 | 17% |
| Discussion Board | 10 | 20 | 200 | 24% |
| Total | 820 | 100% |
Course Components
Case Studies
A case study is an important tool to reinforce the concepts discussed or to be discussed in a module. Generally, case studies provide a simulated environment of a real life scenario for students to analyze and make important decisions about various courses of actions. In this course, we will analyze approximately nine case studies (i.e. roughly a case per week).
Each case study has been selected to help you develop and deepen your insights into a particular concept of project management. Almost all of the nine case studies are real life cases in project management to give you a feel of real world problems and solutions approaches. This is in addition to the real world anecdotes and experiences that we have already interspersed in the weekly commentary.
With regard to the case study methodology for this course, first, you are expected to read each case study thoroughly. Second, critically analyze the case from various angles. For this, you may access publicly available information on the internet (if required). Finally, you are expected to submit your answers in a word document format. There are approximately 3-4 questions at the end of each case study. Your case studies assignments will be graded for depth, clarity, synthesis, and originality of your answers. Upon grading your case studies, I will select the three best submissions (based on above parameters) for each case study and post them in the course for the benefit of all.
Exercises
Exercises are a way to help you reinforce the concepts you have learned in a particular lesson. They will also let you know where you stand in the learning process.
- What is the best time to work on Exercises? Once you are done with reading and assimilating the commentary, textbook readings, and any other supplementary readings, you are in a good position to attempt the exercises. If you are starved for time in a particular week, you would do well to at least read over that week’s commentary before you attempt the weekly exercise.
- Collaboration: Each week you will be completing an exercise (some weeks, you may have more than one exercise) by yourself. Although I encourage you to collaborate with your classmates for solving the exercise problems, I strongly suggest you to write your answers by yourself.
- Grading: Each exercise will be graded for 100 points. While grading, I will definitely give partial credit if your final answer is wrong but you have shown all or some of the steps leading to the final answer.
- Submission/Deadline: The exercises are due at 11:59pm on the last day of the course week. As mentioned in the exercise, you will submit your solutions as a single Word document, which means, if you have an Excel sheet that forms a part of an exercise, I suggest you to cut and paste the Excel work into your Word document.
The Integrated Project (IP)
The Integrated Project (IP) is an opportunity to apply the concepts learned in class in a real-world format: the creation of a detailed Project Plan. In aggregate, your Integrated Project will provide you with a complete Project Scope Statement document that could be used to “pitch” the project to stakeholders. The IP consists of six exercises and two peer assessments that will be completed by teams assigned by the instructor.
General Integrated Project Grading Criteria
- Team Submissions (6 submissions total)
- 10 points: application of concepts learned in previous chapters, followed instructions provided in syllabus
- 15 points: general insight, application of real-world concepts
- 5 points: grammar, spelling, general neatness
- IPs received late will receive 0 points.
- Peer Assessments (2 submissions total)
- Survey that will be completed independently to review team members’ performance. Grades will be based upon average score of your self-rating and your team members’ ratings. Students will utilize the Peer Evaluation. This form rates student performance on a scale of 1-40 based on 7 criteria.
- For example, if there are three team members and you give yourself a score of 35 and your team members each give you a score of 20 and 30 respectively, your score will be (35 + 20 + 30) / 3 = 28. This will be rounded to whole numbers.
- The calculated score will then be multiplied by 0.75 to calculate an assignment score based upon 30 points.
Discussion Board
To enhance overall learning, I will open a discussion each week with question(s) relevant to the weekly reading(s). I may even assign a current news article or any other relevant issue for discussion. I expect each of you to make at least one original post per assigned reading and at least two comments on another student’s posts. If I sense any kind of plagiarism (such as cutting and pasting material not your own), I will give one private warning to the concerned student; thereafter, I will publicly flag the concerned individual. This will severely affect your class participating grades. Please review the “Discussion Grading Policies” and “Posting Policies” below for more information.
NOTE: After posting a reply to a Discussion Forum, you will not have the ability to edit or delete your post. It is recommend that you compose your discussion message in a word processing program first and then copy and paste the text into the Discussion Forum.
Grading
| Numerical value | Letter grade |
|---|---|
| 93 and above | A |
| 90–92.99 | A- |
| 87–89.99 | B+ |
| 83–86.99 | B |
| 80–82.99 | B- |
| 77–79.99 | C+ |
| 70–76.99 | C |
| 60–69.99 | D |
| below 60 | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page. Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Additional Academic Integrity Violations
Please note: Various tutoring websites claim to offer you the opportunity to download answers to everything from accounting problems to quiz questions for little to no cost. Full papers can also be downloaded to submit in place of your own work. Use of these materials, or “ghosting,” is considered cheating and an academic integrity violation. Similarly, uploading exams, course materials, or your work to one of these sites is considered an academic integrity violation.
Using online services that complete assignments for you is considered an academic integrity violation.
Giving your Penn State Access ID and password to someone else to do your work is against University policy AD95/AD96 and an academic integrity violation; sanctions will be given for these violations.
Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
-
Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
-
For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Principles
Policies
Team Project
As an integral part of this course, students will complete the Integrated Project, a team project that will result in a complete scope statement for a hypothetical project.
- Teams shall be chosen at random from all students enrolled in the class section as of the end of Lesson #2. Teams will be announced to the class early during the week of Lesson #3.
- As a part of IP #1, students will commit to a “contract” that defines roles and expectations as a member of the team. Students will be able to anonymously provide feedback on team members during the process as defined in the assignments. If a team is having difficulty with one member of the team, this member will be reported to the instructor for arbitration. The issue will resolved by the instructor in a manner he or she sees fit, including: removal of a team member and disbanding of the entire team. Students will not be allowed to join another team. If a team is disbanded in its entirety, students will complete remaining assignments on their own.
Late Policy
Late Assignments will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to contact the instructor prior to the due date of an assignment if you are aware of extenuating circumstances that will impact your ability to meet a deadline. The instructor will determine if alternative arrangements may be made.
Blank or Erroneous Assignment Submissions
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded the correct document to each assignment prior to the assignment due date. Please check your assignment submission immediately after uploading a file in Canvas to ensure that it contains content and is the correct file. If you notice an error, such as a blank or incorrect file, you must resubmit the assignment before the assignment due date. Similarly, you are responsible for ensuring that discussion forum initial posts are not blank and that any website URL submissions (such as links to documents, video recordings, etc.) have the correct sharing settings enabled so that they can be viewed by recipients. Any blank or erroneous submissions that you have not resubmitted by the assignment due date will receive a zero for the assignment.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Privacy Notice
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.One Year Course Access
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.