University System of Maryland
Bowie State University
INSS 675: Information Systems Project Management

Course Description
This course examines the use of project management in the development of information systems (IS) and beyond. Both systems and software practices are presented and discussed. Preparation of a project proposal and a project plan are required.

Reasons To Take This Course
Project management is a significant part of IS development and planning. IT benefits the entire organization and brings rewards to the manager responsible. IS managers must be able to successfully and productively work in teams as well as communicate skillfully both orally and in writing.

Prerequisite
INSS 530, INSS 540 or permission of the instructor.

Texts
Project Management. A Managerial Approach, 4^th Edition. Meredith, Jack R. and Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. New York: Jack Wiley.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. PMI Standards Committee. Upper Darby, PA: Project Management Institute, 1996. (GPMBOK)

This source, published by the leading US professional organization for PM practitioners, provides a well-organized introduction to the field of project management. The 1996 Edition may be downloaded free from http://www.pmi.org/publictn/pmboktoc.htm. The 2000 Edition includes excerpts. Students may purchase either edition rather than download them for free.

Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, a student will be able to ~

• define major terms and concepts related to project management
• describe current project management and related IS issues in a variety of organizations
• demonstrate basic project management proficiency
• apply project management principles to case situations
• evaluate project management tools
• increase teamwork wherewithal
• enhance communication (written) skills

Assignments
Exams: 40% of total course grade (each 20%)
   Exam 1: Open book, take-home essays / case analysis.
   Exam 2: Open book, take-home essays / case analysis.
Project: 35% of total course grade
   The project includes a written project proposal and project plan.
Participation: 25% of total course grade
   Participation is evaluated by responses and contributions to Discussion Topics and other online activities.

Grading
A student’s final course grade will be determined by using the following standard.

Course Requirements
INSS 675 Requirements: Obviously, students must have Internet/Web access to participate in this section of INSS 675. Students must read and follow the DE Requirements to participate in this course. WebTycho is the official University of Maryland University College distance delivery method.

Learning and Participation: Class participation is required. It is the UMUC-Europe Distance Education (DE) Program Policy that students must participate; that is, they must read and respond to WebTycho three (3) or more times a week during the first three weeks of the class. The policy of this Instructor supports the DE Policy as well as the following requirements. Students must participate by reading and responding to the Weekly Discussion Topics and online activities in WebTycho and by completing all assignments on the dates due. The Instructor will advise students, who are not participating as required, to withdraw at four (4) weeks into the term if a student is risking a grade of F(n). Distance Education participation is directly related to the educational benefit received when discussions, cases, and weekly assignments are used in the virtual classroom. It is also a prime indicator of a student's interest and motivation. Losses resulting from lack of communication and participation are impossible to make up and almost always result in lower test scores and final grades. Learning means being involved in online activities. Additionally, participation is the degree to which a student makes a responsible effort to communicate and makes a commitment to his/her team and contributes to combined efforts. For participation the instructor is interested in quality as well as quantity. Specific criteria regarding the instructor’s grading policy for participation is posted in WebTycho’s Course Content / Participation Grade.

Text Readings: Students are expected to keep up with the weekly text readings and demonstrate their understanding of the material by their responses to the Discussion Topics. This course will include Class Announcements, weekly discussion topics, offline assignments and online Web assignments. Discussion (participation) topics are designed to reinforce the text material, to highlight and discuss current issues, and to analyze real-world case examples.

Team Work: Collaboration among students is highly encouraged, but must be acknowledged and credit given to all team members. Weekly discussions and the project will be restricted to individual efforts; however, if students prefer to work in a team for the project, they may choose their own team members after approval from the instructor. Strong team players are highly valuable project managers.

Exams: The two exams will be take-home open-book/notes/references. The exams will be case analysis exams similar to those presented in WebTycho’s Course Content / How to Take an Exam. Students should take advantage of all references and tools as much as possible to be prepared for both of these exams as well as future comprehensive exams. A make-up exam is given only for emergencies, illness that cannot be avoided, and unexpected deployments. Requests must be verified in writing by a credible source. The instructor reserves the right to decide who is a credible source and if the emergency is warranted and that decision is final.

Project: Detailed project information and grading criteria are posted in WebTycho's Course Content / Project Description. Weekly discussion topic assignments are always posted in a given Week's Conference. Assignments should be posted on the due date or points may be lost.

Email Policy: Students must include the course number and their name in the subject line of every email (e.g., INSS675, Maggie Smith) to identify the email’s origin. Too often students have email addresses unassociated with their names; when this occurs, there is no way to determine from whom the email was sent without accessing WebTycho’s Class Members to compare addresses. Of course, these emails can be returned to the senders for the course and name, however that will only delay answering email. All email will be answered within twelve hours unless the instructor is on TDY without Internet access. Should this occur, students will be informed ahead of time.  

Student Responsibilities: Students are expected to keep back-ups of all submitted responses and assignments. If a student knows that s/he has to be offline for a brief period of time (e.g., deployment or TDY without Internet access), it is extremely important to inform the instructor ahead of time. If a student disappears for two weeks without any communications, the instructor will assume that the student has withdrawn from the course. Therefore, a student must take the initiative to inform the instructor of his/her intentions.

Virtual Office Hours and Telephone Numbers: If a student has questions or problems with any specific text material or assignments, email the Instructor anytime or discuss them during Virtual Office Hours. Students may telephone (DSN: 370-6762, #212 or CIV: 49-6221-378212) anytime during business hours or at home (CIV: 49-6221-303890) weekdays (1900 – 2100) and weekends or holidays (1200 – 2100).

DE Course Announcements: Announcements will be posted at least three times a week in WebTycho. Students should check WebTycho on Monday for new information for the week. Instructor responses will be posted to students' comments throughout the week. 

Academic Integrity Statement: Academic dishonesty is failure to maintain academic integrity. It includes, but is not limited to, obtaining or giving aid on an examination, having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination, doing work for another student, and plagiarism. Academic dishonesty can result in severe academic penalty, including failure in the course and/or dismissal from the institution.

Plagiarism: First incident: a zero on the assignment, no make-up. Second incident (by the same person): F(a) for the class.

Other: All completed exams and assignments will remain with the Instructor once submitted. This syllabus and schedule is tentative and subject to change. The Instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus and/or the schedule for the successful progress of this Distance Education course. It is the student's responsibility to know if and when changes have been made to the syllabus and/or schedule by referring to WebTycho's Class Announcements each new Week of the term.

Instructor
Maggie J. Smith, Manager, Technology Resources
Academic Computing and Instructional Technology
mjsmith@ed.umuc.edu
DSN:          3706762, #212 or CIV: +49 (0) 6221-378212 (DWH)
CIV:    +49 (0) 6221-303890 or +49 (0) 173-323-4249
University of Maryland University College - Europe
Unit 29216
APO AE 09102
http://www.maggiesmith.com
http://thetechnologyresourcesguide.com