Information Technology and Project Management

Saint Leo University

School of Business

COM 424 -Information Technology and Project Management

Spring 2014

 

Course Number:          COM 424 CA01 (three credits)

Prerequisites:               COM 203 or MGT 301

Classroom Location:   CASB Rm. 208

Class Hours:                TR 9:30am - 10:50am   

Office Location:         CASB Rm. 320

Office Hours:              MW 09:30am-10:30am & 1:00pm-2:30pm; F 09:30am-10:30am

Office Telephone:       352-588-8317

E-mail:                         [email protected]

Location:                     University Campus

 

I. REQUIRED TEXT:

            Schwalbe, K. Information Technology Project Management, 7th ed. Revised or current edition. Cambridge, MA: Course Technology. ISBN 10: 1285847091 or the latest edition

 

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The rapidly changing field of information technology requires a solid knowledge foundation.  This course reviews contemporary project management and the relevant issues of effective management of information technology project activities.

 

III. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

A student will be able to describe and utilize the activities encompassed by project management technology and techniques.  Specific learning outcomes for this course are:

 

1.      Describe and evaluate the trends in the use of information technology and project management including changing technology platforms, emerging technologies, purchasing policies, applications development, and the interaction among them.

2.      Describe and evaluate information technology effects on strategy and competition.

3.      Describe and evaluate the organization and control of information.

4.      Describe and evaluate the changing information technology architecture.

5.      Describe and evaluate how to manage information technology operations and development.

6.      Utilize the Microsoft Project application to illustrate and apply these knowledge areas.

7.      VALUES OUTCOME: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Saint Leo University core value of excellence by using project management principles to minimize cost, time and scope overruns in information technology projects.

 

IV. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT:

 

A: Two Tests                                                               (26%)             

C: Graded Homework Assignments                           (44%)

D. Participation and Discussion                                  (10%)

E: Final Project                                                           (20%)

 

A. Tests:

The tests in this class will consist of short answer questions.  Tests will focus on material covered in the class (see schedule below). 

 

B. Homework:

Graded Homework Assignments. It is the intent of the professor that this be a course directed at learning as well as lecture. To assist in accomplishing this purpose, students will be required to complete and present running cases from the text including using Microsoft Project to load and present the solutions to the running cases. All running cases reports will be professionally prepared in accordance with the specifications below.

There is one running case that is provided in each chapter, tracking the course material. The running case topic is Manage Your Health (in each chapter in the text beginning with Chapter 4).

Acceptable format for the Running Cases Reports.

a. Electronic format for submission.

b. Cover page. Use a single cover page that contains the title of the case, your name, COM 424, and the date. Balance and center the contents both horizontally and vertically on the page.

c. Margins and page numbering. Follow the procedures listed in the APA style manual.

d. Spacing. Double spacing only throughout the report. (The standard exception is a direct quote of over 40 words which is single spaced and indented both left and right.)

  e. References. If you use references, use the APA reference citation style. If you are employed, you might inquire what style your organization requires and apply that style in your case study. Whatever style you apply, be consistent throughout the problem.

Recommended Contents for the Running Cases Reports

a. Short statement of the problem

b. Explanation of the analysis (How did you arrive at your conclusion(s)?)

c. Statement of your conclusions/recommendations

d. Any supporting documentation (spreadsheets [include a disk], diagrams, references, etc.)

All students will orally present their running cases to the class in a professional manner every week. Presentations will be a minimum of five and no more than ten (10) minutes in length with an additional five (5) minutes for questions. Visual aids are required (PowerPoint presentations). Students must make the required presentations in order to satisfactorily complete the course. Any individual who cannot make their scheduled presentation must make arrangements notify the professor no later than 24 hours in advance.

 

C. Participation (or Discussion):

The instructor for all courses will include participation or class discussions as an assessment for the final grade. 

 

D. Final Project:

Each individual will submit as their Final Project a project file composed of the separate running case reports submitted during the course. These reports are to be combined to present the project planning from beginning to end and provide a permanent record of the activities of the team on the project. This Final Report is expected to be professionally done with appropriate documentation, cover sheet, etc., (see above criteria for the homework for specifics).

 

The following distribution will be used in assigning grades (decimal points will be rounded to the nearest whole number at semester’s end): 

 

Grade                                                  Percentage

                                    A         Exceptional                            94% to 100%

A-          Superior                                   90% to 93%

                                    B+       Excellent                                87% to 89%

                                    B         Very Good                              84% to 86%

                                    B-        Good                                       80% to 83%

                                    C+       Above Average                       77% to 79%

                                    C         Average                                   74% to 76%

                                    C-        Below Average                       70% to 73%

                                    D+       Marginal                                  67% to 69%

                                    D         Poor                                         60% to 66%

                                    F          Failure                                     Below 60%

 

V. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students with disabilities who may need disability-related accommodations are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services (room 207, Building B, Student Activities Center) as soon as possible. You may email the ADA office at: [email protected] or call (352) 588-8464. After registering with the ADA office for support services, please make an appointment with your instructor to discuss the plans for support. For more information, please review the Disability Services policies and procedures at http://www.saintleo.edu/SaintLeo/Templates/Inner.aspx?pid=391

 

VI. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:

The Academic Honor Code is published in it entirely in the Saint Leo University Catalog. The first paragraph is quoted below:

As members of an academic community that places a high value on truth and the pursuit of knowledge, Saint Leo University students are expected to be honest in every phase of their academic life and to present as their own work only that which is genuinely theirs. Unless otherwise specified by the professor, students must complete homework assignments by themselves (or if on a team assignment, with only their team members). If they receive outside assistance of any kind, they are expected to cite the source and indicate the extent of the assistance. Each student has the responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and to refrain from cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty.

 

VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance will be taken at every class. Arrival more than 5 minutes after the class commences will be considered to be an absence. There will be no punishment levied for failure to attend, however students are cautioned that failure to attend frequently if combined with failure to submit the assigned homework which will adversely affect your grade. Determination of what constitutes an excused absence for this purpose rests solely with the professor. The only excused absences include medical reasons accompanied by a doctor’s slip and legal requirements such as jury duty, court appearance, etc., certified as explained below.

Excusal of student absence(s) for medical, legal, family emergency, etc., reasons is based on presentation of official documentation (physician release, court papers, obituaries, etc.) only. Official documentation must be presented to the Director of Academic Advising in Rms. 320/325 Saint Edward Hall for verification. Once verified, the instructor is notified and excusal is granted—upon the instructor’s discretion. Extended student absences for any reason may additionally require official clearance to return, as determined by the offices of Student Services and Academic Affairs.

 

VIII. LATE WORK / MAKE UP POLICY:

Assigned dates for submission of assignments are in the class schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to keep abreast of the required turn in dates, not the professor. Late work will be accepted under the following provisions: less than 2 days = maximum possible grade of 90%, 2 days to 4 days = maximum possible grade of 80%, 5 days to 7 days = maximum possible grade of 70%, greater than 7 days late = 0% grade. This policy will be strictly enforced.

 

There is no provision for extra credit in this course.

 

 

 

IX. COURSE ADMINISTRATION:

It is the student's responsibility to immediately inform the professor about any problems influencing course completion such as attendance, lateness, medical problems, difficulty in understanding course content, inability to hear the instructor, vision problems, etc.

The professor reserves the right to change course content and reschedule class activities as necessary. The professor will notify students during the class of any changes.

 

X. LIBRARY RESOURCES:

 

Cannon Memorial Library Resources

 

Library Instruction

To arrange library/research instruction for your classes, please contact:

 

Elana Karshmer           [email protected]             University Campus

Viki Stoupenos           [email protected]              FL, GA, SC Centers

Steve Weaver              [email protected]              MS, TX, VA Centers

Sandy Hawes              [email protected]                 COL and DL

 

Cannon Memorial Library

Librarians are available during reference hours to answer questions concerning research strategies, database searching, locating specific materials, and interlibrary loan (ILL).

 

            Reference Hours

            Monday – Thursday    9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

            Friday                          9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

            Saturday                      9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

            Sunday                        10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

The library provides an 800 number and an email address for general reference services: 1-800-359-5945 or [email protected] . The library’s mailing address and local telephone numbers are:

 

            MC2128, 33701 State Road 52, Saint Leo, FL 33574

 

            352-588-8477 (Reference Desk)

            352-588-8476 (Circulation Desk)

            352-588-8258 (Main)

            352-588-8259 (Fax)

 

Online Catalog “LeoCat” (All Books and Media)

Click on Library Catalog (LeoCat) on the Cannon Memorial Library website (http://www.saintleo.edu/library). Simple Search choices are: title, author, keyword, subject, or journal title. Use Advanced Search to set limits or expand your search terms. To borrow books from Cannon Memorial Library, present your SLU ID at the Circulation Desk. To have books mailed to you, use the Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery link on the library’s website, complete the online request form, and submit it.

 

Online Library Resources (Articles and E-books)

Saint Leo provides its own array of online article databases and e-book resources supporting campus, online, center, and distance learning classes. Use the Online Library Resources link on the Cannon Memorial Library homepage to see the latest subscription databases, e-book collections, etc.

 

 

XI. SCHEDULE:

 

This schedule is provisional and subject to change. Check with your professor for any changes.

 

Jan        14  Introduction & Course Overview

              16  Chapter 1 Lecture

 

              21  Chapter 2 Lecture

              23  Chapter 4 Lecture. Begin Running Case Projects

 

              30  Intro to MS Project

Feb        1    Intro to MS Project (cont.)

 

              5    Chapter 5 lecture

              7    Ch 4 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

 

              12  Chapter 6 lecture

              14  Ch 5 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

 

              19  Quiz 1

              21  Chapter 7 lecture

                   

              26  Ch 6 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              28  Chapter 8 lecture

             

Mar       4    Ch 7 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              6    Chapter 9 lecture

                   

              11  Ch 8 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              13  Chapter 10 lecture

 

                    Spring Break – March 17-21

 

              25  Ch 9 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              27  Chapter 11 lecture

                   

Apr       1    Ch 10 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              3    Chapter 12 lecture

 

              8    Ch 11 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              10  Chapter 13 lecture

 

              15  Ch 12 Running Case Report and Presentation due.

              17  Quiz 2 Prep for Combined Case

 

              22  Ch 13 Running Case Report and Presentation due

 

              29  Final Exam Day – Combined case reports and presentations due.

                                          

THE FINAL EXAM DAY IS A TWO-HOUR CLASS AND COUNTS FOR TWO CLASSES. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED AND YOU SHOULD NOTIFY WHOEVER IS ARRANGING YOUR TRANSPORTATION NOT TO SCHEDULE YOU TO DEPART BEFORE THIS DATE.