PJM535: Project Metrics, Monitoring, and Control

Credit
Hours:

Contact
Hours:

This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means

that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number
of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will
vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style
and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per week in
each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards,
writing papers, completing projects, and doing research.

Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes

The purpose of this graduate level course is to provide the student with tools and
techniques to help measure, monitor, and control projects. In this course, students will
learn financial and success metrics as well as the techniques associated with monitoring
and controlling a project. Projects are typically short in duration, and the project manager
must incorporate steps to monitor the progress of the project as well as develop an
assessment plan to measure the effectiveness of the project. Students in this class will
learn the principles of scope, pricing, cost, trade-offs, learning curves, and quality
management within a project environment. (Prerequisite: PJM500)
Course Learning Outcomes:
Through course reading material and execution of assignments and final Portfolio
Project, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Comprehend and evaluate techniques for minimizing scope creep.

Synthesize and evaluate the role of pricing and estimating in novel projects.
Apply methods for managing costs and schedule variance in project scope planning
Apply trade-off skills and techniques in a project environment.
Synthesize learning curves as a forecasting and pricing tool.
Comprehend the role of quality management in a project environment.

7. Apply the concept of Earned Value Management.

8. Comprehend the relationship between Project Scope and Earned Value
Management.
Participation & Attendance

Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at
CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course
may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please
contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like oncampus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with
your instructor. If you are having technical problems, problems with your assignments, or
other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as
possible.
Course Materials

Required:
Kerzner, H. (2013). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and
Controlling (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 9781118022276
**All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments,
discussions, and/or supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course
itself. Please read through each course module carefully.
Course Schedule

Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12
midnight MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may
not be awarded points.
Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week
#
1

Readings
Chapter 10 & 22 Project Management: A
Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling
and Controlling

Assignments

Discussion (25 points)

Chapter 14 in Project Management: A

Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling
and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 15 & 12 in Project Management:

A Systems Approach to Planning,
Scheduling and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 16, trade-off Analysis in a project

environment in Project Management: A
Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling
and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 18 Learning Curves in Project

Management: A Systems Approach to
Planning, Scheduling and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 20 Quality Management in Project

Management: A Systems Approach to
Planning, Scheduling and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 15, Cost Control in Project

Management: A Systems Approach to
Planning, Scheduling and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Critical Thinking (75 points)

Chapters 15, Cost Control and 12, Network

Scheduling Techniques in Project
Management: A Systems Approach to
Planning, Scheduling and Controlling

Discussion (25 points)

Portfolio (350 points)

Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking: Project Financing Assignment (75 Points)
Read Chapter 14 of your textbook, Project management: A systems approach to planning,
scheduling and controlling. Click here to discover, there are several risks (Financial Risks, Development
Risks, Political Risks, Organizational Risks, and Execution Risks) that must be considered to understand project
financing. Select two of the five risks and provide a mitigation report for each risk identified.

Your mitigation report should total 1-2 pages in APA format and should cite at least two
current scholarly resources, available from the CSU-Global library or as any other scholarly,
online journals, to support your assertions. One of the sources may be your textbook.

Module 3
Critical Thinking: Project Delays (75 Points)

The purpose of this assignment is to help you to understand the project management task of
cost control and scheduling techniques.
Below are several variables that can cause project delays and cost overruns. Using Chapter
15 in your text and content from the lectures, explain how these problems can be overrun.
Explain how these problems can be resolved.

Poorly defined milestones

Poor estimating techniques
A missing PERT/CPM chart
Functional managers not having a clear understanding of what has to be done
Poor programming procedures and techniques
Changes constantly being made deep in the projects life cycle

Your responses to the questions should total 3-4 pages long and should cite at least three
current scholarly resources, available from the CSU-Global library or other online scholarly
sources, to support your assertions. CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are
required.

Module 4
Critical Thinking: Project Management Trade-off Skills (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is for you to understand trade-off skills that a project
manager must possess.
Click here to read Contracts: Their Influence on Projects, from your textbook. Then, answer the following five
questions:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What
What
What
What
What

is
is
is
is
is

a firm-fixed price contract?

a fixed-price-incentive-fee contract?
cost-plus-incentive-fee contract?
cost-plus-award-fee contract?
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract?

As a buyer, determine which contract you would consider beneficial and be most interested
in obtaining? As a seller, determine which contract you would consider as beneficial and be
most interested in obtaining?
Your responses to the questions should total 2-3 pages and should cite at least three, current
scholarly resources. The CSU-Global Library is a great place to find these resources. CSU
Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required.

Module 5
Critical Thinking: Learning Curve Essay (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you better understand how Learning Curves work.
Using Chapter 18 in your text, research why a Learning Curve Analysis is used for project
management, and research the necessary components of a Learning Curve Analysis using
the textbook and the Internet. Using the information you gathered, write an essay that
contains your findings. The essay should explain the components of the learning curve and
describe how the learning curve analysis can be used by a project manager in a real-life
scenario.

Your essay should be 2-3 pages long and should include scholarly resources, available from
the CSU-Global library, or other online scholarly sources, to support your assertions. Your
template should be included as an appendix to your essay. CSU Global guidelines for APA
formatting and style are required. Include a title and a reference page that includes at least
three outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking.

Module 6
Critical Thinking: Quality Management (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you understand quality management processes as
they relate to project management.
Using Chapter 20 in your text, and the other material provided within the unit, research Six
Sigma. Explain and describe how Six Sigma can be incorporated into process improvement
to reduce defects. You should include a discussion about the essential aspects required in
an effective DMAIC process. Use relevant examples from your workplace or from your
Internet literature review to highlight the importance of implementing Six Sigma as a quality
initiative.
Your essay should be 3-4 pages long and should include scholarly resources, available from
the CSU-Global Library or other scholarly online sources to support your assertions.
CSU Global guidelines for APA formatting and style are required. Include a title and a
reference page that includes at least three outside references (not including your textbook)
to support your thinking.

Module 7
Critical Thinking: Variance and Earned Value (75 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to help you to understand how to record material cost
using earned value.
Review Chapter 15 and research the necessary components for recording material costs
using Earned Value Measurement. Using the textbook and the Internet
(http://smallbusiness.chron.com/labor-cost-vs-material-cost-11368.html), write an essay that
explains the components between Material and Labor cost for control purposes. Include a
discussion about the importance of recording material costs using Earned Value
Measurement.
Your essay should be 2-3 pages and should include scholarly resources, available from the
CSU-Global library as well as scholarly, online resources to support your assertions. Your
template should be included as an appendix to your essay. CSU Global guidelines for APA
formatting and style are required. Include a title and a reference page that includes at least
three outside references (not including your textbook) to support your thinking.

Module 8
Portfolio: Project Metrics Proposal (350 points)
Read the case study Franklin Electronics, which is in your textbook. Based on the case
study, answer the seven questions found at the end of the case study and write a
proposal to Franklin Electronics on what you would do to turn the project around. When
writing the proposal, assume the role of a highly regarded project management consultant

hired to review, analyze, and advise Franklin Electronics on the necessary direction to be
used to get the project back on track. Your proposal should address the following:

Discuss Six Sigma process improvement for tracking time and cost, and the root cause of
the problem. At a minimum, your discussion should include:
o Problem
o Cause and Effect
o Solution
o New approach to tracking Earned Value and Scope
o New Schedule and timeline
Discuss your recommendations on how Franklin Electronics can use project management
principles to meet their goal of improving efficiency and empowering management to
make better and informed decisions through the use of Earned Value Management.
Discuss how an effective Earned Value Management System contributes to organizational
effectiveness.
Finally, present your strategy on how Franklin Electronics can share best practices across
the organization.

The paper should be 7-10 pages in length, well-written, properly referenced, and in
conformity with CSU-Global guidelines for APA Style. The paper must be supported by at
least six scholarly references. Please use the CSU Library as well as scholarly, online
resources. One of the sources may be your textbook.

Course Policies

Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
45% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper

In-Classroom Policies

Grading Scale and Policies

A

95.0 100

A-

90.0 94.9

B+

86.7 89.9

83.3 86.6

B-

80.0 83.2

C+

75.0 79.9

70.0 74.9

60.0 69.9

59.9 or below

For information on late work and Incomplete grade policies, please refer to our InClassroom Student Policies and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for
comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for
credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic
dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty,
plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA
Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment),
unauthorized possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSUGlobal Library provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by
understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements
when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For
details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources within the CSU-Global
Library under the APA Guide & Resources link. A link to this document should also be
provided within most assignment descriptions on your courses Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with
them in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom
communication must be conducted in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think
before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person
on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or
humiliation toward the instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to,
demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, age, disability, sexist (or
sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations
by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online
classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.