Critical Path

[PMPG 5000 RNA, Semester 1, Winter 2022]

The Critical Path is the calendar, timeline, or weekly course schedule. It is an important document that
lays out weekly objectives that you, the student, are responsible for to ensure academic success.

You are strongly advised to print out a copy of the Critical Path and to refer to it regularly.

Due Raw
Modules Topics, Readings, and Activities
Dates Score

1 Introduction
Jan. 11  Welcome
 Student Introductions
 Review of course outline/Critical Path/Learning Objectives
 Group formation/Working in Groups
 Ground Rules / Meeting Notes format
 Program policies (attendance/plagiarism)

Establishing Context: Strategy, Projects,

Operations
 Overview of Strategic Management
 Project vs. Operational Work – Key Concepts
 How Projects Support Business Strategies

Assignments:
 Individual Assignment #1a: Explain plagiarism and academic honesty Jan. 14 N/A
 Group Assignment #1b: Get together with your group and develop 5 marks
Jan. 14
the Team Operating Agreement
 Select a business idea to work with throughout the course. Receive
approval for your business idea from your professor.

2 Overview of Projects / Project Management

Jan. 14  Project Life Cycles
 Project Stakeholders
 Introduction to PMBOK
 Programs and Portfolio Management
 Project Management Profession
 Project proposals/Statement of Work

Initiating a Project (Part 1)

 Project Management processes
 Predictive and Adaptive (Agile) Approaches
 Business Cases

PMPG 5000 1
 Readings:
 Introduction to Project Management (Schwalbe), Chapter 1 (p. 1 -
28)
 Project Management Body Of Knowledge (PMBOK), Chapters 1 & 2

Assignments:
 Group Assignment #2: Finalize project selection and develop Jan. 18 5 marks
Business Case

3 Initiating a Project (Part 2)

Jan. 18  Initiating Process (cont.)
 Project Charters
 Stakeholder Registry
 Kick off Meetings

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 3 p.1-28
 PMBOK Chapter 3 p. 51-64 and p.561-564
Assignments:
 Group Assignment #3: Develop Project Charter for your project
Jan. 21 5 marks

4 Planning Projects – Part 1: Integration and Scope

Management
Jan. 21
 Planning processes
 Integration Management
 Scope Management
 Requirements Management
 Work Breakdown Structures

Readings:
 Prepare for Quiz
 Schwalbe Chapter 4. p. 112-141
 PMBOK Chapter 3 p. 66-68; Chapter 4; p. 69-127; Chapter 5 p. 129-
170 & p. 565-571
Assignments:
 Group Assignment #4: Develop Scope Statement and WBS Jan. 25 5 marks

5 Quiz #1 TBC 6%
Jan. 25 Planning Projects – Part 2: Schedule Management
 Defining and Sequencing Activities
 Creating duration estimates

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 4. p. 112-141 and Chapter 5 p.147-189
 PMBOK Chapter 3 p. 66-68; Chapter 4; p. 69-127; Chapter 5 p. 129-
170 & p. 565-571; Chapter 6 p. 173 – 228
Assignments:
Jan. 28
 Group Assignment #5: Develop Project Schedule (draft due in class) Draft

PMPG 5000 2
6 Planning Projects – Part 2: Schedule Management
(cont.)
Jan. 28
 Schedule Management
 Critical Path Analysis
 Creating a project schedule

Assignments:
Group Assignment #5: Develop Project Schedule Feb. 1 5 marks
Planning Projects – Part 2: Cost Management
 Estimating Costs
 Tools and Techniques
 Earned Value
 Cost Budgeting and baseline

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 5, part 2, p.171-179
 PMBOK Chapter 7

Assignments: Feb. 4 5 marks

 Group Assignment #6: Develop Cost Plan

Planning Projects – Part 3: Quality Management

7  Planning quality management
Feb. 1  Quality Metrics
 Dashboards and Checklists

Planning Projects – Part 3: Resource Management,

Communication Management, Stakeholder
Management
 Organization Charts
 Responsibility Assignment Matrices
 Resource Histograms
 Staffing Plans
 Communications Management Plans
 Stakeholder Management Plans

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 6 (p. 190-196)
 PMBOK Chapter 8 (p. 271-288)
Assignments:
 Group Assignment: In-class Feb. 7 5 marks
 Group Assignment #7: Develop Staffing Plan and RACI Chart

Planning Projects – Part 3: Risk & Procurement

8 Management
Feb. 4  Risk Management Processes
 Identifying Risks
 Risk Analysis
 Risk Response Strategies Risk Strategy
 Procurement Management Processes

PMPG 5000 3
 Agile vs. Traditional Approach to
Project Management
 Overview of Agile Approach
 Agile Manifesto

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 6 (p. 198 - 235)
 PMBOK Chapter 10 (p. 359 – 392); Chapter 12 (p. 503-535); Chapter
11
 Agile Practice Guide

Assignments:
 Group Assignment #8: Develop Risk Response Strategy Feb. 11 5 marks

8 Mid-Term Exam
Feb. 4 (Note: your mid-term grade is comprised of your mark on Quiz #1 and the Mid TBC 20%
Term Exam) and assignments to date.

Agile vs. Traditional Approach to Project

9 Management
Feb. 8  Agile Frameworks
 Agile Teams
 Alignment with PM Knowledge Areas

Executing Projects
 Work Performance
 Quality assurance and control
 Motivation

Readings:
 Agile Practice Guide
 Schwalbe Chapter 6 (p. 212-235);
 PMBOK Chapters 11

Assignments:
 Group Assignment #9: Apply Agile Framework to Team Project Feb. 15
7%
(identify and justify approach)

Executing Projects
10  Staff Assignments
Feb. 11  Developing the team
 Formal/information communications
 Stakeholder engagement
 Managing issues

Monitoring and Controlling Projects

 Forecasting with Earned Value
 Validating and controlling scope
 Monitoring and controlling time and cost

PMPG 5000 4
 Readings:
 Prepare for Quiz
 Schwalbe Chapter 6 (p. 212-235);
 PMBOK Chapters 11
 Schwalbe Chapter 7 (p. 243-391); Chapter 8 (p. 299 – 331)
Assignments:
 Group Assignment: In-class exercise

11 Quiz #2 TBC 6%
Feb. 15
Monitoring and Controlling Projects
 Reporting performance
 Managing Stakeholders
 Updating Risks

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 7 (p. 243-391); Chapter 8 (p. 299 – 331)
 PMBOK Chapter 12, p. 595 – 632

Assignments:
 In-class exercise
 Group Assignment #10 (Part 1): Dashboard: Plan for monitor & Feb. 18
control performance of scope, time and cost - draft due in-class

Closing Projects
12  Customer Acceptance
Feb. 18  Final Reports
 Lessons Learned
 Closeout Meetings

Transition to Operations
 Project Management vs Operations Management
 Transition Planning
 Operation Strategies
 Overview Operations Management

Readings:
 Schwalbe Chapter 9 (p. 339 – 355)
 PMBOK p. 633 - 637

Assignments:
 In-class exercise – Operations Strategy
 Group Assignment #10 (Part 1): Dashboard: Plan for monitor &
control performance of scope, time and cost Feb. 22 10%
 Group Assignment #10 (Part 2): Lessons learned/ Close-out
Reflection.
 Due through Blackboard/Assignments

Group Presentations of student projects

13
Course Review

PMPG 5000 5
Feb. 22

Final Exam
14
Feb. 25 Date may change, please refer to the final exam calendar. 25%

Summary of Assignments, Exams and Activities:

2 Quizzes 12%

8 Group Assignments 26%

Agile Assignment 7%

Reflection Exercise/Presentation 10%

Mid Term Exam 20%

Final Exam 25%

Total 100%

PMPG 5000 6
 Course Requirements
 Attendance: As postgraduate students, you are responsible for attendance, punctuality, and
facilitating a positive and productive learning environment. There is a strong relationship between
attendance and grades: higher grades are associated with regular class attendance. Be advised, if
you miss more than three classes per course, you may be likely to forfeit the credit attached to the
specific course'

Course Requirements (cont.)

 Students are expected to purchase both course textbooks, which are available in the College
Bookstore.

 Group Assignments: Assignments are often drafted during class and the team must review the draft
with the instructor before leaving the classroom. Group members must be present and participating
in class in order to receive the assignment grade. Assignments are submitted as follows:
o A printed assignment is submitted at the beginning of the next class. Online version is
submitted through Blackboard/Assignments before the beginning of the next class
o Assignments must be completed using the template provided
o Assignments submitted using email are not accepted.
o Failure to submit an assignment on time will result in a reduced grade as follows:
 6 hours late: reduction of .5 marks
 12 hours late: reduction of 1 mark
 18 hours late: reduction of 1.5 marks
 24 hours late: reduction of 2 marks
 30 hours late: reduction of 2.5 marks
 36 hours late: reduction of 3 marks
 42 hours late: reduction of 3.5 marks
 48 hours late: 75% reduction from final grade

 Readings: All assigned readings are expected to be completed before the next class

 Presentations: All students are expected to participate in the group presentation. Presentation
slides are due on the date of presentation, submitted through Blackboard/Assignments.

PMPG 5000 7