INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Ju Long

Email: julong@txstate.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays 1:50-3:30PM, Thursdays 1:50-2:40PM, or By Appointment	
			
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to project management body of knowledge as applied to Information Technology projects with emphasis on Agile Methodologies. The management of scope, costs, schedules, quality, risks, program management, system methodologies, material procurement, human, and international issues will be examined.

COURSE MATERIAL: Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process, by Kenneth S. Rubin, 1st Edition. Published by Addison-Wesley (Free to students, more info on how to access it on Canvas). 

Supplemental Readings posted on Canvas course site.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The ability to: 1. Understand the genesis of project management and its importance to improving the success of information technology projects. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of project management terms and techniques, with particular focus within the Scrum and Agile Project Management framework: a. Core Concepts: Scrum framework, agile principles, sprints, requirements and user stories, product backlog, estimating and velocity, and technical debt. b. Roles: product owner, Scrum master, development team, Scrum team structures, and managers. c. Planning: Scrum planning principles, multilevel planning, portfolio planning, envisioning/product planning, and release planning. d. Sprinting: sprint planning, sprint execution, spring review, and sprint retrospective. 3. Apply project management concepts by working on a group project as project manager or active team member. 4. Use a modern project management and other software to help plan and manage a small project. 5. Appreciate the importance of good project management through knowledge and skills developed in this class in other settings.

PREREQUISITES:None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY: Lectures, projects, online discussions, case studies, demonstrations, group activities, and videos will be utilized to enhance student learning. 

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to view lectures and finish the quizzes and assignments each class day. If a class is to be missed, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor beforehand with documented notes. In case of an emergency, please notify the instructor as soon as possible to justify an excused absence. Failure to engaging in class assignments and assessments regularly may have the following implications: missing in-class assignments/quizzes and missing homework, not be allowed to sit in for exams. There will be NO opportunities to make-up work missed due to unexcused absences from class.

Assignments: Several assignments will be given to provide students with "hands-on" experience analyzing and designing business information systems. Assignments must be turned in by the students on or before the due date/time. Meeting deadlines is part of each assignment’s evaluation criteria. NO late assignments will be accepted. The only exception to this rule is any emergency situation that is beyond the control of a student such as a medical emergency. Student must provide appropriate supporting documentation that is verifiable within a reasonable time (one week) from the date of the missed assignment. In case of an emergency, the instructor will make the final decision regarding whether to allow submission of late assignment or not on a case-by-case basis. Details of each outside assignment will be provided on the assignment statement posted on Canvas. 

Quizzes: There will be several quizzes during the semester. Students will be able to make-up missed quizzes only if they have a valid and verifiable excuse such as a medical emergency. A grade of ZERO will be recorded for all missed quizzes.

Retain Record: Students must retain a record of all graded coursework (assignments, exams, etc.) for at least one semester. These may be necessary as evidence to resolve any disputes in grades assigned. Grade appeals will be entertained only if the student is able to produce all returned graded assignments for verification.  Otherwise, the assigned grade will stand.  Grade disputes on individual assignments or tests, if any, must be resolved within one week of receiving the graded assignment. After that time, the assigned grade becomes final. Appeals for course grade assigned will be considered only for two years beyond one semester after completion of the course.