Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
MANGT 510 PROJECT MANAGEMENT (3)
A problem-based, interdisciplinary course in project management skills and techniques needed to manage projects in a modern business environment. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
Note : Students who have completed a master's degree (M.S., M.A., or M.B.A.) are not permitted to transfer credits from that degree into another master's degree at Penn State.
Overview
This course will introduce you to the major techniques for planning the project development process. During your study, it is expected that you will draw on your own work experiences to further enhance your understanding of the subject matter. Therefore, many of the course assignments may be completed by using real situations and instances from your experience. We ask only that you maintain the integrity of private information in these assignments by changing any names such that individuals are not able to be identified.
The course has an established start and end date and you will interact with other students throughout the course.
MANGT 510 is 15 weeks long.
So how are we going to do this?
MANGT 510 materials include a textbook, a case studies booklet, and SimProject software. The course content contains 12 lessons, or topics of study. There are also readings on Penn State's Electronic Reserve system which you are expected to have read and understood by the time you take the final exam which will be administered online . You may access electronic reserves by clicking on the "Student Resources" link on the left hand menu. If you then choose Library Reserves, you will access your course readings directly.
You may study this material at your own pace, meaning that you will be able to read and work through this information at a rate that works best for your learning style. A course schedule is posted later in this document to help keep you organized over the course of the semester. This Web site was designed to help facilitate your understanding of the content. It contains a link to a discussion forum that you can use to ask questions or discuss content issues with your professor and fellow delegates, e-mail access, a chat room, drop boxes to submit assignments, and other materials to aid you in your study.
What will be expected of you?
As a student in this course, you are expected to read the material in the textbook and in the course content, complete your midterm assignment, take any self-assessments, and complete other work as assigned by your instructor. You may work through this course at your own pace, but at each stage, you should:
- Conscientiously read and reflect on the material
- Ask questions (via the Web, e-mail, phone, or in person) of your instructor and fellow classmates on issues you don't understand
- Complete your midterm assignment
- Complete other assignments as required by your instructor
- Prepare for your final essay exam
Objectives
This course will introduce you to the major techniques for planning the project development process. By the end of this course, you should be able to
- comprehend the basic concepts associated with projects and project management,
- explain the historical context in which the discipline of project management has evolved,
- describe techniques that have become fundamental to the current practice of project management, and
- explain the broader managerial issues that have a bearing on the management of a project.
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.The following materials are required and must be purchased from MBS Direct:
- Pinto, J. (2013). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage and MS Project. (3rd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780132664158.
- Pinto & Slevin-Project Implementation Profile Innodyne
- SimProject-simulation software Pinto and Parente Simprofessionals
This course also requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. To access these materials, click on the "Student Resources" link on the left hand menu. The following materials have been reserved:
- Wideman, R. M. (1995). Criteria for a project management body of knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 13(2), 71-75.
- Allen, W. E. (1995). Establishing some basic project management body of knowledge concepts. International Journal of Project Management, 13(2), 77-82.
- Wirth, I., and Tryloff, D. E. (1995). Preliminary comparison of six efforts to document the project management body of knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 13(2), 109-118.
You may purchase course materials from Barnes & Noble College (the bookstore used by Penn State's World Campus). For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website. Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. Alternatively, you may obtain these texts from other favorite bookstores. Be sure you purchase the edition/publication date listed.You may purchase course materials from MBS Direct (the bookstore used by Penn State's World Campus). For pricing and ordering information, please see the MBS Direct Web site, located at http://direct.mbsbooks.com/psude.htm . MBS Direct can also be contacted at 1-800-325-3252. Materials will be available at MBS Direct approximately three weeks before the course begins. Alternatively, you may seek these texts from other favorite bookstores. (Note: Be sure you purchase the edition/publication date listed.)
Many of Penn State's library resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Library Resources and Services for Off-Campus Users Web site, 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
- ask a librarian for research help via e-mail, chat, or phone using the ASK! service
...and much more!
NOTE: 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 check that your library registration has been completed, visit the Library's homepage , click on "My Library Accounts" and then click on "CAT Account".
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit our Student Services page regarding course materials.
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 Specifications
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
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 Requirements and Grading
Grading for this course will be based on the midterm assignment (35%), participation in online discussion (Discussion Forum) and homework submissions (15%), simulation final results (5%), and the final examination (45%).
Homework
Please note that I will ONLY accept homework assignments by their due date AT THE LATEST. Due dates are the last day of a lesson. If you are unable to complete a homework assignment within the required time frame, you may submit it for no credit if you choose. Further, I request that all homework done in advance be submitted within the time period requested. In other words, please do not get too far ahead. There is nothing wrong with doing homework in advance but please do not submit it to the drop boxes until the week of that lesson.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If you are prevented from completing this course for reasons beyond your control, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from your instructor. For more information, please see "Deferred Grades" on the Student Policies Web Site .
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate 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.
- Course begins - STARTING DATE
- Course ends - COMPLETION DATE
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Lesson 1: Foundations of Project Management |
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Lesson 2: Project Strategy, Stakeholder Management, and Selection |
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Lesson 3: Life Cycle Management |
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Lesson 4: Bodies of Knowledge and Project Management Maturity |
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Lesson 5: Case Study: Thrust SSC - A Project Against the Odds |
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Midterm Paper |
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Lesson 7: Introduction to Project Scheduling (Activity Networks) |
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Lesson 8: Commercial Law and Project Procurement Practice |
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Lesson 9: The Human Side of Project Management |
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Lesson 10: Organizations |
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Lesson 11: Cost and Value Management |
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Lesson 12: The Management of Projects |
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Final Examination |
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Final Exam Essay |
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.
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 .
Policies
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.