Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management

COURSE SYLLABUS: Fall 2020 (208)

Instructor: Jason Lee Davis, PhD – Associate Prof. & Sr. Grad. Faculty
Office Location: Charles Austin Engineering Technology Bldg. (Ag/IT), 213C
Office Hours: See Instructor Schedule on faculty webpage and below.
E&T Department Phone: 903-886-5474
E&T Office Fax: 903-886-5960
University Email Address: [email protected]
Faculty WebPage URL: http://www.JDavis.us/ or
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/
Class WebPage URL: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/tmgt/514/208/
Courseware URL: http://myLEOonline.tamuc.edu/

COURSE INFORMATION

CRN: 81159 (.01W) Program CIP Code: 15.0612.00.19

Term: Second half-semester, 8-week sub-term “G” (October 21 – December 13)

Delivery format: On-line, Web-based course – No required physical meetings.

Semester Credit Hours: 3 SCH

Catalog Course Description:

Study of techniques and applications for managing projects with emphasis on project management
planning, network scheduling, project graphics, pricing*, estimating*, cost control*, risk management*, and
other related topics.
Prerequisite and/or Co-requisite: TMGT 595 (or corequisite), or permission of Department Head.

*Note: The topics of pricing, estimating, cost control, and risk management are being phased out of this
course for coverage in greater depth in TMGT 515 Project Management Tools & Techniques.

Materials – Textbooks, Readings, Supplementary Readings:

Textbooks Required:

Title: Project Management: A Systems Approach to

Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, 10th ed.
Author: Harold Kerzner, PhD
Format availability: 1120 pages List $US
Hardcover: ISBN-13: 978-0-470-27870-3 $varies (OOP)
Wiley E-Text: ISBN-13: 978-1-118-23001-5 $74.50
E-book: ISBN-13: 978-0-470-50383-6 $79.99
Other, more economical sources: Amazon, Half.com
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2009

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

Title: ProjectMinds’ Quick Guide to Project Management, V1.3

Author: Manjeet Singh
Format availability: Free electronic copy.
https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/white-papers/quick-guide-to-project-management.pdf

Course-Specific Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, the learner should be able to:

1. Develop a Statement of Work (SOW) demonstrating appropriate purpose, objectives, scope,

deliverables, issues, and stakeholders for a project.

2. Devise, plan, and compile Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and understand life-cycle-phases
as quantitative tools in project management.

3. Design, generate, and explain network scheduling techniques and graphics.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the Master of Science in Technology Management program at Texas A&M University-
Commerce will...
1. evaluate and defend leadership and organizational strategies associated with technology-
intensive enterprises;
2. summarize and explain organizational development and strategies common to technology-
intensive enterprises;
3. formulate and assemble component ideas in order to successfully execute a project plan; and
4. analyze information in order to formulate effective solutions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!! Grading policies and requirements identified in this syllabus

will be adhered to in this course with all students held to an identical standard. If
you do not agree with any requirement herein, believe any of them to be “unfair”
or “unreasonable,” or believe that less should be expected of you than your
classmates to earn a comparable grade, you should IMMEDIATELY DROP this
course and re-evaluate your dedication to academic integrity and success!

Instructional Activities / Methods / Activities Assessments

This is an online course that contains a series of assignments and assessments to assist in achieving
the course learning objectives/outcomes. Each week there are various combinations of
assignments and activities including discussions, readings, research, topical examinations, etc. A
total of 550 points can be earned in this course.

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

In the workplace, employees are expected to produce documents that are clear, error-free, and
visually effective. Written products from the course must also satisfy these general requirements,
be appropriate for a specific purpose, and meet the needs of the audiences of the communication.
As a graduate-level course, grammar, spelling, and demonstrated organization of thought will be
considered in the grading of all assignments. Non-professional communication, such as texting
“short-hand,” is not appropriate for use in academic coursework or professional settings.

Subject Content of Course

The content of selected chapters of the textbook will be studied. The content subjects include:

Chapter 1: Overview [of Project Management]

Chapter 2: Project Management Growth: Concepts and Definitions
Chapter 11: Planning
Chapter 12: Network Scheduling Techniques
Chapter 13: Project Graphics
Chapter 16: Trade-Off Analysis in a Project Environment
Chapter 18: Learning Curves
Chapter 19: Contract Management
Chapter 21: Modern Developments Project Management
Chapter 22: The Business of Scope Changes

Credit Activities

Quizzes: 90 points (~16% of total course grade) – 9 quizzes @ 10pts each

One preliminary quiz and eight multiple choice topical quizzes covering eight of the ten textbook
chapters addressed within the course will be administered worth 10 points each. Sample
multiple choice quizzes are available at the end of each of the chapters in the textbook.
These sample quiz questions and those presented as assessment quizzes come from the
Project Management Institute’s Project Management Certification Exam and cover the
principles that support the knowledge areas and domain groups in the PMBOK® Guide.
Quizzes automatically close at the posted deadline and will not be reopened for late
submission. Each quiz MUST be completed by the posted deadline or a zero will be earned.
The preliminary quiz also contains certifications of student understanding and acceptance of
the Academic Honesty Policy and Syllabus and MUST be completed by the end of Week 1
with a score of 100% (10pts) to enable access to the remainder of the course content.

Discussions Activities: 120 points (~22% of total course grade) – 3 discussions @ 40pts each

Three interactive discussion opportunities will be provided through the semester. These activities
will make use of VoiceThread to facilitate a multimedia threaded discussion forum.
Discussion activities may require responses, reflections, research, reports, etc. Students
must make value-added contributions and responses to each of the topics presented for
discussion. It is difficult to provide quality input with only one or two short comments. Better
input earns better points. Comments limited to “me too,” “I agree,” “explain further,” and
similar in content do not qualify as thoughtful, independent, and value-added contributions
and do not earn discussion credit. Each of the three discussion activities requires a minimum
of one original thread submission (25pts) and one follow-up post to a separate peer thread
(15pts).

Project: 200 points (~36% of total course grade)

The Project will consist of multiple, deliverable components addressing various aspects of Project
Management and may include individual and/or group assignments and peer review

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

activities. A final Project presentation will be made using Jing or other appropriate Web 2.0
technologies as assigned. Project activities may be comprised of written, graphical, and
multi-media components. Details and specific requirements will be provided for each activity.

Course Examinations: 140 points (70 point Mid-term + 70 point Final)

(~26% of total course grade)

The mid-term and final exams are comprehensive evaluations of the learners’ overall
understanding of the principles that support the knowledge areas established by the premiere
project management certification organization in the U.S., the Project Management Institute
(PMI). The questions for the exams will come from a test bank of randomly presented
questions from the end of each chapter in a section labeled Studying Tips for the PMI ®
Project Management Certification Exam. Expect 35 questions in each exam from a test bank
of several hundred questions used in preparation for the PMP and CPMP Certification
examinations.

Grading

Quizzes (9) 90 points ~16%

Discussions (3) 120 points ~22%
Project Activities 200 points ~36%
Mid-term Exam 70 points ~13%
Final Exam 70 points ~13%
Total points possible for semester 550 points

Final Letter Grade via Points Earned – 550 points possible

Total Points Earned % Grade

492 – 550 89.5-100 A
437 – 491 79.5-89.4 B
382 – 436 69.5-79.4 C
327 – 381 59.5-69.4 D
≤ 326 ≤ 59.4 F

Note: The point ranges identified here take traditional rounding based on a maximum percentage
score of 100% into account.

Late submission is not allowed on some assignments, such as quizzes and others indicated in the
course, and failure to submit by the activity’s deadline will earn the grade of zero on the
assignment. Assignments accepted late will be assessed late penalties as described in the
“Timely submission of assignments” section, below.

Your instructor genuinely desires to see all students perform exceptionally well and earn a passing
grade in this course. Likewise, your instructor also firmly believes in a student’s right to fail and
shall not deny you that right should you so choose to earn that grade by virtue of your
performance, or lack thereof, in this course. YOU determine your grade in this course by your
performance, NOT the instructor!

Projects produced in this course that are deemed to be of sufficient quality may be utilized as
examples in future offerings of this course.

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

Non-credit Activities

Certain activities may be required as part of the course but not be entered in the gradebook as credit
activities. Such activities could include the introduction and roster photo posting, course intro
activity, or other related activities. Although not conducted for credit, completion of certain
activities may be required as internal prerequisite activities before proceeding to the credit-
earning activities is permitted.

General Rubric Scale for Evaluating Assignments

Assignment specific evaluation rubrics may be provided within the course. Most assignments will use
the following rubric scales, or an adjusted variation thereof:

0 No attempt at addressing the criteria is evident.

1 An attempt at addressing the criteria is evident; however, the implementation is
unsuccessfully or incorrectly executed.
2 Criteria is implemented with minimal success and/or execution is well below a reasonable
standard of expectation.
3 Criteria is marginally executed or implemented but with apparent room for improvement.
4 Criteria is successfully executed or implemented to an acceptable standard of expectation.
Typical "good" score.
5 Criteria is fully and successfully executed or implemented to or beyond the highest standard
of expectation. Has "wow factor."

Submission of Assignments

Assignments MUST be submitted in the designated location to be considered submitted. (e.g.

– If you upload a document to a location other than that in which it is required to be
uploaded, it is NOT submitted. If a project link is posted or shared anywhere other than
the required, designated location, it is NOT submitted.) Assignments MUST be completed
and correctly submitted by the designated due dates and shared as required to be
considered for full credit. Submitted work must be readable and printable using the native
format of software specifically identified for use in the course. This is typically a commonly
available Microsoft product (included in Office Suite), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf format).
GanttProject’s native .gan format is specified for some assignment components. Any other
formats will not be accepted without prior approval. Students must retain electronic copies of all
submitted works and have available for resubmission should unforeseen technical circumstances
warrant.

The writing and reference formatting style identified in the current edition of the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association (APA) is required for use on written assignments in this
course and all courses offered within the TAMU-C Department of Engineering & Technology.
The most critical aspect of writing with APA in this course is the observation of correct citation
and reference requirements. Failing to properly cite the work of others constitutes plagiarism, an
act of academic dishonesty resulting in disciplinary action. The approved TMGT Manuscript
Guide provides program specific information on required and allowed variations from APA Style.
These two sources are essential references in preparing written assignments for submission.
Only specific assignment instructions supersede these established formatting and style
requirements.

In the workplace, you are expected to produce documents that are clear, error-free, and visually
effective in communicating the intended message. All work submitted for credit in this course
must also satisfy these general professional expectations as well as be appropriate for the
specific purpose and audience for which the communication is intended. Quality of work will be

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

reflected in the assignment scores.

All coursework must identify the student and contain an appropriate assignment identifier within the
document. Submissions without this required information will earn a grade reduction for that
activity. This is part of “following instructions” and meeting the requirements of the course.
Submissions MUST contain the following information at the top of the page:

1. Your name
2. Course number & Section in which you are enrolled (TMGT 514)
3. Assignment name, chapter number, or relevant descriptor

Electronic file submissions MUST conform to the following naming conventions:

LastName,FirstName-Course Prefix&Number-Activity ID.FileExtension (no spaces in filenames)

Examples:
Phelps,Michael-TMGT514-SOW.docx
Biles,Simone-TMGT514-WBS.pdf
Ledecky,Katie-TMGT514-GANTTChart.gan

Important: Files uploaded into the LMS should NOT contain special characters such as the
pound symbol (#). Attempting to upload a file with a restricted character could result in an
error and failure of the upload process. For example, one would use Activity1 rather than
Activity#1 in a filename.

Note: Specific assignment instructions may supersede certain requirements specified in this
section. Follow assignment-specific instructions for maximum credit eligibility.

Timely submission of assignments

Assignments MUST be completed and submitted by the designated due dates, in the
designated location. Some assignments may not be accepted late, for any credit. When
eligible for late submission, full credit cannot be earned by late or incomplete
assignments. Assignment credit is reduced by 10% of its value, or up to this amount at
the instructor’s discretion, for each day late if submitted after the posted due date/time.
(e.g. Assignments lose all of their value at 10 days past due.) Further, late assignment
submissions may be rejected at the instructor’s discretion. A challenge of the late acceptance
policy above will likely result in the outright and immediate rejection of a late submission. Any
Quizzes that may be given in the course automatically close at the posted deadline and will not
be reopened for retakes or late submission. Each quiz MUST be completed by the posted
deadline or a zero will be earned. Unless indicated otherwise, posted assignments may be
submitted early; however, students should be aware that this does not imply that assignments will
be graded prior to the assignments’ due date as assignments are typically evaluated as a group
once all submissions have been received. All times specified in the course are in the Central
Time Zone.

Due-dates may be listed in multiple locations throughout the course to assist you in keeping
deadlines; however, the Class Schedule, available on the class public webpage, and embedded
on the Schedule/Calendar page in the Courseware, is the primary and definitive reference for
official due-dates for class assignments. The calendar should be referenced for due-date
confirmation on all assignments and in the event of any discrepancy between documents or date
references within the course, the dates provided on the official Class Schedule will take
precedence and be enforced. In the event circumstances warrant a modification of the due-date

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

of an assignment, the change will be announced in a prominent location in the course (the Virtual
Classroom or Announcement section) and the Class Schedule will be updated accordingly.
Should you find a discrepancy of dates within the course, please notify the instructor as to its
exact location so it can be corrected.

Make-up and extra credit assignments

No make-ups, extensions, resubmissions, or extra credit assignments

are available in this course. Credit is earned exclusively by completing the required
activities, as assigned, and submitting them by the due date, in the designated location.

Grade of "X" (Incomplete)

In accordance with the Academic Procedures stated in the TAMU-C Catalog, “students, who
because of circumstances beyond their control, are unable to attend classes during finals week or
the preceding three weeks will, upon approval of their instructor, receive a mark of ‘X’
(incomplete) in all courses in which they were maintaining passing grades.” The mark of "X" is
rarely applicable and will only be considered in strict compliance with University Rules upon
submission of complete medical or other relevant documentation. Discovery of an impending
failure of a course, although personally disappointing, DOES NOT constitute an emergency in
academia and does not meet the criteria for the assignment of an incomplete.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

General Technology Requirements

This is an online course; thus, access to a modern computer with a reliable, high-speed, Internet
connection is required. You must also have sufficient administrative authority on your computer
to download, install, and run the necessary software applications.

Browser support

D2L is committed to performing key application testing when new browser versions are released. New
and updated functionality is also tested against the latest version of supported browsers.
However, due to the frequency of some browser releases, D2L cannot guarantee that
each browser version will perform as expected. If you encounter any issues with any of
the browser versions listed in the tables below, contact D2L Support, who will determine the best
course of action for resolution. Reported issues are prioritized by supported browsers and then
maintenance browsers.

Supported browsers are the latest or most recent browser versions that are tested against new
versions of D2L products. Customers can report problems and receive support for issues. For an
optimal experience, D2L recommends using supported browsers with D2L products.

Maintenance browsers are older browser versions that are not tested extensively against new versions
of D2L products. Customers can still report problems and receive support for critical issues;
however, D2L does not guarantee all issues will be addressed. A maintenance browser becomes
officially unsupported after one year.

Note the following:

• Ensure that your browser has JavaScript and Cookies enabled.
• For desktop systems, you must have Adobe Flash Player 10.1 or greater.

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

• The Brightspace Support features are now optimized for production environments when using the
Google Chrome browser, Apple Safari browser, Microsoft Edge browser, Microsoft Internet
Explorer browser, and Mozilla Firefox browsers.

Desktop support

Browser Supported Browser Version(s) Maintenance Browser Version(s)

Microsoft® Edge Latest N/A
Microsoft® Internet N/A 11
Explorer®
Mozilla® Firefox® Latest, ESR N/A
Google® Chrome™ Latest N/A
Apple® Safari® Latest N/A

Tablet and Mobile Support

Device Operating Browser Supported Browser Version(s)

System
Android™ Android 4.4+ Chrome Latest
Apple iOS® Safari, The current major version of iOS (the
Chrome latest minor or point release of
that major version) and the
previous major version of iOS
(the latest minor or point release
of that major version). For
example, as of June 7,
2017, D2Lsupports iOS 10.3.2
and iOS 9.3.5, but not iOS
10.2.1, 9.0.2, or any other
version.
Chrome: Latest version for the
iOS browser.
Windows Windows 10 Edge, Latest of all browsers, and Firefox
Chrome, ESR.
Firefox

• You will need regular access to a computer with a broadband Internet connection. The minimum
computer requirements are:
o 512 MB of RAM, 1 GB or more preferred
o Broadband connection required when courses are heavily video intensive
o Video display capable of high-color 16-bit display 1024 x 768 or higher resolution

• You must have a:

o Sound card, which is usually integrated into your desktop or laptop computer
o Speakers or headphones.
o *For courses utilizing video-conferencing tools and/or an online proctoring solution, a webcam and
microphone are required.

• Both versions of Java (32 bit and 64 bit) must be installed and up to date on your machine. At a
minimum Java 7, update 51, is required to support the learning management system. The most
current version of Java can be downloaded at: JAVA web site https://www.java.com/en/ or
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

• Current anti-virus software must be installed and kept up to date.

• Running the browser check will ensure your internet browser is supported.
o Pop-ups are allowed.
o JavaScript is enabled.
o Cookies are enabled.

• You will need some additional free software (plug-ins) for enhanced web browsing. Ensure that you
download the free versions of the following software:
o Adobe Reader https://get.adobe.com/reader/
o Adobe Flash Player (version 17 or later) https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
o Adobe Shockwave Player https://get.adobe.com/shockwave/
o Apple Quick Time http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

• At a minimum, you must have Microsoft Office 2013, 2010, 2007 or Open Office. Microsoft Office is
the standard office productivity software utilized by faculty, students, and staff. Microsoft Word is the
standard word processing software, Microsoft Excel is the standard spreadsheet software, and
Microsoft PowerPoint is the standard presentation software. Copying and pasting, along with
attaching/uploading documents for assignment submission, will also be required. If you do not have
Microsoft Office, you can check with the bookstore to see if they have any student copies.

Course-specific Software/Hardware/Peripherals

Students will make use of the following software applications to complete course assignments:

MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint)

Jing (free version)
VoiceThread (Note that VoiceThread is integrated directly into the Brightspace courseware.)
GanttProject - Free Project Scheduling and Management Application (download link for Win ver.)

Auxiliary Hardware/Accessories:

Computer Microphone (required, built-into most modern webcams)

Video Webcam (necessary for video requirement of VoiceThread Discussion Activities)

ACCESS AND NAVIGATION

This course will be facilitated using Desire 2 Learn (D2L) Brightspace, the Learning Management
System (LMS) used by Texas A&M University-Commerce. The university refers to this on-line
course environment as “myLeo On-line.” To get started with the course, access myLeo On-line
through your myLeo Portal, or go directly to: http://myLEOonline.tamuc.edu/

You will need your Campus-Wide ID (CWID) and password to log in to the course. If you do not know
your CWID or have forgotten your password, contact the Center for IT Excellence (CITE) at
903.468.6000 or [email protected].

To participate in the online course environment, login to the course in myLeo On-line and follow the
instructions provided in the course. Instructions, project guidelines, and relevant resources will
be provided as needed throughout the course. The Virtual Classroom should be monitored and
contributed to regularly. Special announcements or instructions may also be placed in the
Announcements, the Virtual Classroom, or sent directly to your Leo email, which should be
monitored regularly throughout your enrollment at TAMU-C.

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

Note: Personal computer and internet connection problems do not excuse the requirement to
complete all course work in a timely and satisfactory manner. Each student needs to have a
backup method to deal with these inevitable problems. These methods might include the
availability of a backup PC at home or work, the temporary use of a computer at a friend's home,
the local library, office service companies, coffee shop, a TAMUC campus open computer lab,
etc.

COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT

Interaction with the Instructor

The instructor is available via a variety of avenues. The best path depends on the nature of the
content you wish to convey or ask. If you have a general question about the class content, the
syllabus and course materials are provided within the courseware environment and may already
provide the answer you seek. If you have a question or comment of the nature that would
typically be presented in a traditional classroom environment, please do so in the Virtual
Classroom so that others might benefit from and participate in the exchange. If you know the
answer to a fellow student's question, please respond. Personal content involving grades,
progress, etc. should be addressed with me via private e-mail: [email protected]. Your
name, CWID, and course number (if regarding a specific course) must be included in any and
ALL electronic correspondence. All class related E-mail correspondence must have the following
in the subject line:

TMGT 514 - First Name Last Name, subject of correspondence

To help ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our colleagues and students during the active
Coronavirus pandemic, I, like many TAMU-C faculty and staff members will be working from
“Alternative Work Locations” (typically home) to the extent practical and possible or as mandated by
the administration or local/state officials. Thus, all advising and course activities will be conducted
via on-line means. I do not expect to be scheduling face-to-face office meetings for the foreseeable
future. Please direct any questions or communication as directed above. If email proves to be
insufficient for a particular topic, an on-line meeting may be considered. Note that telephone and
voice mail contact are not an appropriate or reliable means of contacting the instructor as the
telephone line and voice mailbox are not actively monitored.

Brightspace (MyLeo On-line) Technical Support

Need Help?
Student Support - If you have any questions or are having difficulties with the course material,
please contact your Instructor.

Technical Support - If you are having technical difficulty with any part of
Brightspace, please contact Brightspace Technical Support at 1-877-325-
7778 or click on the Live Chat or click on the words “click here” to submit
an issue via email.

System Maintenance - Please note that on the 4th Sunday of each month there will be System
Maintenance which means the system will not be available 12 pm-6 am CST.

Writing Assistance

Both on-site and online writing assistance is available through the University Writing Center. The
Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers take advantage of all opportunities for learning

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

inherent in the writing process; to that end, center tutors can assist writers at any stage of the
writing process. By working with students one-on-one or in small groups, tutors can help writers
analyze the rhetorical demands of the writing task, generate and focus ideas at the prewriting
stage, ensure they are addressing the writing assignment directly and effectively, elaborate and
rework a rough draft after hearing the writer read the draft aloud, discover their strengths and
weaknesses in a particular rhetorical context, strengthen arguments, spot weak rhetorical choices
and make more effective choices, and address formatting or other surface-level concerns. At no
point do center tutors write these papers for the students. All writers working in the Writing Center
maintain control of their work; tutors simply offer support and feedback and ask questions they
may not have been asking themselves (or may not have even known to ask themselves).

For more information refer to the Writing Center’s web pages at:
http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/colleges/humanitiessocialsciencesarts/departments/literatureL
anguages/writingCenter/default.aspx

Other Questions/Concerns

Contact the appropriate TAMU-C department relating to your questions/concern. If you are unable to
reach the appropriate department with questions regarding your course enrollment, billing,
advising, or financial aid, please call 903-886-5511 between the hours of 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.

COURSE AND UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES/POLICIES

Student Guidebook

The current Student Guidebook is available here:

http://www.tamuc.edu/student_guidebook/Student_Guidebook.pdf

Academic Integrity

Texas A&M University-Commerce does not tolerate plagiarism and other forms of academic
dishonesty. Plagiarism represents disregard for academic standards and is strictly against
University policy. Plagiarized work can result in a “0” on a given assignment(s) or an “F” for the
course as well as further administrative sanctions permitted under University policy. You may
discuss course work and other course materials with fellow students (except during tests), but it is
inappropriate to have another student, or anyone else, do your course work or provide you with
any portion of it. Further, assignment responses written by or purchased from a third party writer
may not be submitted in part or whole to satisfy assignment requirements.

Conduct that violates generally accepted standards of academic honesty is defined as academic
dishonesty. "Academic dishonesty" includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (the appropriation or
stealing of the ideas or words of another and passing them off as one's own), auto-plagiarism
(duplicate submission of single work for credit in multiple or repeated classes), cheating on
exams or other course assignments, collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with others in
preparing course assignments), forgery (representing yourself as some else on a document,
signing a roster on another student’s behalf, soliciting or conspiring to commit a written
misrepresentation of identity, etc.), and abuse (destruction, defacing, or removal) of resource
material. All works submitted for credit must be original works created by the scholar uniquely
for the class. Works submitted are subject to submission to TurnItIn, or other similar services, to
verify the absence of plagiarism. Consequences of academic dishonesty may range from
reduced credit on the plagiarized assignment to petition for removal from the academic program
or institution, depending on the circumstances and extent of the violation; however, in typical

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

instances, an automatic F on the assignment is considered appropriate as a minimum

consequence. For additional information on the obligations and consequences regarding
plagiarism and academic dishonesty, refer to the University Procedure 13.99.99.R0.10 Graduate
Student Academic Dishonesty.
http://www.tamuc.edu/aboutUs/policiesProceduresStandardsStatements/rulesProcedures/13stud
ents/graduate/13.99.99.R0.10.pdf

Assignments and questions utilized in coursework and examinations is to be considered the

intellectual property of the instructor and the university, with applicable copyright restrictions, and
MAY NOT be distributed or shared outside the class. This includes the distribution of content to
other students not currently enrolled in the class and the uploading of course content to external
databases or third party, commercial websites. Any student doing so may be held accountable
as a violation of academic honesty.

Also, be aware that the statute of limitations for penalties for plagiarism does not end upon the
completion of the course or even upon graduation. If an instance of plagiarism is found anytime
after the completion of the course, the course grade is subject to change accordingly and any
awarded degree utilizing the course is subject to revocation.

Avoiding Plagiarism

To avoid plagiarism, an individual must give credit whenever they:

a) use another individual's idea, opinion, or theory;
b) use facts, statistics, graphs, and drawings that are not common knowledge;
c) use quotations of another individual's spoken or written words; or
d) paraphrase another individual’s spoken or written words.

Any works referenced must be properly cited and referenced in accordance with APA 7th edition
style.

Web resources for additional reference regarding what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it
include:
http://www.plagiarism.org/
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/plagiarism.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

An excessive Similarity Score, as indicated by TurnItIn or similar plagiarism detection tool, on any
written assignment is an indication of either Academic Dishonesty OR a lack of acceptable
knowledge regarding how to properly credit sources. Neither of these is acceptable and will lead
to an undesirable outcome on the assignment, and most likely the course. A Similarity Check
Dropbox is provided in the course as a courtesy so that you may submit your work to verify that
your similarity score is in an appropriate range BEFORE submitting your final work to the official
Dropbox folder designated for the particular activity. You may submit, revise, and resubmit your
documents to this Dropbox as many times as necessary to achieve an appropriately low score.

So, what is an appropriate range? As the Similarity Score is an indication of how much of your work
can be found in previously published works, the lower the score the better. It is not unusual for
students to submit works that score from 0% to 3%. On the other end, if you submit work that
shows to be 25% (1/4 or more plagiarized, either intentional or due to improperly crediting),
expect a serious issue and very likely an F. If your score exceeds 33% (1/3+ plagiarized), expect
an F on the activity as there is simply no excuse for that high of a Similarity Score if you did the
work yourself and credited properly.

Here's the general scale based on the recommendations of the Program Advisory Committee:

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

0%-7% Excellent (Shoot for the bottom end of this range.)

8%-14% Acceptable
15%-24% Probably OK, but similarity report will likely be checked to be sure there are no
serious issues.
25%-32% Likely NOT OK, will undergo similarity report evaluation and an F is very likely.
33%+ Definitely NOT OK, will undergo similarity report evaluation and an F is almost
assured.

Note that TurnItIn may include assignment questions in the similarity analysis which can result in
a higher similarity score shown in the submission folder. If this occurs, the score will be manually
adjusted by the instructor to remove percentages of similarity detected in assignment questions
and reflect only the percentage of similarity detected in student generated responses. This
adjustment will be noted in the instructor’s official grading spreadsheet and will not be visible in
the submission folder.

In May 2015, the university adopted a Graduate Student Academic Dishonesty procedure that takes a
MUCH stronger stance against violations of academic integrity. This opportunity to check your
Similarity Scores prior to final submission will help you to address any issues that might otherwise
arise to avoid any undesirable consequences resulting from an unintentional instance of
Academic Dishonesty. Documents submitted to the Similarity Check Dropbox will not be
collected or graded. Comps and Assignment Documents are not officially submitted, and do not
count for credit, until they are posted to the specified location designated for that specific
assignment.

Scholarly Expectations

Work submitted, particularly at the graduate level, is expected to demonstrate higher-order thinking
skills and represent the student’s best possible effort on the assignment. A student should
NEVER ask an instructor what they made on a particular assignment for the purpose of
determining how much effort to put into the next assignment. Any effort, on any activity, that is
less that the student’s best is insufficient and will likely, and rightfully, be reflected in the grade. If
a passing grade is desired in this course, it must be demonstrated by virtue of your performance
throughout the course. Further, work submitted at the graduate level is expected to be of
significantly higher quality and created with a significantly higher degree of self-direction than
work produced at the undergraduate level.

Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to correctly follow directions and perform in
accordance with assignment requirements in terms of content, submission, and timeliness and
communicate with the instructor and fellow students in a respectful and professional manner.
Further, students are expected to be able to accomplish these responsibilities with a significant
degree of independence and not expect to habitually contact the instructor to provide additional
interpretation of clearly stated assignments, correct your work prior to submission, and provide
continual “hand-holding” to function academically. Grading standards are typically such that
failure to adhere to these basic expectations will be reflected in the grade. This is as it should be.
A student who does not demonstrate the ability to independently follow instructions correctly and
produce work that meets the identified project standards will not likely earn an A in this course. A
grade of A in such case would misrepresent a student’s ability to perform at a high standard to a
potential employer or supervisor evaluating their transcript.

Late Work

Projects and assignments MUST be completed and submitted by the designated due dates. Full
credit cannot be earned by late or incomplete assignments. Assignments may lose up to 10% of
their possible value each day late if submitted after the posted due date/time. (e.g. Assignments
can lose all of their value at 10 days past due.) Further, late project submissions may be
rejected at the instructor’s discretion. If a project incorporates peer review activities requiring

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

that all projects be available at the beginning of the review period, one student will not be
permitted to hold up the progress of the entire class and may be taken “out of the loop” if
necessary to ensure the forward progress of the class.

Time Commitment (8-week term)

In a college-level course, it is a reasonable and accepted expectation that a student will spend
between three and four hours outside of class for each hour spent in class. This applies to on-
line and blended courses just as it does to a tradition course when determining the total
expectation of time that should be spent on a particular course per week, or day in the case of
summer or sub-term courses. The activities in this course are based on a 7.5-week instruction
schedule. An understanding of this expectation can help serve as a gauge for you to determine a
range of how much time you will need to allow for and devote to each course. The average time
commitment range calculation for a three Semester Credit Hour (3 SCH) course, such as this
one, is shown in the following table. To frame the expectation in a real-world perspective, the
work-load of a 3 SCH course delivered in an 8-week format could be roughly equated to that of a
half-time, 20 hour per week job, for the duration of the course.

Average expected time spent Minimum expected average Maximum expected average
on class or class related work. time based on 3:1 time ratio. time based on 4:1 time ratio.
“In” class per class week 5hr. 00min. 5hr. 00min.
“Outside” class per class
15hr. 00min. 20hr. 00min.
week
TOTAL Weekly Expectation 20hr. 00min. 25hr. 00min.
TOTAL Term Expectation 150hr. 00min. 187hr. 30min.

Attendance

All students must be active participants in class activities, whether in the classroom or on-line. In on-
line courses, attendance is equated to the demonstration of an active, regular presence in the
virtual course environment and appropriate progress toward timely assignment completion. An
active presence may be shown through participation in, and contributions to, on-line class
discussions and the Virtual Classroom. Regular attendance and assignment submissions are
essential for success. If an extended situation arises during the course of the semester that
prevents you being able to perform to a level allowing you to earn the grade you desire, it may
likely be in your best interest to drop the course and re-enroll later. If you’re planning an
extended trip or vacation, are adversely impacted by an environmental situation, or have any
other obligation (engagement, wedding, medical procedure, family matters, etc.) during the
semester that will interfere with your ability to participate as necessary to enable the opportunity
for your success in the course, this will not be the time for you to take this class. Go ahead, drop
the class, enjoy your time away or vacation or take care of any other timely obligations, and re-
enroll in a semester in which you are ready and able to dedicate the time and effort necessary to
be successful in your studies. Be aware that university faculty or staff cannot and will not grant or
imply permission for you to be absent from class or leave the country for any length of time, for
any reason. DO NOT ASK!!! Bottom line… Academic studies require significant effort and
dedication. Either you’re all in and committed, or you need to step back until you’re ready and
able to rise to the challenge.

For more information about the attendance policy please visit the Attendance webpage and
Procedure 13.99.99.R0.01.
http://www.tamuc.edu/admissions/registrar/generalInformation/attendance.aspx

http://www.tamuc.edu/aboutUs/policiesProceduresStandardsStatements/rulesProcedures/13stud
ents/academic/13.99.99.R0.01.pdf

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

Drops & Withdrawals (and understanding the difference)

Drop – Removal of the student from one or more courses while remaining actively enrolled in one or
more remaining courses in a given semester. A drop must be initiated by the student, with
reason, subject to instructor approval, or it may be initiated by the instructor in the case of
excessive absences, at the discretion of the instructor. Drop requests must be submitted on or
before the drop deadline. A student may not be dropped from a single course after the drop
deadline is passed. Requests to drop a course are submitted via the student’s myLEO account.

Withdraw – Elective removal of the student from ALL courses in which (s)he is enrolled in a given
semester. A withdrawal request must be initiated by the student submitting the official Withdrawal
Form to the Office of the Registrar on or before the last day to withdraw. Withdrawals cannot be
initiated by instructors and do not require instructor approval.

During the open registration period at the beginning of the semester, students may add or drop
courses without specific authorization (prerequisite requirements and permission-only courses
excepted). Should the student determine it to be necessary to drop the course, or withdraw from
the semester, it is the student’s sole responsibility to submit the proper request PRIOR to the
official deadlines to complete either of these actions. Drop/Withdrawal requests may NOT be
submitted through your instructor and informing your instructor of your intent to take either action
does not constitute your official request to do so. Instructor approval is required to drop the
course after the end of the open-enrollment period and prior to the drop deadline. The student
cannot be dropped after the drop deadline or withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. (This is
university procedure, NOT an instructor decision.) The instructor is required to submit the actual
grade earned by each student remaining on the official roster after the withdrawal deadline,
regardless of the level of grade attainment. The student must contact their academic advisor to
determine what effect the drop/withdrawal will have on their academic progress prior to initiating
either action.

The student is responsible for confirming official university dates/deadlines and meeting any and all
necessary deadlines pertaining to drops & withdrawals. In the event of a discrepancy between a
date provided in the course and a date on the official university calendar, the date on the official
university calendar, or revised date officially announced by the registrar or other authorized
university official, will take precedence.

ADA Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that
provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact:

Office of Student Disability Resources & Services

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Gee Library, Room 162
Phone (903) 886-5150 or (903) 886-5835
Fax (903) 468-8148
[email protected]
Office of Student Disability Resources and Services
http://www.tamuc.edu/campusLife/campusServices/studentDisabilityResourcesAndServices/

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

No variations in assignment requirements or expectations can be granted by the instructor without

prior documented authorization directly from the Office of Student Disability Resources &
Services. Requests for accommodation cannot be presented directly to the instructor by the
student. Only requests routed through and received directly from the Office of Disability
Resources & Services can be acted upon by an instructor. It can take time to process and
implement accommodations, so if you qualify and think there is any possibility you might need to
request them during the course, it is advisable to contact the Student Disability Resources &
Services office at the beginning of the semester to establish a relationship with one of their
advisors.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Texas A&M University-Commerce will comply in the classroom, and in online courses, with all federal
and state laws prohibiting discrimination and related retaliation on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or veteran status. Further, an
environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression will be maintained.

Research Studies/Human Subjects

Refer to the Texas A&M University-Commerce Rules & Procedures 15.00.01.R0.01-Human Subject
Protection.

Surveys/Course Evaluations

Your feedback may be requested by Texas A&M University-Commerce during the semester/term
regarding your course. It is important that you take a serious and constructive approach to this
activity. The information gained from you will assist in course evaluation by the
university/college/department to insure that effective learning is taking place within the existing
course structure. If changes are indicated, this will help with course re-design and/or other
revisions that will make the course more relevant for future students and the employers of
graduates.

University Campus Concealed Carry

Texas Senate Bill - 11 (Government Code 411.2031, et al.) authorizes the carrying of a concealed
handgun in Texas A&M University-Commerce buildings only by persons who have been issued
and are in possession of a Texas License to Carry a Handgun. Qualified law enforcement
officers or those who are otherwise authorized to carry a concealed handgun in the State of
Texas are also permitted to do so. Pursuant to Penal Code (PC) 46.035 and A&M-Commerce
Rule 34.06.02.R1, license holders may not carry a concealed handgun in restricted locations. For
a list of locations, please refer to please refer to the Carrying Concealed Handguns On Campus
document and/or consult your event organizer.

Web URL:
http://www.tamuc.edu/aboutUs/policiesProceduresStandardsStatements/rulesProcedures/34Safe
tyOfEmployeesAndStudents/34.06.02.R1.pdf

Pursuant to PC 46.035, the open carrying of handguns is prohibited on all A&M-Commerce

campuses. Report violations to the University Police Department at 903-886-5868 or 9-1-1.

Student Conduct/Citizenship

All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable
behavior conducive to a positive learning environment. The Code of Student Conduct is

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

described in detail in the Student Guidebook.

http://www.tamuc.edu/student_guidebook/Student_Guidebook.pdf

Students should also consult the Rules of Netiquette for more information regarding how to interact in
an online forum: Netiquette http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Students are expected, at all times, to recognize constituted authority, to conform to the ordinary rules
of good conduct, to be truthful, to respect the rights of others, to protect private and public
property, and to make the best use of their time and effort toward the educational process.

All students’ work in this class will be evaluated and scored fairly and impartially based on the quality
of work submitted and strict adherence to assignment guidelines. It is improper conduct to
contact an instructor to ask that work be reconsidered to earn a particular grade after grades
have been posted to the class gradebook and/or to the registrar. Grades assigned are a
reflection of the scores earned by the student, not a random or negotiable assignment by the
instructor. If a particular grade is desired or necessary, it is the student’s sole responsibility to
fully participate in the class and submit work of sufficient quality to legitimately earn that grade.

At no time is a student allowed to exchange dialog with, make requests of, or make implications to a
member of faculty that could be construed as a request for, or expectation of, preferential or
differential treatment among members of a class. A student may not place an instructor in a
position in which there is an expectation by the student that (s)he will be evaluated, assessed, or
given consideration in a manner inconsistent with that of the entire class. All students within a
class will be held to an identical standard of expectation and assessment, within the law.

This Syllabus and the Syllabus Change Procedure

This syllabus constitutes the contractual document between faculty and students in the course. A
student’s continued enrollment in the course following the posting of the final, official syllabus at
the beginning of the term signifies the student’s understanding of and complete acceptance of
this contract and the procedures, requirements, and evaluation criteria contained herein. Any
student not accepting this syllabus is to immediately drop this course. The syllabus identifies
credit-earning activities for which you will be responsible to submit in the course. The occasion of
a need to vary from the original syllabus is rare; however, unforeseen circumstances and
logistical issues could arise during the course of a semester that necessitates a minor
modification in the originally planned activities or procedures. Changes to a syllabus are not
made without sufficient justification and assurance that any changes implemented would not
impact the students’ ability to complete the course. Any variations that may be determined
necessary during the course by the instructor will be appropriately announced in the courseware
along with relevant information pertaining to the modification and an updated version of the
syllabus will be provided.

FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION FOR THE MASTER'S DEGREE

Refer to Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedure

11.99.99.R0.13 Examinations for Graduate Degrees.

Technology Management Master's Students will be required to successfully pass a Master’s

Qualifying/Comprehensive Examination (“Comps”) at the end of their MS TMGT program. It is
strongly recommended that students retain electronic copies of the syllabus and coursework for
each graduate course used to satisfy the M.S. Technology Management degree requirements in
order to prepare for the comprehensive exam that will be administered within the TMGT 599
course. TMGT 599 and Comps are to be taken in the student’s final semester of coursework.
Students must be core-complete, or within one course of core-complete and taken concurrently,

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Syllabus TMGT 514 – Engineering & Technology Project Management Fall, 2020

to be eligible to take TMGT 599 and Comps. Authorization to enroll in TMGT 599 must be
requested via the program coordinator when registering for your final term.

INSTRUCTOR SCHEDULE / COURSE OUTLINE / COURSE SCHEDULE

My schedule is available in the course and maintained on my public website at:

http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/schedule/
Contact me via email as my presence on campus and face-to-face meetings are expected to
extremely limited during the present health crisis.

The course schedule and calendar is available in the course and is maintained on our class’ public
website at:
http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/tmgt/514/208/
Students will need to monitor and reference these resources regularly for any updates/revisions.

Any revision of dates or activities on the active schedules linked above will take precedence over those
on the tentative schedule shown here.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1
Oct. 19 (Mon.) Course begins
Oct. 25 (Sun.) Introductions, Preliminary Quiz, and Ch 1 Quiz due
Week 2
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #1
Nov. 1 (Sun.) Ch 2 & Ch 11 Quizzes due
Week 3
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #1 responses
Nov. 8 (Sun.) Statement of Work (SoW) and Ch 12 Quiz due
Week 4
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #2
Nov. 15 (Sun.) Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Network Diagram, and Ch 13 Quiz due
Week 5
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #2 responses
Nov. 18 (Wed.) Mid-term Examination due
Nov. 22 (Sun.) GANTT Chart and Ch 16 & Ch 18 Quizzes due
Week 6
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #3
Nov. 25 (Wed.) Project Video Presentation
Nov. 26-27 (Thur.–Fri..) Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 29 (Sun.) Ch 19 Quiz due
Week 7
Throughout week VoiceThread Discussion #3 responses
Dec. 6 (Sun.) Project Self/Peer Evaluations due
Week 8
Dec. 9 (Wed.) Final Examination due

Assignment KEY Green – Quizzes Purple - Discussion Activities

Dark Blue - Manuscript Assignment Red - Course Examinations

Jason Lee Davis, PhD 18/18 rev. Oct. 10, 2020