OPMA 5364Project Management

Part 0 – Course Overview

Dr. Edmund PraterThe University of Texas at Arlington

Part 0 - Course Overview 2

Topic Outline

• Part 1: Projects and Project Goals• Part 2: Project Managers• Part 3: Project Teams and Project Conflict• Part 4: Starting and Planning a Project• Part 5: Project Scheduling• Part 6: Project Control• Part 7: Project Risk Management• Part 8: Project Wrap-Up

Part 0 - Course Overview 3

Topic Outline

Part 1: Projects and Project Goals• Why organize an activity or job as a project• Project goals and performance tradeoffs• Examples of projects and goals• Project life cycles• How are projects selected• Organizational structures and projects

Part 0 - Course Overview 4

Topic Outline

Part 2: Project Managers• Selecting the project manager• Roles of a project manager• Project manager responsibilities• Characteristics of an effective project manager• Project manager challenges• Project manager rewards• Project Management Institute (PMI)• Tips for managing meetings

Part 0 - Course Overview 5

Topic Outline

Part 3: Project Teams and Project Conflict• Characteristics of effective team members• Effective managerial styles• Conflict and project management• Common sources of conflict• Scope creep• Root causes of conflict• Conflict resolution approaches• Negotiation skills

Part 0 - Course Overview 6

Topic Outline

Part 4: Starting and Planning a Project• Project launch meeting• Identifying necessary activities• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)• Estimating activity durations• Identifying necessary resources• Project budgeting: Top-down vs. bottom-up approaches• Learning curves• Project action plan• Responsibility chart• Interface map

Part 0 - Course Overview 7

Topic Outline

Part 5: Project Scheduling• Identifying relationships among activities• Project network diagrams• Identifying critical paths and critical activities• Determining activity slack times• Gantt charts• Microsoft Project example• Management of project schedules

Part 0 - Course Overview 8

Topic Outline

Part 6: Project Control • Project control steps• Measuring and monitoring system• Resource allocation and resource conflicts• Project accelerating/crashing• Resource loading and leveling• Project tracking tools• Earned value analysis• Microsoft Project example• Scope creep and change control system

Part 0 - Course Overview 9

Topic Outline

Part 7: Project Risk Management• Project risks and risk management• Identification of risks• Risk assessment and risk analysis• Contingency planning• Time and cost padding• Expected values• PERT analysis• Computer simulation analysis

Part 0 - Course Overview 10

Topic Outline

Part 8: Project Wrap-Up• Project audits• Project final report• When and how to terminate a project• Termination activities• Final comments

Part 0 - Course Overview 11

Introductions

• Name

• Company

• Position

• Experience with projects

• Are you currently working on a project?

Part 0 - Course Overview 12

Learning Objectives

• Gain an appreciation of the multiple goals and complexities of projects

• Gain a better understanding of the roles, responsibilities, challenges, and rewards for project managers

• Learn how to better manage project teams and participants

• Learn how to better manage project conflicts• Gain an understanding of the tools and approaches to

better manage project schedules, budgets, and risks• Gain an understanding of the tools and approaches to

better control project performance