INFM 205-10
Informatics Project Management
Fall 2019 Syllabus

S Gaffney
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Office: office location
Phone: contact phone with area code
Office Hours:
Virtual office hours. Telephone and in-person advising by appointment


Syllabus Links
Textbooks
CLOs
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Prerequisites
Resources
Canvas Login and Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
 

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning October 14 at 6 am PT unless you are taking an intensive or a one-unit or two-unit class that starts on a different day. In that case, the class will open on the first day that the class meets.

This two-unit course runs from October 14 to December 9. The class will be available on Canvas on October 14. Grades will not be posted until the end of the semester.

You will be enrolled in the Canvas site automatically.

Course Description

Introduces essential strategies and techniques for project management. Topics include: management styles, institutional constraints, project life cycles, stakeholder management, scope definition, risk assessment, project planning tools, and team management.

Assignments and Course Calendar

Module CLO Topics  Due Dates
1 1 What is a Project; What is Project Management

Readings:
Introduction to Project Management (Video)

The Project Management Lifecycle (Video)

Scope Creep: The Two Dirtiest Words in Project Management

Traditional Project Management

What is Project Management?

Discussion Question 1

Due October 20

2 1,2,3 Project Management Process Groups

Readings:
Study Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas for the PMP ® Exam

PM Ideas: Processes and Knowledge Areas (PDF)

Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas (Video)

Discussion Question 2

Due October 27

3 1-5 Scoping a TPM project

Readings:
How to define the scope of a project

The Top Five Tips For Managing Client Expectations

Project Scope (Video)

 
4 1-5 Planning a TPM Project

Readings:
Importance of planning in Project Management (Video)

Planning is key to project management success

The Importance of Project Planning

Discussion Question 3

Due November 24

5 2,3,
4,5
Launching a TPM

Readings:
3 Project Management Tips on How to Motivate Your Team

How to Motivate your Project Team (Video)

Project leadership versus project management: leverage the influence of the project teams

Discussion Question 4

Due November 17

6 2,3,
4,5
Monitoring and Controlling a TPM Project

Readings:
Monitoring & Controlling Phase - Fundamentals of project management (Video)

Monitoring and Controlling Processes

Project Monitoring and Control Activities

Project Management Software

Due November 24

7 2,3,
4,5
Closing a TPM

Readings:
Four Steps You Must Take When Closing Your Project

Project Closure – Whether your 1st or 21st project, successful completion involves a few important steps....

Project Management Essentials: Closing (Video)

Discussion Question 5 

Due December 1

8 1-5 Semester Project

Semester Project

Due December 9

 

Assignments

Discussions (supports CLOs 1-5; 30 points)

Examples of discussion topics

You have run the Conditions of Satisfaction (COS) by the book, and your gut tells you that the client’s wants may be a bit too far-reaching. In fact, you have a strong suspicion that what they need is not what they have told you they want. What could you do?

You have recently been promoted to the position of project manager. Your team consists of senior members of the technical staff, and it is time to establish the team operating rules. You expect some resistance because the team is experienced, and you are a project manager who they see as still “challenged.” How would you go about doing this?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of confirming the accuracy of status reports filed by your team members?

 

Project Management Software (supports CLOs 3,4; 20 points)

There are a number of computerized PM tools available. Some are free while others have a cost associated. Research available software applications related to project management. Select three and present (using tools such as Slidebean, Prezi, Powtoon, Haiku Desk, emaze (or similar)) a one to two page equivalent description of the software. Areas to consider:

  • Ease of use
  • Options
  • Vendor reputation
  • Compatibility with other software
  • Price
  • Would you purchase this to use on a project?
  • Anything else that you think is important


Semester Project (supports CLOs 1-5;50 points)
Students will work in teams.

Examples of Course project:

Design a project management plan to implement a health care solution that involves at least two departments.

Design a project management plan to meet a new federal guideline for patient privacy.

 

Grading Information

Grading will be based on a total accumulation of possible 100 points, distributed as follows:

Deliverable Points
Project Management Software 20 points
Group Discussions 30 points
Semester Project 50 points


Other Relevant Information

Determined by the instructor, could include, e.g., participation expectations

Course Workload Expectations

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Course Prerequisites

Graduate Standing or Instructor Consent

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify project management roles and environment.
  2. Describe the project life cycle.
  3. Use major project management techniques including traditional, agile, and extreme.
  4. Control and evaluate project management approaches effectively to achieve better outcomes strategically.
  5. Demonstrate the "soft" skills that are useful as a project leader and team member.

SLOs and PLOs

This course supports Informatics SLO 2: Evaluate and apply project management techniques and approaches (traditional, agile, and extreme) effectively to achieve successful outcomes, both as project leader and team member.

SLO 2 supports the following Informatics Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

  • PLO 1 Apply technology informatics skills to solve specific industry data and information management problems, with a focus on usability and designing for users.
  • PLO 3 Demonstrate strong understanding of security and ethics issues related to informatics, user interface, and inter-professional application of informatics in specific fields by designing and implementing appropriate information assurance and ethics and privacy solutions.
  • PLO 5 Work collaboratively in teams and use project management practices effectively to solve user-centric information and data problems.

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

  • Wysocki, R. K. (2011). Effective project management: Traditional, agile, extreme. John Wiley & Sons. Available through Amazon: 111801619Xarrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

Recommended Textbooks:

  • Project Management Institute (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge: PMBOK(R) guide (5th ed.). Project Management Institute. Available through Amazon: 1935589679arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
Below 67 F

 

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

  • C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
  • B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
    For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  • A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs' Syllabus Information web page at: https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php. Make sure to visit this page, review and be familiar with these university policies and resources.

In order to request an accommodation in a class please contact the Accessible Education Center and register via the MyAEC portal.

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