Syllabus for Roster(s):
- 17Sp PSPM 5280-701 (SCPS)
Class Overview for SIS
Syllabus/Class Overview Template
Required Components
General Class Information
Instructor Name and Contact Information: William Yates, wy7r@virginia.edu
Subject Area and Catalog Number: PSPM 5280
Year and Term: 2017 Spring
Class Title: Special Topics in Project Management
Level (Graduate or Undergraduate): Graduate
Credit Type: Credit Hours 3.0
Class Description (Use the SIS 400 characters from catalog description):
Topics in Project Management (PSPM 5280) is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to deepen their awareness, understanding, and practitioner capability on special topics related to the “human side” of project management. Project management, as a professional discipline, is more than just an aggregation of planning tools, techniques, or specialized principles and practices, as important as those are for project success. The ability to work with and influence others is best accomplished when we understand those with whom we interact. This includes organizational leaders, project team members, co-workers, and other stakeholders. It also includes us.
Topics integrated into this course include:
- (Power of Questions) An effective problem-solving, human and organizational learning approach, as well leadership development technique is introduced;
- (Project Leadership) Critical factors associated with the theory and practice of leadership including styles, skills, organizational context, and development;
- (Chaos/Complexity) Making sense of the emergence of new business environment realities facing the project manager in the second decade of the 21st century;
- (Political Skills and Teaming) Consideration of the positive aspects of political skills and building influence for the project manager;
- (Human dynamics in project management) Examining adult development factors that shed light on human interactions and motivations directly impacting the project;
- Implications and practical applications of the above for the project manager.
This course is treated as one should expect to find in graduate-level academic work. The approach will seem deceptively easy because the reins of learning are very much turned over to the actual center of the learning process: the student. The objective of an authentic learning experience for the student will result from a creative act within the mind of each learner. The course approach is designed to promote this, and there is no better candidate for this than the project manager.
Required Text (Include ISBN, specific edition):
Course materials will consist of:
- Text 1: Jackson, B. & Parry, K. (2011). A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN: 978-1849207393
- Text 2: Marquardt, M. (2014). Leading with questions: How leaders find the right solution by knowing what to ask. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 978-1118658130
- Text 3: Frame, J. (2002). The new project management: Tools for an age of rapid change, complexity, and other business realities. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 978-0787958923
Learning Outcomes:
The objective of this course is to help each student increase their awareness, understanding, and practitioner capability in relationship to the select topic areas of study. This will be accomplished through the reading, semi-structured online group discussions (synchronous and asynchronous modes), and through associated rational dialog to find ways to link what has been learned back to practice. Weekly discussion (some of which is initiated by a question posted on Sunday evenings for the week) will provide ample opportunity for each student to contribute to the discussion as well as to learn from the contributions of their peers.
There is an extensive reading component with this course. Students are expected to read the assigned materials associated with the course in a timely fashion.
Assessment Components:
Four basic assessment components:
- Weekly online group discussion (asynchronous, threaded)
Each week (by Sunday evening) there will be questions or comments posted by the instructor for the purpose of initiating an online Monday thru Saturday group discussion. The theme of each question or comment will be consistent with the weekly reading assignment. This “virtual” group discussion will be an asynchronous threaded discussion with student input driving the content direction. The instructor will also provide input and moderate as needed but sessions are intended to be student-centric. As students interact, they should keep in mind that graduate level education is not necessarily supplying answers as much as it is learning how to ask the right questions. Assessment will be based on commentary substance, question thoughtfulness, and any meaningful text reference(s) that may be used to reinforce a comment. Students are expected to stay on topic and avoid “sidebar” discussions not relevant to the course.
- Required readings and associated Reaction Papers (note: not book report)
Students are required the assigned texts. In addition, there will be several articles that will distributed by the professor at various intervals through the course. The readings were chosen for the purpose of developing an understanding of the topical areas, relate that understanding to the professional discipline of project management, with consideration for both implications and applications back into their organization or work space. A reaction paper (not book report or reflection paper), no more than five double-spaced pages plus reference page will be required for each of the sections (total of five). The due date for each reaction paper will be the last Friday of the period associated with the specific reading assigned.
- Integration Paper (this acts as “the final”)
A final “integration” paper that integrates all four sections including the three assigned texts plus instructor handouts associated with Reaction Paper #5 will be due no-later-than the last Tuesday in the course calendar. The Integration Paper should not be longer than 8 pages plus reference page. The purpose of the integration paper is to consider all of the areas covered in the course, collectively, and in the context project management. It is not picking out a favorite one or two to write about, but rather considering the meaning of all together.
Note: Unless there is a preceding understanding with the instructor, any delays beyond the due dates for the Reaction or Integration papers will result in a grade deduction.
- Sectional Collaborative Discussion
Associated with each section’s Reaction Paper (5) and the final Integration Paper (1) will be a collaborative discussion utilizing the UVA Blackboard Collaborate “Live Online Meeting” tool. (There will also be one session scheduled the second week of the course for member introductions and individual system checks.) The link to this tool will be found at the online site for the course. The discussion will immediately follow the due the date of the paper, but the exact date and time will have to be worked out together with students. Assessment for this is participation.
Evaluation Standards
The course grade will be based on: (a) reaction and integration paper assessments; (b) weekly reading and “virtual” group threaded discussion participation; (c) and sectional collaborative discussion participation. The percentage breakouts of these are:
Category Percentage Total Max Points Available
Weekly “virtual” group discussion 30% 300
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Final Integration Paper 15% 150
Collaborative Discussions (6) 11% 110
Totals 100% 1000 Points
Delivery Mode Expectations (Classroom/Internet and Web-based classes, specify any live (synchronous) meetings, dates, times, and location of delivery):
The course is delivered online, primarily in asynchronous mode, utilizing the school’s online course site for distribution and reception of resource materials, assignments, weekly discussion forum, and access to the live online feature associated with the (synchronous) collaborative discussions. Specific times for the collaborative discussions will be determined after the first week in conjunction with student scheduling.
Required Technical Resources and Technical Components:
Students must be able to have online access sufficient to submit the weekly assignment(s), review what other classmates have submitted, and submit the reaction and integration paper assignments on time. This includes the following:
- Computer with basic audio/video output equipment sufficient for online meetings
- Internet access (broadband recommended)
- Microsoft Word
Class Specific Information
Class Instruction and Activities:
See course calendar and requirements section for specifics. Please note that all reading assignments are expected to be done before the class with which they are shown below.
Class Requirements:
Students are required to complete the following assignments:
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Assignment |
Description |
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Weekly online group discussion (threaded) |
Each week (by Sunday evening) there will be questions or comments posted by the instructor to initiate an online Monday-Saturday group discussion(s). The theme of the question or comment will be consistent with the weekly reading assignment. The student’s initial contribution/response should be posted by Wednesday. The ‘virtual’ group discussion(s) will be a threaded discussion with student input driving the content. The instructor will provide input and moderate as needed but sessions are intended to be student-centric. As students interact they should keep in mind that graduate level learning is not about supplying answers as much as it is learning how to ask the right questions. Assessment will be based on commentary substance, question thoughtfulness, and meaningful text reference(s). Students are expected to stay on topic and avoid “sidebars” discussions not relevant to the course. |
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Required readings and associated reaction papers (not book report) |
Students will be required to read three texts as well as several articles written/collected and distributed by the professor. The readings were chosen for the purpose of developing an understanding of the topical areas; relate that understanding to the professional discipline of project management, with consideration for both implications and applications back in their organizations or work space. A reaction paper (not book report or reflection paper), no more than five double-spaced pages plus reference page, is required for each of the five sections of readings. The due date for each reaction paper will be the last Saturday of the period associated with the text assignment unless otherwise noted. |
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Sectional Collaborative Discussion
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Associated with each section’s Reaction Paper (5) and the final Integration Paper there will be a collaborative discussion utilizing the UVA Blackboard Collaborate “Live Online Meeting” tool. (There will also be one additional session scheduled the second week of the course for member introductions and individual system checks.) The link to this tool will be found at the online site for the course. The discussion will immediately follow the due the date of the paper, but the exact date and time will have to be worked out together with students. Assessment for this is participation. |
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Integration paper (this acts as the Final) |
A final paper that integrates the concepts from the assigned texts and instructor handouts associated will be due NLT the last Sunday within the course calendar. The final integration paper should not be longer than 7 pages plus reference page. Unless there is a preceding understanding with the instructor, any delays will result in grade deduction. |
Please note: Late assignments will not be accepted. There are no “extra credit” options. If you are aware of special circumstances ahead of time or afterwards that may warrant exception, please discuss with me.
Evaluation Standards and Assessments:
The course grade will be based on a final exam, article reviews, essays, and weekly assignments. The percentage breakouts of these are:
Category Percentage Total Max Points Available
Weekly “virtual” group discussion 30% 300
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Required reading 1 and Reaction Paper 11% 110
Final Integration Paper 15% 150
Collaborative Discussions (6) 11% 110
Totals 100% 1000 Points
Class Schedule:
The course sequence is provided below.
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Session |
Session Topic |
Readings: |
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Week 1 Jan 18 thru Jan 21 |
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Week 2 Jan 22 thru Jan 28 |
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Week 3 Jan 29 thru Feb 4 |
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Week 4 Feb 5 thru Feb 11 |
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Week 5 Feb 12 thru Feb 18 |
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Week 6 Feb 19 thru Feb 25 |
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Week 7 Feb 26 thru Mar 4 |
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Week 8 Mar 5 thru Mar 11 |
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Week 9 Mar 12 thru Mar 18 |
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Week 10 Mar 19 thru Mar 25 |
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Week 11 Mar 26 thru Apr 1 |
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Week 12 Apr 2 thru Apr 8 |
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Week 13 Apr 9 thru Apr 15 |
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Week 14 Apr 16 thru Apr 22 |
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Week 15 Apr 23 thru May 2 |
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Communication & Student Response Time:
This course relies heavily on the student’s ability to manage their time, apportioning what is needed to successfully read, think, react, as well as contribute to the collective discussions (written or in collaborative back-and-forth dialogue). After working with students in various online modes for nearly decade, the number one issue (by far) that students need to address from the beginning is the need to establish a weekly learning “calendar” as opposed to assuming “free time” will be easy to capture and manage.
As mentioned elsewhere, late assignments will not be accepted. There are no “extra credit” options for work missed. However, IF you are aware of special circumstances ahead of time or afterwards that warrant the consideration of an exception, please contact and discuss with me.
Assignments:
Review Class Requirements and Class Schedule sections above for details regarding assignments.
Resources:
(A) Students are expected to provide the technical resources needed to successful connect and communicate via the online learning management system used for the course. (See Technical Specifications: Computer Hardware section below for additional details.) (B) Course texts and instructor handouts provide the essential academic content resources necessary for the course. Students are always encouraged to extend their personal inquiry beyond the texts used in order to enhance their own learning, and through sharing what they have learned in their self-directed learning initiative(s), to enrich the cohort of students making up everyone else in the course.
Grading:
Grades will be calculated using a weighted average, and the final course grade will be assigned as follows:
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980 – 1,000 A+ |
880 – 899 B+ |
780 – 799 C+ |
680 – 699 D+ |
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940 – 979 A |
840 – 879 B |
740 – 779 C |
640 – 679 D |
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900 – 939 A- |
800 – 839 B- |
700 – 739 C- |
600 – 639 D- |
Technical Specifications: Computer Hardware
- Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
- Internet access (broadband recommended)
- Microsoft Word
Technical Support Contacts
- Login/Password: scpshelpdesk@virginia.edu
- UVaCollab: collab-support@virginia.edu
- BbCollaborate (Elluminate) Support: http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com
UVa Policies
SCPS Grading Policies: Courses carrying a School of Continuing and Professional Studies subject area use the following grading system: A+, A, A-; B+, B, B-; C+, C, C-; D+, D, D-; F. S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) are used for some course offerings. For noncredit courses, the grade notation is N (no credit). Students who audit courses receive the designation AU (audit). The symbol W is used when a student officially drops a course before its completion or if the student withdraws from an academic program of the University. Please visit www.scps.virginia.edu/audience/students/grades for more information.
- : Students are expected to attend all class sessions. Instructors establish attendance and participation requirements for each of their courses. Class requirements, regardless of delivery mode, are not waived due to a student's absence from class. Instructors will require students to make up any missed coursework and may deny credit to any student whose absences are excessive. Instructors must keep an attendance record for each student enrolled in the course to document attendance and participation in class.
University Email Policies: Students are expected to check their official UVa email addresses on a frequent and consistent basis to remain informed of University communications, as certain communications may be time sensitive. Students who fail to check their email on a regular basis are responsible for any resulting consequences.
University of Virginia Honor System:All work should be pledged in the spirit of the Honor System at the University of Virginia. The instructor will indicate which assignments and activities are to be done individually and which permit collaboration. The following pledge should be written out at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers: “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”. The pledge must be signed by the student. For more information, visit www.virginia.edu/honor.
Special Needs: It is the policy of the University of Virginia to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state laws. Any SCPS student with a disability who needs accommodation (e.g., in arrangements for seating, extended time for examinations, or note-taking, etc.), should contact the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) and provide them with appropriate medical or psychological documentation of his/her condition. Once accommodations are approved, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor about logistics and implementation of accommodations. Accommodations for test taking should be arranged at least 14 business days in advance of the date of the test(s). Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the SDAC: 434-243-5180/Voice, 434-465-6579/Video Phone, 434-243-5188/Fax. Further policies and statements are available at www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/sdac/sdac.html
For further policies and statements about student rights and responsibilities, please visit www.scps.virginia.edu/audience/students