Course Syllabus

Course Information

OPRE6374 Project Planning and Execution

On Campus 2006-2007

Professor Contact Information

Dr. Laurie Ziegler: ziegler@utdallas.edu

Dr. Sue Freedman: suefreedman@sbcglobal.net
Jim Newstead: JRNewstead@aol.com
Jim Szot: jimszot@utdallas.edu
Dr. Duncan MacFarlane: dlm@utdallas.edu

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

OPRE6371, OPRE6372, OPRE 6373

Course Description

This course covers the initial stages in planning a project to include scope definition;
quality planning; organization considerations; negotiation; communication and decision
making and related interpersonal considerations.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Determine project goals, define project strategies; obtain final acceptance of deliverables; contribute to
PM knowledge base; enhance individual competence through professional learning; balance
stakeholders’ interests through fair resolution; and interact with stakeholders in a fair and cooperative
manner.
At the end of this session, students will:
Understand their personal conflict management styles
Understand the nature of conflict and its causes and consequences
Be able to recognize different conflict management styles and behaviors
Begin to use influence and negotiation principles to resolve conflict
Understand how to secure their interests in interpersonal transactions

Determine project goals, define project strategies; obtain final acceptance of deliverables; contribute to
PM knowledge base; enhance individual competence through professional learning; balance
stakeholders’ interests through fair resolution; and interact with stakeholders in a fair and cooperative
manner.
Be familiar with primary research on negotiation and applications to real world situations.
Appreciate that preparation is a key variable to negotiation success.
1. Recognize the basic vocabulary and key processes of communication.
2. Recognize and be able to apply key decision-making models.
3. Appreciate the power of informal networks

To be discussed in class
As a result of this module you will be able to:
• Describe the foundation of quality improvement.
• Consider project quality management implications of:
• Determining and documenting project goals and product/service deliverables.
• Identifying, documenting, and communicating project management process outputs.
• Identifying and documenting project constraints.
• Defining project strategy.
• Identifying/listing performance criteria.
• Identifying/implementing project controls.
• Develop a project quality plan.
As a result of this module you will be able to:
• Determine and document project goals, product or service deliverables, project
management process outputs, constraints, and assumptions.
• Define the project strategy by evaluating alternative approaches.
• Identify and list performance criteria.
• Identify, estimate, and document key resource requirements.
• Define and document an appropriate project budget and schedule.
• Provide comprehensive information by producing a formal project charter and a preliminary
scope statement.
As a result of this module you will be able to:
• Develop the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) using the Scope Statement, Statement of
Work (SOW), other project documents, and decomposition techniques.
• Baseline the scope of work
• Identify and implement project scope controls.
1. To understand how to get
someone’s attention and
persuade them to think and act
positively.
2. To explain how we perceive
other people.
3. To understand the roles of
reciprocity, consistency and
commitment, and social proof
in a project team environment.
4. To provide additional
organizational behavior
concepts to bring to bear on
project team conflict and its
resolution.

1. Apply the Model of Team Effectiveness to project teams and organizations.

2. Recognize the complex and dynamic relationship between teams and the organizations in
which they function
3. Distinguish between teams and works groups and recognize the discipline requirements
for successful team and organizations.
 4. Recognize and be able to develop successful project teams, desirable team members,
and effective project meetings

Students will understand the following topics:

¾ Linear Programming
¾ Expected Values
¾ Decision trees
¾ Design of experiments

Students will understand the following topics:

¾ Linear Programming
¾ Expected Values
¾ Decision trees
¾ Design of experiments

Required Textbooks and Materials

Textbooks:
PMI. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd edition
Clifford Gray and Erik Larson. Project Management: The Managerial
Process, 3rd edition
Lewis Ireland. Quality Management for Projects and Programs
John Nicholas. Project Management for Business and Engineering:
Principles and Practice, 2nd edition
Erik Uyttewaal. Dynamic Scheduling with Microsoft Office Project 2003:
The Book By and For Professionals
Robert B. Cialdini, Influence: science and practice, 4th edition
Leigh L. Thompson. The mind and heart of the negotiator, 3rd edition.
Roy Lewicki, David Saunders, John Minton. Negotiation: readings, cases
and exercises.
Champoux, Organizational Behavior: Essential Tenets

Suggested Course Materials

Cases: Krackhardt and Hanson, Informal Networks: The Company Behind the
Chart (HBR 93406)
Katzenbach & Smith: The Discipline of Teams (HBR 4428)
Beyerlien, Freedman, McGee, and Moran. The Ten Principles of
Collaborative Organizations (JOBE, sp 03)

Assignments & Academic Calendar

(Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates)
Date Title Module Assignments
Mod#
12/7 AM The Nature of Conflict Reading:
#19 and Negotiation . Influence: Science and Practice, Chapter 1,
Weapons of Influence
Dr. Ziegler 2. The Mind and Heart of the Negotiator, Chapter 1,
Negotiation: The Mind and the Heart
3. negotiation: readings, exercises, and cases,
Points: 4 (based on Reading 1.1, How to Get Them to Show You the
participation: readings, Money
self-assessments,
discussions, teamwork, In class activities
and reflective paper) Complete Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (handed
out in class).
Be prepared to discuss assigned readings.
Video: Cialdini
Personal Bargaining Inventory
Salient conflicts
12/7 Pre-negotiation READING:
PM Planning and . The Mind and Heart of the Negotiator, Chapter 2
#20 Distributive Bargaining Preparation: What to Do Before Negotiation &
Chapter 3 Distributive Negotiation
2. negotiation: readings, exercises, and cases,
Dr. Ziegler Reading 3.1, Negotiation Techniques: How to
Keep Br’er Rabbit Out of the Brier Patch.
Points: 4 (based on Exercise 2 Pemberton’s Dilemma
participation: role Exercise 5 Knight Engine
plays, exercises; and Exercise 25 Planning for Negotiations (read and
reflective paper) think about the material. You do not need to
answer the questions)

In class activities
Be prepared to discuss readings.
Role Play Pemberton’s Dilemma
Role Play Knight Engine
Discuss Planning for Negotiations

12/8 Communications and Reading Assignments

AM Decision Making 1. Organizational Behavior: Essential Tenets
#21 (Champoux) chapters 13-14.
Dr. Freedman; 2. HBR Article: Informal Networks: The Company
Behind the Chart (provided)
4 points for assignment,
class preparation, and Team Assignments
class participation 1. Team Task: (written assignment/ class participation
credit) complete Worksheet 21
2. Come prepared to discuss the informal networks
article and informal networks in your organization
12/8 Project Team Building No reading preparation - will be in class activities.
PM *Bring your Integrated Change Process binder to class
#22 Jim Newstead with you
12/9 Quality: Foundations Reading Assignments
AM and Strategy • PMBOK: Chapter 8, Project Quality Management
#23 (introduction) through Quality Planning, pages 179-
Jim Szot 187.
• Ireland: Chapters I - IV and VI – VII.
Points: 7 (based on • Nicholas:
submitted quality plan, • Project Quality and System Defects, pages 130-
presentation in class,
Date Title Module Assignments
Mod#
and peer assessment 131.
of team participation) • Quality Function Deployment, pages 463-470.

Team Assignment:
Prepare a preliminary project quality plan and
presentation following the guidelines provided in class.
Presentations will be made in class. Submit a written
quality plan in class at 8 AM, January 11, 2006.

12/9 Scope Management Reading Assignments

PM • Gray and Larson: Chapter 4, Defining the Project
#24 Jim Szot through Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities,
pages 99-105.
Points: 7 (based on • PMBOK:
submitted scope • Chapter 4, Project Integration Management
statement, presentation (introduction) through Develop Project
in class, and peer Management Plan, pages 77-91.
assessment of team • Chapter 5, Project Scope Management
participation) (introduction) through Scope Definition, pages
103-112.
• Nicholas:
• Chapter 4, Systems Development Cycle: Early
Stages, pages 87-96 (up to Project Feasibility)
• Chapter 5, Systems Development Cycle: Middle
and Later Stages, pages 120-131 (up to Phase
C: Execution)
• Chapter 6, Planning Fundamentals, pages 159-
164 (up to Work Breakdown Structure)
• Uyttewaal
• Chapter 1, Concepts of Project Management,
pages 41-53.
• Chapter 2, Setting up a Project, pages 55-121.

Team Assignment:
Prepare a project scope statement and presentation
following the guidelines provided in class. Presentations
will be made in class. Submit a written scope statement
in class at 8 AM, January 11, 2006.

1/11 Scope Management Reading Assignments

AM • Gray and Larson: Chapter 4, Step 3: Creating the
#25 Jim Szot Work Breakdown Structure though Summary, pages
105-120.
Points: 11 • PMBOK: Chapter 5, Create WBS through Scope
• Team Project WBS Control, pages 112-122.
and WBS dictionary • Nicholas: Chapter 6, Work Breakdown Structure
(based on through Work Packages, pages 164-173.
submitted scope • Uttyewaal: Chapter 3. Entering Tasks, pages 127-
statement, 167.
presentation in
class, and peer Team Assignment:
assessment of Prepare a WBS and WBS Dictionary for the team
team participation) project. Present approach and overview in class. Submit
Date Title Module Assignments
Mod#
– 7 points. printed documents in class at 8 AM, March 8, 2006.
• Conveyor Belt
Project – Part 1 Individual Assignment:
(Individual Complete Part I of the Conveyor Belt Project in
assignment) – 4 accordance with the instruction sheet handed out in
point. class. Submit solution in class at 8 AM, March 8, 2006.

1/11 Perception and Reading Assignments

PM Persuasion 1. Champoux: Organizational Behavior: Essential
#26 Tenents Chapter 5: pp. 90-97
Dr. Ziegler 2. Cialdini: Chapters 2, 3, & 4
3. Lewicki et.al: The Influence Tactics Inventory p.
Points: 2 (based on 699.
participation: readings,
discussions, and self- Assignments
assessment)
1. Bring word processed, hardcopy answers to:
Content Mastery and Critical Thinking : Cialdini
Chapters 2, 3, & 4

2. Complete The Influence Tactics Inventory (p.

699) negotiation: readings, exercises, cases. Put
your scores on a paper you can turn in.

We will discuss the answers to the Cialdini questions

and the influence survey. You will turn them in.

1/12 Teams in Organizations Reading Assignments

AM 1. Gray and Larson, chapter 11
#27 Dr. Freedman 2. Katzenbach & Smith: The Discipline of Teams
(HBR 4428)
6 points 3. The Ten Principles of Collaborative Organizations
ƒ 3 for Collaborative (furnished article and handout)
Org Assignment
ƒ 3 for cases & class 1. Team A & B: Complete Kerzner Office Equipment
participation Case; (G&L page 380,) Team C & D:
Complete Franklin Equipment, (G&L page 383)
Submit to digital drop box by Jan 10 and bring to
(class participation credit)
2. Using the Collaborative Organization Assessment
(hand out), identify the strengths and weakness of
your organization in terms of collaboration. Submit
via Assignments on Blackboard
3. Come prepared to define the extent to which your
project works as a team and a work group
according to Kazenbach’s definitions
1/12 Quantitative Decision
PM Making
#28
Dr. Macfarlane
1/13 Quantitative Decision
AM Making
#29
 Date Title Module Assignments
Mod#
Dr. Macfarlane

Major Assignment:
Major Assignment #3
Due February 5, 2007
Program format (posted on Blackboard)

Grading Policy
(including percentages for assignments, grade scale, etc.)
ASSIGNMENTS Instructor Points Due date
Major Assignment #3 Dr.Freedman and Jim 50 points Feb 5
Szot (Graders)
Negotiation session 1 Dr. Zeigler 4 points
(#19)
Negotiation session 2 Dr. Zeigler 4 points
(#20)
Communication &
Decision Making Dr. Freedman 4 points
Project Team Mr. Newstead 5 points
Building
Project Quality Plan Mr. Szot 7 points
Project Scope Mr. Szot 7 points
Statement
Project Mr. Szot 7 points
WBS/Dictionary
Conveyor Belt Case – Mr. Szot 4 points
Part 1
Perception & Dr. Zeigler 2 points
Persuasion (#26)
Teams in Dr. Freedman 6 points
Organizations

Course & Instructor Policies

(make-up exams, extra credit, late work, special assignments, class attendance, classroom citizenship, etc.)

Field Trip Policies

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