BCT 597P Syllabus
Welcome to Project Management for Design and Construction
This course was taught for the first time at the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the Spring semester of 2009. It will be offered again in the Spring of 2010 and is undergoing some organizational changes aimed at improving course readings and assignments. The tools of Project Management will mainly be covered by the instructor in weekly lectures, while textbook readings will serve as a springboard for weekly discussions, practice assignments and case development.
COURSE: BMATWT 597 Project Management for Design and Construction
INSTRUCTOR: Ludmilla Pavlova, AIA, LEED A.P.
OFFICE: Campus Planning, Physical Plant Building 3rd Floor
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment
CLASS HOURS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 – 6:45PM
COURSE RESOURCE GUIDE: http://guides.library.umass.edu/BMatWT597P
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class introduces the fundamental concepts of project management for sustainable design and construction and is suitable for students in various disciplines, particularly architecture, engineering, construction, information technology and management. Topics to be discussed include project initiation, integrative planning, implementation, monitoring, control and closeout; effective goal setting, documentation, scope/quality, budget and schedule definition; team organization, contracts and negotiation, risk management, legal, environmental and other issues throughout the project life cycle.
Students must be juniors, seniors or graduate students with familiarity of the technical requirements of their discipline of study. This course is an introduction to management principles as they pertain to projects in the building industry. Coursework will include writing, analysis and preparation of project documents for one individual project and one team project. The work will be prepared and submitted electronically; therefore access to a computer is essential.
TEXT & MATERIALS:
7Group and Bill Reed, The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2009; ISBN 978-0-470-18110-2
Kidder, Tracy, House, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1999 (or other editions)
Class Handouts and E Reserves
ADDITIONAL READING (GRADUATE LEVEL REQUIRED) FROM:
Hendrickson, Chris: Project Management for Construction: Fundamental Concepts for Owners, Engineers, Architects and Builders; online publication Version 2.2, Summer 2008, http://pmbook.ce.cmu.edu/
O’Leary, Arthur and Acret, James, Construction Nightmares: Jobs From Hell and How To Avoid Them, BNI, Building News (selected narrations to be handed out)
COURSE GOALS and OBJECTIVES
To understand the scope of project management for building projects and the phases of a project life cycle:
- Know the concepts, terminology and methodology of project management
- Explain characteristics of project types and organizational structures
- Analyze relationships between project scope/quality, schedule and cost
To understand concept of sustainability as applied to design and construction
- Distinguish historical and contemporary sustainable practices within the building industry
- Interrelate fundamental systems of habitat, water, energy, materials and community
- Understand the value of the integrative planning process
To identify and appreciate the contribution of multiple participants in the building project life cycle
- Compare the roles and responsibilities of project participants
- Apply disciplinary knowledge within the life cycle of a building project
- Appraise current changes in practice and future directions of integrated planning
To construct the components of a project plan:
- Analyze a case study and design a project plan
- Collaborate in the design of a project plan (Scope, resources and timeline)
- Design and develop project management documents
- Present project plan
To apply fundamental concepts of sustainability in building design and construction projects:
- Express and evaluate personal sustainability goals and technical strengths and weaknesses
- Map existing conditions and program relationships
- Collaborate and communicate to design a sustainable project plan for a client
- Research and analyze alternative solutions
- Present recommendations
- Document and reflect on team project process and dynamics
CREDITS: Three
PREREQUISITES: Junior, senior and graduate students only
CLASS SCHEDULE AND LECTURE TOPICS (may be subject to change):
Week 1 Introduction to Project Management and the Role of the PM
Week 2 Defining Projects – Preliminary Scope, Budget and Schedule
Week 3 Student Presentations
Week 4 Sustainability, Project Organization and Risk Management
Week 5 Aligning Values, Purpose and Process
Week 6 Business Plan, Contracts and Financial Evaluation
Week 7 Project Scheduling and Work Breakdown Structure
Week 8 Integrative Process Overview & Team Building
Spring Recess
Week 10 Project Reporting, Critical Path and Life Cycle Costing
Week 11 Energy Modeling, Life Cycle Assessment & Inter-disciplinary Process
Week 12 Optimization and Quality Management
Week 13 Reporting, Financing & Procurement
Week 14 Construction, Managing Progress, Changes and Earned-Value Analysis
Week 15 Evolving the Building Design and Construction Industry
Week 16 Final Report due
COURSE COMPONENTS (may be subject to change):
Lectures and Readings: 2 weekly 1.5 hr. classes with lecture and practice/ discussion will provide a platform for introducing and reviewing key concepts, case-studies, and examples for review of current issues. Students are expected to have completed assigned readings before class in order to participate effectively in class discussion and practice assignments.
Assignments: individual assignments will be handed out in class and posted on the SPARK course web page. These expand on the practiced work and may have “research components” where students need to gather information needed to complete a task.
Team Project: by the 4th week of the semester the class will be split into small groups. Each group will develop a technical proposal for an assigned project in terms of project organization, technical breakdown, budget, and schedule. The groups will manage and document the teamwork process in personal journals and discussion groups. Teams will make final oral and written presentations to the class. Individuals will evaluate team dynamics and project outcomes according to the concepts learned.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
All reasonable efforts will be made to meet the individual needs of the student. If you have a learning disability or need special accommodation please make an appointment with the instructor to discuss your needs. All discussions will be strictly confidential.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Lectures, discussion, exercises and exams will be given during the scheduled class times. Class attendance is extremely important in providing the student with the best chances for meeting the course objective. Any absences need to be discussed with the instructor beforehand.
GRADING AND EVALUATION (may be subject to change):
Class Participation 10%
Assignments 45%
Team project 40%
Peer evaluation 5%
Assignments:
| Date Assigned | Date Due | |
| Assignment 1: Student Background (2%) | 1/19/10 | 1/21/10 |
| Assignment 2: Student Presentation (8%) | 1/19/10 | 2/2 – 2/4/10 |
| Assignment 3: Case Study: Organization (15%) | 1/19/10 | 2/25/10 |
| Assignment 4: Case Study: Schedule and Resources (10%) | 1/19/10 | 3/11/10 |
| Assignment 5: Project Control and Analysis (10%) | 1/19/10 | 3/25/10 |
Term Project:
| Date Assigned | Date Due | |
| Team Project 1: Feasibility study proposal (8%) | 1/19/10 | 2/11/10 |
| Team Project 2: Feasibility study organization (5%) | 1/19/10 | 3/4/10 |
| Team Project 3: Feasibility study summary report (10%) | 1/19/10 | 4/1/10 |
| Team Project 4: Feasibility study presentations (10%) | 1/19/10 | 4/29/10 |
| Team Project 5: Final team report (15%) | 1/19/10 | 5/4/10 |
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
| Grade Ranges | |
| Grade | Range |
| A | 93+ |
| A- | 90 – 92 |
| B+ | 87 – 89 |
| B | 83 – 86 |
| B- | 80 – 82 |
| C+ | 77 – 79 |
| C | 73 – 76 |
| C- | 70 – 72 |
| D+ | 67 – 69 |
| D | 60 – 66+ |
| F | LT 60 |
ACADEMIC HONESTY
The University Academic Honesty policy applies in this class, as it should in all your University undertakings. This policy explicitly prohibits any form of plagiarism, cheating, fabrication of information, and assisting others in dishonest acts. The learning environment and all class participants suffer from dishonest acts and will not be tolerated.