IT Project Management Syllabus - BCIS (PU)

Course Objectives:

IT Project Management is the course designed to prepare the students with the fundamental concepts of project management so that they are familiarized with the complexity and challenges of managing projects. The principal focus under the course is to understand the specifics related to IT systems project including various knowledge processing issues.

Course Description:

Students will gain a sound understanding of project management concepts and principles by applying relevant tools and techniques. In order to assimilate the project management knowledge, the course requires extensive use of case studies and computer tools to carry out various simulation exercises.

Course Outcomes:

• Fundamental learning and use of various project management tools and techniques
• Skills on exploration and appropriate use of computer based applications and tools related to project design, planning, scheduling, budgeting, process control and monitoring
• Understanding the complexities, criticalities and specific problems related to IT project, which are primarily non-existent on non-IT projects
• Appreciation towards the critical role of human resources and experiential knowledge in ensuring timely and successful project completion

Course Contents:

Unit 1: Introduction                                                                                     6 hours

Project Management Institutes’ (PMI) Framework, Project Management Body of Knowledge, Project Portfolio Management, The project management profession;   Characteristics of project life cycles, IT Product Development Life Cycle, Product Life Cycle and Project Life Cycle, System Development methodologies, Stakeholder management

Unit 2: Project Formation, Integration and Scope Management             7 hours

Develop project charters, Develop preliminary project scope statement, Develop project management plan, Scope verification, Project scope management, Scope control, Project group formation, Resource allocation and matching, Direct and manage project execution, Project monitoring, Controlling project work, Create Work Break Down Structure, Project Integration management, Change management.

Unit 3: Project Time Management                                                             6 hours

Activity definition, Decomposition and sequencing of project activities, Estimation of Activity resources and duration, network diagram, precedence diagram method with dependencies, Gantt charts, CPM and PERT methods.

Unit 4: Project Cost Management                                                               6 hours

Cost management, Project cost estimating, types of cost estimates, estimating process and accuracy, organizational process and assets valuation, cost estimating  tools, Cost budgeting, cost aggregation, deriving budget from activity cost, Cost control process, cost control methods, Earned Value Management  (EVM)  and Project Portfolio Management (PPM).

Unit 5: Project Quality Management                                                         4 hours

Quality theories, TQM and ISO statements; Quality planning, Project quality requirements, Quality management plan, Quality assurance, Quality audits, Quality control process, Quality tools like Control chart, Pareto charts, Six Sigma and  Testing.

Unit 6: Project Communication Management                                           4 hours

Communication management requirement and issues, Communications planning process,  Effective meeting organization and conduction, Information distribution process, Performance reporting process, integrated reporting system, Report standards.­

Unit 7 : Project Risk Management                                                             5 hours

Risk concept, Qualitative and quantitative risks, Risk management planning process, Project risk assessment, Qualitative and Quantitative risk analysis processes, Risk Analysis Methods based on Probability Matrices, Decision Trees, Expected Monetary Value, Simulation, and Sensitivity Analysis, Risk modeling techniques, Risk response planning, Risk monitoring and control process.

Unit 8 : Human Resource Management                                                     3 hours

Human resource planning, Motivation theories, Project organizational chart, Responsibility assignment matrices, Staffing management plans with resource histograms, Resource assignment, loading and leveling, Project team development, Training, team building, and reward and recognition systems, Project Teaming tools and techniques

Unit 9: Project Procurement Management                                                5 hours

Procurement management process flow, Plan purchases and acquisition process, Bid document preparation, Evaluation and selection criteria, Contract process plan, Standard forms, Contract administration process, Contract closure process. Public procurement legalities in local context such as Nepalese PPMO guidelines and e-bidding procedures.

Unit 10: Other Specifics                                                                               2 hours

Project timing issues, Knowledge transfer issues, Change management issues, IT Project as product delivery versus service delivery.  

Case Studies :

This course requires extensive exposure of practical examples with at least SIX relevant case studies.

Text Book:

• Kathy Schwalbe, Information Technology Project Management, 7th edition, Cengage, (2013)

Reference Books:

• Stanley E. Portny, Project Management For Dummies, Latest  Edition,  Wiley  (2010)
• Jack R. Meredith, Samuel J. Mantel, Jr., Project Management : A Managerial Approach, Seventh Edition Wiley  (2009),.