Examines the theory and practice of managing projects. Explores human, mathematical, entrepreneurial, managerial, and engineering aspects of project management. The systems development life cycle is the framework for the course. Addresses needs analysis, requirements definition, design, and implementation in the context of project management. Introduces mathematical and software tools for planning, monitoring, and controlling projects.
This module teaches how to transform Work Breakdown Structures into actionable timelines using network diagrams (AON, AOA), Gantt charts, PERT/CPM diagrams, and critical path analysis.
What's included
16 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
16 readings•Total 104 minutes
Course Introduction•2 minutes
Syllabus - Engineering Project Management Part 2•10 minutes
Meet Your Faculty•2 minutes
Academic Integrity•1 minute
Module Overview•8 minutes
Brief History of Network Diagrams & AoN vs. AoA•10 minutes
Step-by-Step Construction of AoN/PERT•7 minutes
Step-by-Step Construction of AoA•12 minutes
Brief History of Gantt Charts•2 minutes
Precedence Diagramming•13 minutes
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gantt Charts•10 minutes
Network scheduling by solving network diagrams •5 minutes
Step-by-Step Forward Solution•7 minutes
Step-by-Step Backward Solution•8 minutes
Critical Path & Role of Slacks•5 minutes
Module Wrap-up•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 9 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Advanced Project Planning
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module addresses advanced planning concepts including the fallacy of the man-month metric, probability in project scheduling, statistical analysis, and the use of uncertainty machines in scheduling.
What's included
1 video9 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 6 minutes
Probabilities in Project Scheduling•6 minutes
9 readings•Total 80 minutes
Module Overview•6 minutes
The Mythical Man-Month, Group Productivity & Practical Implications•8 minutes
Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics & Confidence Intervals•18 minutes
Probability of Project Completion•12 minutes
Probability of Finishing by Target Date T•16 minutes
Multiple Critical Paths and Toward Realistic Estimates•6 minutes
Benefits & Example in Project Management•8 minutes
NIST Uncertainty Machine•3 minutes
Module Wrap-up•3 minutes
4 assignments•Total 12 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Human Resource Planning
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module covers project crashing and fast tracking, resource loading and leveling, balancing resources using heuristics, and the Critical Chain Method (CCPM).
What's included
1 video16 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 7 minutes
Critical Chain Method•7 minutes
16 readings•Total 137 minutes
Module Overview•2 minutes
Project Crashing and Fast Tracking•2 minutes
Crashing a Project and Methodology for Crashing•18 minutes
Fast Tracking a Project and Comparison: Crashing vs. Fast Tracking•6 minutes
Intro: Resource Loading and Resource Leveling•5 minutes
Resources vs. Outcome•5 minutes
Intro to Resource Balancing and Resource Loading•12 minutes
Assumptions in Resource Loading and Resource Leveling•9 minutes
Benefits and Challenges of Resource Leveling•5 minutes
Using Gantt Charts to Balance Resources and Rules to Prioritize Tasks•15 minutes
Project Portfolio Prioritization - The "Waterline" Concept•15 minutes
The Critical Chain Method (CCPM) Intro•7 minutes
Goldratt's Observations; CPM vs. CCPM; Identifying the Critical Chain; Core Principles•20 minutes
This module focuses on monitoring project performance through feedback systems, Earned Value Management (EVM), forecasting project delays and expenses, and understanding performance variances and indices.
What's included
1 video20 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 7 minutes
Project Execution•7 minutes
20 readings•Total 158 minutes
Module Overview•6 minutes
The Feedback System•12 minutes
The Project Manager as System Controller•8 minutes
Summary - Knowns & Unknowns for Cost Forecasting•2 minutes
Additional Variables and Interpretations•1 minute
Variances•7 minutes
Performance Indices•3 minutes
Relationships & Glossary•6 minutes
Special Cases & Four Quadrants•18 minutes
Project Management Information Systems•1 minute
Desirable PMIS Attributes•2 minutes
Common PMIS Mistakes•5 minutes
Earned Value and Burndown/Burnup Charts•6 minutes
Module Wrap-up•5 minutes
5 assignments•Total 15 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Controlling Project Execution
Module 5•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module examines project control mechanisms, including types of control (cybernetic, go/no-go, phase/gated, post control), critical ratio analysis, balancing competing constraints, and managing scope creep.
What's included
21 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
21 readings•Total 109 minutes
Module Overview•3 minutes
What is Unexpected and Needs to Be Controlled•3 minutes
Time Could Slip•3 minutes
Cost Could Change•3 minutes
Scope Might Change•3 minutes
Control of the Physical Assets•3 minutes
Control of Human Resources•3 minutes
Financial Resources Control•3 minutes
Types of Project Control•2 minutes
1. Cybernetic Control•6 minutes
2. Go/No-Go Control•6 minutes
3. Phase/Gated Control Process (Managing by Milestones)•12 minutes
4. Post Control (Project Retrospective)•4 minutes
Comparison of Control Types•12 minutes
Critical Ratio & Its Importance; Interpretation; CSI vs. CR; Dangerous Condition (CSI>1, CR<1)•20 minutes
Balancing Competing Constraints•3 minutes
Product Cost & Feature Set as "Most Important"•3 minutes
Development Cost as "Most Important"•2 minutes
Scope Creep & ECOs•6 minutes
Importance of a Change Control Bookkeeping System•6 minutes
Module Wrap-up•3 minutes
5 assignments•Total 15 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Project Assessment and Evaluation
Module 6•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module covers project audits, evaluation methodologies, the five dimensions of project success, the NTCP classification system, spider diagrams for visualizing project profiles, and recommendations for effective evaluations
Audit Questions & Contents of an Audit Report•5 minutes
Project Evaluation•2 minutes
Five Dimensions of Project Success•10 minutes
Time Frame of Success Dimensions•6 minutes
The PM Conducts Evaluations Frequently•1 minute
Case Study - Mobile Banking App; NTCP Classification; Spider Diagram•15 minutes
Relation to the Aggregate Project Plan•5 minutes
Comparing Audit and Evaluation•10 minutes
Recommendations for PMs•10 minutes
Module Wrap-up•3 minutes
3 assignments•Total 9 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Assess Your Learning•3 minutes
Project Termination and Retrospective
Module 7•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores the critical final phase of the project lifecycle, examining how projects conclude through four distinct types of termination (extinction, addition, integration, starvation), reasons for termination, critical success factors, and proper closure procedures.
What's included
16 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
16 readings•Total 58 minutes
Module Overview•2 minutes
Types of Project Termination•1 minute
Termination by Extinction & Addition•4 minutes
Termination by Integration & Starvation•6 minutes
Reasons for Project Termination•1 minute
Business, Personnel & Technical Reasons•3 minutes
Research Data on Premature Termination•2 minutes
Critical Project Success Factors•1 minute
Critical Success Factors•6 minutes
Other Important Factors•3 minutes
Decision Criteria for Termination•4 minutes
Implementation of Project Closure & Final Documentation•1 minute
Closure Manager & Ten Steps of Project Closure•10 minutes
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