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MANGT 515 COST AND VALUE MANAGEMENT (3 credits): A problem-based course that emphasizes project cost control and teaches students to apply techniques to control projects in business. Prerequisite: MANGT 510 (may be taken concurrently)
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
MANGT 515 is a problem-based, interdisciplinary course that places project and product controls, particularly in respect to cost, at the center of the project management process and ensures that students understand and can specify and apply appropriate techniques to control the overall project in a modern business environment. 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.
So how are we going to do this?
MANGT 515 consists of 12 lessons, a textbook, and readings on Penn State's Electronic Reserve system. You may access electronic reserves by clicking on the Resources tab and choosing Library Reserves.
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. However, there is a suggested pace found in the course schedule, below.
What will be expected of you, the delegate?
As a student in this course, you are expected to read the material in the course content lessons, textbook, and e-reserves and complete any self-assessments, homework assignments, and the midterm assignment. 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 delegates on issues you don't understand
- complete your midterm assignment
- complete other assignments as required by your instructor
- prepare for your final exam
Objectives
MANGT 515 is a problem-based, interdisciplinary course that places project and product controls, particularly in respect to cost, at the center of the project management process and ensures that students understand and can specify and apply appropriate techniques to control the overall project in a modern business environment. The course focuses on the use methods for effective cost control in the project environment. How can an organization implement projects while maintaining control of its costs and value? The specific objectives of the course are:
- To learn the importance of cost and value management on successful project
ventures
- To understand "cost" and "value" as these terms apply
to project management
- To understand the nature of budgeting and financial analysis for project
selection and control
- To develop skill in using project management reporting mechanisms to estimate
project costs and investments, schedule and control resources, and track progress
of their projects
- Enhance the ability to interpret control information as it allows for change
(configuration) management of mid-stream projects
- To develop a multi-disciplinary outlook for operating on project teams, recognizing the dual (and sometimes competing) demands of managing the technical and cost-related sides of a project
- To provide a framework for conducting and Integrated Business Review of the project processes
Materials
The materials for MANGT 515 include:
- Pinto, J. (2007). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage (1st ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 0132229676
Reserve Readings
The following readings have been placed on Electronic Reserve at the Penn State Library:
- Fang, W-H., and J. H. Rogerson (1999). Value engineering for managing the design process. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 16(1), 42-55.
- Gardiner, P. D., K. Stewart (2000). Revisiting the golden triangle of cost,
time, and quality: The role of NPV in project control. International Journal
of Project Management, 18(4), 251-256.
- Hamburger, D.H (2003). Three perceptions of project cost. In Project management: A managerial approach. Meredith, Jack R. and Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. eds. New Your J. Wiley pp.372-378.
- Mustafa, M.A.; Al-Bahar, J.F.; (1991). Project risk assessment using the analytic hierarchy process. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 38(1), 46-52.
- Primrose, P. L., F. A. Bailey, and R. Leonard (1984). The practical application of discounted cash flow to plant purchase using an integrated suite of computer programs. Accounting and Business Research Winter, 27-31.
- Thiry, M. (2001). Sensemaking in value management practice. International Journal of Project Management 19(2), 71-77.
- Wateridge, J. (1999). The role of configuration management in the development and management of Information Systems/Technology (IS/IT) projects. International Journal of Project Management 17(4), 237-241.
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.
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 must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
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 the Technology and Software page.
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!
Grading
The following are the major assignments for this course:
- Coursework Assignment: 20%
- Final Exam: 40% This exam is offered online through Angel. It is not proctored but you are not allowed to use your course materials and you must abide by the PSU World Campus and academic integrity rules. You will have 2 hours to complete your final exam. Specific instructions for taking your exam will be emailed to you 1 week before you are to take it.
- Homework Assignments: 30%
- Participation: 10%
Students are expected to participate in online activities and discussions. Because of the importance of discussion to meeting the objectives of the course, students also will be evaluated on the frequency and quality of their participation. This evaluation will be based on the level of preparation for class discussion and student analysis and integration of the assigned materials. Students are expected to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. The following behavioral descriptions and corresponding number of participation points is a useful guide to different participation levels and their value.
Less than 10 points |
Student irregularly logs onto course system, fails to reliably respond to requests for input, and does not clearly contribute to team exercises. |
20 points |
Student regularly logs onto the course system, responds to direct requests for input (e.g., e-mail), and contributes to team exercises. |
30 points |
Includes the above, but also includes periodic and timely contributions to class discussion forums, clear involvement in team exercises, and active, quality responses and questions pertaining to online activities. |
40 points |
Includes all of the above but is distinguishable according to the regular, timely, and high quality nature of the participation. For example, a 40-point level contribution to a discussion forum not only responds to preceding postings, but it reflects insight and depth of understanding of course materials and/or stimulates additional relevant discussion. |
A maximum of 40 points can be earned for participation for each interactive session on the discussion forum during the semester. These sessions will be initiated and facilitated by your instructor. In addition to the major assignments, you will be asked to complete other activities throughout the course. These homework assignments will be posted every two weeks to the course discussion forum. For a list of assignments, see the course schedule.
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 Schedule
Course length: 15 weeks for Spring/Fall semesters and 12 weeks for Summer semesters (there may be a variation in weeks and assignments)
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The midterm assignment is due by end of Week 6. There will be no extensions. |
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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
[an error occurred while processing this directive]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.
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.
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