PM-1 Foundations of Project Management in IT/IS/Software Development

PM-1: Industry-Specific – Adapted for Information Systems (IT)

Software development is PM-centric industry sector. Many of the core lecture topics align fully with the typical PM-1 course. Instructors should consider the following differences from the baseline course when teaching PM:

  • Lectures 1-3: Project and Product Life Cycles - introduce agile software development.
  • Lectures 4-6: Focus on the agile software development project strategy.
  • Lectures 10-18: Identify how a methodology such as scrum is used to identify scope, product backlog list, and various deliverables for the short agile iterations (sprints). Also, unique aspects of agile cost estimation are introduced.
  • Lectures 19-21: Unique project structure and roles of teams in agile projects is presented.
  • Lectures 22-24: Additional focus would include management of software development process using agile methodologies.
  • Lectures 28-30: In earned value the role of typical agile metrics such as product list, iteration burn-down and release burn-up charts is emphasized.
  • Lectures 34-36: Would focus on agile software quality assurance and quality control.

Table II-A-1. Class and homework schedule for PM-1 implemented as a one-semester course.

Week / Lecture / Class Topic / Sub-Topics / Homework Assignments
1 / 1 - 3 / Projects and the Project Manager / Definitions
The project manager’s role
Internal and external environment
Project structures
Project and product life cycles
Agile software development
PM processes / Identify projects in the student’s experience.
Compare the different agile methodologies for strengths and weaknesses.
2 / 4 - 6 / Project environment / The Project Management Office
Rationale and business case
Mission, goals and strategy
Portfolio management
Financial analysis
Budgeting agile projects. / Give examples of mismatches between projects and company missions
Identify project implementation using an Agile approach.
3 / 7 - 9 / Charter / The PM Plan
The Charter
The Triple constraints / Write a Charter
4 / 10 - 12 / Scope / Project justification
The specification
Constraints, limits, assumptions, and technical requirements
Statement of Work (SOW)
Scoping agile projects, product backlog list, and various deliverables for the short agile iterations / Write a Scope statement for an agile website development project. (eg., implementing a charity fund raising website)
5 / 13 - 15 / The WBS / WBS structure
WBS Dictionary
Graphical vs. outline format
Work Packages
Control accounts / Write a WBS
6 / 16 – 18 / Cost estimation / Top down and bottom up
Types of estimates and accuracies
Parametric estimates
Budget and contingencies / Develop a Cost Estimate
7 / 19 - 21 / Stakeholder engagement and communications
Unique project structure and roles of teams in agile projects is presented. / Identify stakeholders
Manage stakeholder expectations
Communications tools / Create the stakeholder list and their influence for a project.
8 / 22 – 24 / The network and the critical path / Forward and backward passes
Slack and critical path
Assigning resources
Milestones
Lags, leads and loops / Analyze sample network diagrams
9 / 25 – 27 / Automation tools for network and critical path analysis / Tutorial for automation tool / Implement a project in an automated software tool
10 / 28 – 30 / Earned Value Management / Planned value, earned value and actual cost
Cost and Schedule Performance Indices
Cost and schedule analyses
Typical agile metrics such as product list, iteration burn-down and release burn-up charts is emphasized. / Carry out an earned value analysis using real-world data.
11 / 31 – 33 / Risk analysis / Positive and negative risks
Risk strategies
Qualitative risk analyses
Program Evaluation and Review Technique
Contingencies and reserves / Perform a qualitative risk analysis for a project
12 / 34 – 36 / Quality / Quality standards
Cause and effect diagrams
Audits
Differences between agile and waterfall approaches. / Create a quality plan.
Identify quality metrics to control quality.
Construct a Cause and Effect diagram.
13 / 37 – 39 / Procurement / Contract types and risks
Incentive and award fees / Calculate the incentive fee for a contract
14 / 40 – 42 / Ethics / Ethics and professional responsibility
Ethical case studies / Give example of personal ethical issues that could apply to projects.
15 / 43 – 44 / Presentation of students’ final projects
Presentation of lessons learned / Final projects
Lessons learned
16 / 45 / Final Examination