COURSE SYLLABUS

OPRE 6374 Project Planning and Execution

Planning techniques continued from OPRE6373 and introduction of execution phase requirements. Included are quantitative decision
making techniques; earned value measurements; interpersonal leadership principles; planning for control and execution of the project;
risk management techniques and procurement principles.

Instructor’s Information:
Dr. Marie Chevrier chevrier@utdallas.edu
Jim Newstead JRNewstead@aol.com
Jim Szot jimszot@utdallas.edu
Dr. Duncan MacFarlane dlm@utdallas.edu
Dr. Gerald Turner turner.g.a@worldnet.att.net

Course Materials:

Textbook:
1. PMI. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd edition
2. Clifford Gray and Erik Larson: Project Management: The Managerial Process, 3rd edition
3. Lewis Ireland: Quality Management for Projects and Programs
4. John Nicholas: Project Management for Business and Engineering: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition
5. Erik Uyttewaal: Dynamic Scheduling with Microsoft Office Project 2003: The Book By and For Professionals
6. Lewicki, Saunders and Minton: Essentials of Negotiation
7. Ury: Getting Past No
8. Vijay Verma: Managing the Project Team
9. Max Wideman: Project & Program Risk Management

Cases:
1. Colonia/Buenos Aires Bridge Negotiation
2. BAE Automated Systems Case (A&B)
OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Articles:
1. Perspective on Change

OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
 Course Schedule:
Date Title Description Objectives Module Assignments
Mod#
From Conflict to • Resolving the problem: Revisit
Cooperation the Alpha Project 2 activity Reading Assignments
- Dr. Marie Chevrier THESE OBJECTIVES AND • Dealing with difficult people in 1. Read Chapters 5 and 9 in Essentials of Negotiation
- Module 30 ASSIGNMENTS ARE THE negotiations by Lewicki, Saunders and Minton
July 17 –
SAME AS THOSE IN • Strategies for turning 2. Suggested reading: Getting Past No by Ury

July 23
OPRE6393 MODULE 20è confrontation to cooperation
• Handling emotions – yours and Partnership Assignments
others 1. Revisit Alpha Project
• Practice activities: The 2. Consultant Activity (3 pts)
3. Outburst Activity (2 pts)
Consultant and The Outburst

Organizing for This module deals with the
Effectiveness introduction and practical
- Jim Newstead application of tools and
- Module 31 techniques in getting projects and
the project teams organized in a
sequence that will maximize
project flow, identify critical
success factors, create alignment
July 24 –
July 30
with each of the team members,
framing of an effective project
and influencing key stakeholders.
Thinking through the project to
clearly establish the vision of
success, followed by a structured
methodology of reversing the
process to identify key obstacles
and resistance that will be
encountered.
Tools Applied:
• Backwards Imaging (Mention
From Project Team Building)
• Is/Is Not
• In Frame/Out of frame
• Threat/Opportunity Matrix
• Critical Success Factors
• Payoff Matrix
Reading Assignments
1. Perspective on Change (furnished article)
2. Managing the Project Team 3rd ed, by Vijay
Verma
3. Integrated Change Process Manual
Team Assignment
As a team, arrive at a consensus on a project to be
used against the tools discussed in the module. Each
team member has to take one of the tools to apply
against the project.
Individual Assignment
Each team member has to write a 2-3 page report on
the results to be discussed at the teleconference (5 pts)

Handling • Defining power in negotiations Reading Assignments

Difficult • Different types of power 1. Read Chapters 6 and 7 in Essentials of
Situations • Negotiations with Asymmetrical Negotiation by Lewicki, Saunders and Minton
July 31 – - Dr. Marie Chevrier power
Aug 6 - Module 32 • Increasing your power in Partnership Assignments
negotiations Intra group meeting: Prepare a ranking of capital
• Negotiation activity: The projects. Discuss group’s final strategy
Connecticut Valley School Final group meeting: Meet in a class teleconference
moderated by Chairperson to try to arrive at an
OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Date Title Description
Mod#
Time Time management establishes
Management and controls the project schedule
- Jim Szot by considering the activities
- Module 33 required to produce the project’s
deliverables, their
interdependencies, their
durations, and resource
availability for performing the
work.
During this session you will
continue to develop your team
project plans by developing a
project milestone plan, refining
the project activity list, estimating
durations, developing a network
Aug 07 – diagram, establishing a baseline
Aug 13 schedule, and establishing a
schedule management plan.
Objectives
As a result of this module you will
be able to:
• Define and sequence project
activities.
• Analyze and refine project time
estimates.
• Develop a project network
diagram and determine the
critical path.
• Develop a project schedule.
• Identify and implement project
schedule controls.
OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Module Assignments
agreement (5 pts)
Post agreement on Discussion Board.
Individually, submit an evaluation of peers in your
intra group.
Reading Assignments
1. PMBOK: Chapter 6, Project Time Management,
pages 123-156.
2. Gray and Larson
§ Chapters 5, Estimating Project Times and
Costs, pages 125-149
§ Chapter 6, Developing a Project Plan, pages
153-179.
§ Appendix 7.1, PERT and PERT Simulation,
pages 235-238.
3. Nicholas
§ Sections 6.6 and 6.7, Scheduling and Planning
and Scheduling Charts, pages 177-184
§ Chapters 7, Network Scheduling and PDM,
pages 193-223.
§ Chapter 8, PERT, CPM, Resource Allocation,
and GERT, pages 229-259.
4. Uyttewaal
§ Chapter 4, Entering Estimates, pages 173-209.
§ Chapter 5. Entering Dependencies, pages 215-
264.
Individual assignments
1. Prepare a report as requested in Part A of the
International Capital Case (Gray and Larson,
page 239). Submit via Assignments by noon,
Sunday, August 20, 2006. Be sure to answer
all the questions. (1 pt)
2. Complete Part 2 of the Conveyor Belt Project
in accordance with attached instruction sheet.
Submit your solution via Assignments by
noon, Sunday, August 20, 2006. (1 pt)
Team assignment.
Date Title Description Objectives Module Assignments
Mod#
Prepare a project schedule and summary presentation
in accordance with the instructions. One Presentation
covering modules 33-35 has to be posted by noon,
Sunday, August 27, 2006. (schedule et al 4 pts)

Resource This session focuses on
Management determining the type and amount
- Jim Szot of resources required to perform
- Module 34 the project tasks and ensuring
they are available and effectively
used throughout the project life
cycle.
Teams will assign resources to
their project activities and
progressively elaborate their
project plan.
Aug 14 –
Aug 20
As a result of this module you will
be able to:
• Describe the role of the human
resource management processes
and their criticality for
achieving project success.
• Estimate project resource
requirements and determine
their influence on schedule
development.
• Develop a resource
management plan that includes
provisions for committing
resources and project control.
Reading Assignments
1. PMBOK:
§ Section 6.3, Activity Resource Estimating,
pages 135-138
§ Chapter 9, Project Human Resource
Management, pages 199-219.
2. Gray and Larson
§ Chapter 8, Scheduling Resources, pages 241-
279
3. Nicholas
1. Secton 6.4, Project Organization Structure
and Responsibilities, pages 173-176.
4. Uyttewaal
§ Chapter 7, Entering Resources, pages 311-360.
§ Chapter 8. Entering Assignments, pages 367-
413.
§ Chapter 9, Optimizing the Schedule, pages
419-526.

Team assignment
Continuation of PMO project. Prepare a resource plan
in accordance with instructions and incorporate into
the presentation started with M33. One Presentation
covering modules 33-35 and the final MS Project file
is to be submitted to the UTD BlackBoard by Noon,
Sunday, August 27. (resource plan 3 pts)

OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Date Title Description
Mod#
Cost Management Cost estimating often occurs in
- Jim Szot conjunction with initial
- Module 35 estimating of resource
requirements. These estimates
are progressively elaborated into
budgets, funding is secured, and
costs are managed during project
execution.
Teams will prepare detail cost
estimates and a time-phased
budget for their project.
Objectives Module Assignments
As a result of this module you will Reading Assignments
be able to: 1. PMBOK: Chapter 7, Project Cost Management,
• Analyze and refine project cost introduction through Cost Budgeting, pages 157-
estimates. 171.
• Develop a comprehensive 2. Gray and Larson
project plan including project § Chapter 5 (already read for the Time
controls. Management Module).
§ Chapter 9, Reducing Project Duration, pages
281-298.
3. Nicholas: Chapter 9, Cost Estimating and
Budgeting, pages 268-301.
4. Uyttewaal: Chapter 10, Reporting, pages 541-607.

Individual assignments:
1. Prepare a report to accompany the
presentation described in Part B of the
International Capital Case (Gray and Larson,
page 304). Submit to BlackBoard by
Aug 21 –
Aug 27
8:00AM, Monday, August 28 (1 Pt).

2. Complete Parts 3 and 4 of the Conveyor Belt

Project. Post your solution to Blackboard
before 8:00 AM, Monday, August 28 (1 Pt).

Team assignment:
Prepare a project budget and cost reports in
accordance with instructions posted. Amend your
PowerPoint presentation from modules 33 and 34 to
include a cost summary. The presentation and all
support files and reports are to be submitted to the
UTD BlackBoard by Noon, Sunday, August 27
(budget and cost reports 4 pts)

Individually, submit a team evaluation on the team

assignment by 8 am CST, Sunday, August 30, 2006

Aug 28 – Project Costing Decision making tools under Students will understand the
Sep 03 and Allocation certainty, with risk and with following topics:

OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Date Title Description Objectives
Mod#
- Dr. Macfarlane uncertainty • Value Chain
- Module 36 • Activities
• Cost Drivers
• ABC
• Cost Variances
Negotiation Skills Practical application of The Buenos Aires-Colonia Bridge
to Manage negotiation theory through a exercise is a nine party negotiation
Conflict simulation of concession contract for a contract to finance, build, and
- Dr. Chevrier negotiations for a large operate a bridge linking Buenos
- Modules 37 & 38 infrastructure project Aries, Argentina and Colonia,
Uruguay. It is based on a real
situation, but the roles, interests,
issues, and process have been
modified for educational purposes.
In the simulation, the governments
of Argentina and Uruguay are, in
Sep 04 – cooperation with the
Sep 17 Interhemispheric Development
Bank, negotiating with two
competing consortia of private
sector companies – Alpha and
Omega – over the contract for the
bridge. This is a complex and
challenging exercise that will revisit
the finance concepts discussed in
modules 7 and 8 (Value With
Investments).
Module Assignments
Reading Assignments
1. Colonia/Buenos Aires Bridge Negotiation case
and confidential role instructions in the back
section (hard copy mailed to each student
Team Assignments
1. Intra group negotiation (Sep 4 – Sep 8): Contact
the other person(s) assigned to your role.
Discuss strategy and practice using the
spreadsheet.
2. Process negotiation (Sep 9 – Sep 10): Set up a
meeting with all parties to negotiate what the
process will be for the substance negotiation. One
person to prepare a written statement of the
agreed upon process for the remaining
negotiations and post to the Discussion Board by
Saturday, Sep 16th, midnight
3. Substance negotiation (Sep 11 – Sep 16): Parties
will complete negotiations over the substantive
issues. A representative from the
Government/IDB group should email the final
agreement (use Appendix D) to Dr. Chevrier.

This assignment carries 15 pts

Risk Analysis In this module we discuss the
- Dr. Gerald Turner basic foundations and concepts
- Module 39 involved in the discipline of
Project Risk Management, from a
Sep 18 – strategic perspective. We will
Sep 24 review structured approaches to
project risk management as well
as some of the more
contemporary qualitative aspects
including a detailed overview of
The purpose of this module is to
provide the basic foundations,
skills, concepts and knowledge
required of project managers and
teams to effectively plan, monitor
and manage the project risk
management process. You will be
better prepared to:
• Grasp and appreciate risk
management definitions, bases
OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Reading Assignments
1. Project Management: The Managerial Process; by
C. Gray and E. Larson, Chapter 7, Managing Risk
2. Project & Program Risk Management by Max
Wideman. Chapters III and IV; Appendices A, B
3. BAE Automated Systems Case (A&B)
4. Suggested Reading: PMP Study Guide (Sybex):
Chapters 6, 9, 10.
5. Suggested Reading: PMBoK, Chapter 11 –
Project Risk Management
Date Title Description
Mod#
project risk planning,
identification, analysis,
mitigation, and communication.
Risk Today’s project and program
Identification, management environments
taxonomy and contain many critical planning
cost control elements that include uncertainty,
- Dr. Gerald Turner even with the best strategic
- Module 40 project planning and forethought.
Circumstances will often occur
that place timely project delivery
and performance at considerable
risk. This session will continue
our dialogue regarding project
risk identification, descriptive
taxonomy, project exposure and
Sep 25 – bottom line cost impacts. Project
Oct 01
Risk Management is as much an
art as it is a science, especially
when one considers the variety of
possible occurrences or “events”
that can significantly impact
successful project completion and
benefits delivery. As such, we
will also explore applicable
methods, tools, and techniques
which are available to identify
and mitigate uncertainty in
project or product delivery.
Objectives Module Assignments
for determining risk events,
occurrences, mitigation
strategies and tactics, etc.
• Identify and characterize risk
“events” and their potential to
adversely impact project
success (cost, schedule,
performance/quality, etc.)
• A concept of “Opportunity
Management” Appreciate the
value of Risk Management as a
vital “strategic” PM process
The purpose of this module is to Assignment:
provide the basic foundations, Be prepared to engage in a detailed teleconference
skills, concepts and knowledge discussion of basic project risk management processes
required of project managers and and foundations
teams to effectively plan, monitor 1. As they relate to BAE Automated Systems Case
and manage the project risk (A&B)
management process. You will be 2. From risk identification, analysis, risk impact,
better prepared to: management and control perspectives (5 pts)
• Evaluate, assess and apply Risk
Management tools &
techniques
• Implement Risk Management
methods that ensure timely,
cost-effective project delivery
• Create techniques and
approaches for assessing &
improving risk management
capability, readiness and
responsiveness of the
organization, a project,
program, etc.
• Control multiple risks using
limited strategies
• Overcome “psychological
barriers” to risks
Make risk and opportunity
management integral components
OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Date Title Description Objectives Module Assignments
Mod#
of your next project plan

OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc
Major Assignment:
Major Assignment #4
Due 11:55 pm CST Oct 22, 2006
Program format (posted on Blackboard)

Grading Information:

ASSIGNMENTS Instructor Points Due date

Oct 22, 2006
Major Assignment #4 Dr. Chevrier and Mr. Szot (Graders) 50
11:55 pm CST
Consultant Activity
Dr. Chevrier 3

Outburst Activity Dr. Chevrier 2

Tools applied report Jim Newstead 5

Connecticut Valley High School Dr. Chevrier 5

International Capital Case Part A Jim Szot 1

Conveyor Belt Project Part 2 Jim Szot 1

Team project schedule with leveled resources Jim Szot 4

Team project resource management plan Jim Szot 3

International Capital Case Part B Jim Szot 1

Conveyor Belt Project Parts 3 and 4 Jim Szot 1

Team project budget and cost reports Jim Szot 4

Negotiation Skills Simulation Dr. Chevrier 15

BAE Automated Systems Case A&B Dr. Gerald Turner 5

OPRE6374_Syllabus_OnlineCP_06Final.doc