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ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
(Department of Business Administration)
PROJECT MANGEMENT (569)
CHECKLIST
SEMESTER: AUTUMN 2010
This packet comprises the following material:
- Text Book (Two)
- Course Outline
- Assignment No. 1 & 2
- Assignment Forms ( 2 sets )
- Assignment and Tutorial Schedule
In this packet, if you find anything missing out of the above mentioned material, please contact at the address given below:
Deputy Registrar
Mailing Section, Block No. 28
Allama Iqbal Open University
H-8, Islamabad
Phone 051-9057611-12
Beenish Ehsan
(Course Coordinator)
ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY , ISLAMABAD
(Department of Business Administration)
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN “AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.
Course: Project Management (569) Semester: Autumn 2010
Level: MBA Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 40
ASSIGNMENT No. 1
Note: Attempt all questions.
Q. 1 (a) As a project manager in a manufacturing organization, what will be your role in project management? (10)
(b) Discuss the phases of project life cycle. (10)
Q. 2 (a) In a services organization, what would be the possible objectives and possible causes of conflict in project management. (10)
(b) Critically discuss the conflict resolution modes. (10)
Q. 3 Differentiate between the following:
(a) GERT and PERT (10)
(b) PERT and CPM (10)
Q. 4 (a) Explain the types of estimates and discuss the estimating pitfalls. (10)
(b) What are the different steps of pricing out the work? Also discuss the special problems having severe impact on pricing effort. (10)
Q. 5 (a) Why effective management of a program requires a well organized cost and control system? (10)
(b) Write short notes on the following:
i. Variances analysis (5)
ii. Essentials of Material Accounting Criterion (5)
assignment No. 2
Total Marks: 100
This assignment is a research-oriented activity. You are required to obtain information relating to any business/commercial organization and prepare a paper of about 15 to 20 pages on the topic allotted to you. The students are required to prepare two copies of Assignment No. 2. Submit one copy to your tutor/teacher for evaluation and the second copy for presentation in the workshop in the presence of your resource persons and classmates, which will be held at the end of the semester prior to final examination.
Include the following main headings in your report:-
a) Introduction to the topic
b) Important sub-topics
c) Practical aspects with respect to the topic
d) Review of theoretical and practical situations
e) Merits, demerits, deficiencies or strengths of the organization with respect to your topic
f) Conclusions and recommendations
g) Annex, if any
You must use transparencies, charts or any other material for effective presentation. You are also required to select one of the following topics according to the last digit of your roll number. For example, if your roll number is D-3427185 then you will select topic No.5 (the last digit):-
List of Topics
0. Phases of Project Life Cycle
1. Project Manager of 21st century
2. Project Management in small and Mega Projects
3. Project Management Software, features and classifications
4. Determining Organizational input requirements, labor distribution and overhead rates
5. Project Budgets, Variance and Earned Value
6. Role of Executive in Project Selection and Planning
7. Strategic Planning for Project Management
8. Managing Multiple Projects
9. Special consideration during Proposal-Contractual Interaction.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
COURSE OUTLINE (MBA-569)
UNIT-1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROWTH, ORGANIZING AND STAFFING
Core Concepts of Project Management and its Growth
Understanding General Systems
Historical Prospective of Project Management
The Nature and Scope of Project Management
Role of Project Manager
Systems, Programs and Projects
Differentiating Product versus Project Management
Defining Maturity and Excellent
Elements of Informal Project Management
Phases of Project Life Cycles
Project Management Methodologies
Systems Thinking for the Success of Project Management
Organizing and Staffing the Project Office and Team
The Organizing, Staffing and Environment
Considerations for Selecting the Project Manager
Essential Skills for Program Mangers
Selecting the Wrong Project Manager
Project Mangers of 21st Century
Job Descriptions and Job Specifications of Project Manager
The Organizational Staffing Process
The Project Office
The Functional Team in the Project Management Establishment
The Project Organizational Chart
Problems Influencing Organizational Staffing
Considerations for Selecting the Project Management Implementation Team
UNIT-2: CONFLICTS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Conflicts in Project Environment
Objectives and Possible Causes of Conflict
The Conflict Environment
The Process and Management of Conflict Resolution
Understanding Superior, Subordinate and Functional Conflicts
Conflict Resolutions Modes
Special Topics
Performance Measurement on the Horizontal Line
Evaluation of Functional Employees
Performance Appraisals and Financial Compensation / Rewards
Project Management in Small and Mega Projects
Management of R&D Activities
Ethics Obligation Matrix
UNIT-3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Networks Scheduling Techniques
Fundamental Concepts of Network
Defining Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique
Types of Interrelationships or Dependences
What is Slack Time
Negative Slack and its Occurrence
Network Re-planning and Restructuring PERT/CPM
Estimating Activity Time and Total Program Time
PERT/CPM Planning, with Primary and Secondary Objectives
Determining Crash Times
PERT/CPM Problem Areas
Alternative PERT/CPM Models
Difference between GERT and PERT
Difference between PERT and CPM
Precedence Networks
Defining Lag and its use
PM Software, Features and Classification
Evaluation of PM Software in terms of Performance, Quality and Versatility
Problems during Software Implementation Stage
Fundamentals of Project Graphics
Bar Chart, Other Conventional Presentation Techniques
Constructing Logic Diagrams/Networks
UNIT-4: PRICING AND ESTIMATING
Pricing and Estimating
Essentials of Pricing Strategies
Types of Estimates
Estimate during Project Life Cycle
Establishing Pricing Process
Work Break Down Structure and Activity Scheduling
Determining Organizational Input requirement, Labor Distributions, and Overhead Rates
Determining, Materials, Purchased Parts, Subcontracts, Freight and Travel Costs
Pricing out the Work by Controlling Company Resources Smoothing out Department by Eliminating the Scheduling
Fractional an hours The Pricing Review Procedure The Systems Approach to Pricing Developing the Supporting Backup Costs Special Problems during Pricing Process Defining and Explaining Project Risks Estimating Pitfalls
Essentials of High Risk Projects and low risk projects Applying 10 Percent Solution and its dangers Life Cycle Costing, its Implication, Limitations and Classification Elements of Logistics Support Defining Capital Budgeting Techniques of Capital Budgeting
• Payback Period
• The Time Value of Money
• Net Present Value
• Internal Rate of Return Comparing IRR, NPV, and Payback Differentiating Risk Analysis and Capital Rationing
UNIT-5: COST CONTROL
Cost Control
Defining Control System
The requirement of Effective Control System
The Operating Cycle and its Four Phases
Cost Account Codes and Work Packages
Budgets, Variance and Famed Value
Recording Material Costs using Earned Value
Measurement
Essentials of Material Accounting Criterion
Variances Analysis and its Usage
Status Reporting and its Benefits
Problems during Cost Control
UNIT-6: PROJECT PLANNING, INTEGRATION AND EXECUTION
Planning
Planning in General and its Main Components
Important Considerations to Identify Strategic Project
Variables
Life Cycle Phases
The Nature and Importance of Proposals for Future Work
Participants Roles in Planning
The Role of Quantitative and Qualitative Tools of Project
Planning
Designing Statement of Work
Understanding Project Specifications
Considerations for Milestone Schedules
The Nature and Rationale of Work Breakdown Structure
WBS Decomposition Problems
Role of the Executive in Project Selection and Planning
Understanding Planning Cycle
The need of Work Planning Authorization
The Reasons behind Project Stoppage or Failure
Handling of Project Phase-Outs and Transfers
Scheduling of Activities
Preparing Master Production Scheduling
Developing Program Plan
Essentials of Project Planning
What is Project Charter and Management Control
The Need of Project Manager and Line Manger Interface
The Concept of Fast Tracking
Understating the Nature of Configuration Management and Procedural Documentation
Already Established Practices, Policies and Procedures for Projects
UNIT-7: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR EXCELLENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Strategic Planning for Excellence in Project Management
Influence of Economic Conditions and Corporate Culture on PM
Understanding Strategic Planning in General
Strategic Planning for Project Management
The Use and Benefits Critical Success Factors for Strategic Planning
Important Factors to Achieve Success in PM
The Nature and Importance of Strategic Resources
Strategic and Portfolio Selection of Projects
The Role of Horizontal Accounting in PM
The Concept of Continuous Improvement
The Need for Establishing Project Office or Center of Excellence
Reasons for Strategic Planning Failure
Important Considerations for Organizational Restructuring
UNIT-8: MODERN DEVELOPMENTS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Modern Developments in Project Management
Defining and Explaining Project Management Maturity Model and its Five Levels
Procedural Documentation and its Benefits and Challenges
Establishing Project Management Methodologies
The Concept of Continuous Improvement and the Need of Capacity Planning
Defining Competence Models and its Advantages
Managing Multiple Projects
End of Phase Review Meetings and its New Dimensions
UNIT-9: CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Contracting and Procurement
Defining Procurement and its Objectives
The essentials of Requirement, Requisition, Solicitation, and Award Cycles, their Implication and Usage
Defining Contracts and its Different Types
The need of Incentive Contracts
Contract Type and Risk Sharing Techniques
Essentials of Contract Administration Cycle and its Functions
Benefits of Using Checklist
Special Considerations during Proposal-Contractual Interaction
BOOK RECOMMENDED:
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling By Harold Kerzner, Ph. D.
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