ClassInfo - Spring 2019 Public Affairs Classes Taught by Robert Johns

Spring 2019 | PA 5137 Section 001: Project Management in the Public Arena (58244)

Instructor(s): Robert Johns
Class Component:: Lecture
Credits:: 1.5 Credits
Grading Basis:: Student Option No Audit
Instructor Consent:: No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:: Partially Online
Times and Locations:: First Half of Term

01/22/2019 - 03/11/2019

Thu 04:00PM - 05:15PM

UMTC, West Bank

Hubert H Humphrey Center 20
Enrollment Status:: Open (25 of 28 seats filled)

Course Catalog Description:: Project management and leadership strategies for implementing public policy, including new or revised government programs, public works, and regulations. Use of project management concepts, principles, and tools, including project definition, scoping, planning, scheduling (using the critical path method), budgeting, monitoring, staffing, and managing project teams. Application of "agile" and "extreme" project management in situations of complexity and uncertainty, including those due to the scrutiny and expectations of elected officials, the media, citizens, and other stakeholders.
Class Notes:: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?johns003+PA5137+Spring2019
Class Description:: This course examines leadership roles and project management concepts for efforts that are intended to implement public policy or that have a significant impact on the public. Like their private sector counterparts, government and non-profit organizations are responding to rapid changes and increased demands by organizing more and more of their work as project work. A project is a unique set of activities that has a beginning and end. Projects require different management approaches than those used for ongoing operations. The tools of project management for public sector initiatives traditionally have been used for public works engineering. Today, the use of project management is valuable for any public policy field.

The course explores how project management leadership and tools--including project scoping, planning, scheduling, launching, and monitoring--can contribute to project success, particularly when unanticipated developments occur. It examines the organizational context in which a project manager must navigate, discussing the impacts of authority, power, and culture on managing a project team and working with clients. The course also considers the unique challenges a project leader faces in projects that are highly visible, such as changing stakeholder expectations, involvement of political leaders, conflicts with sponsors and the public, and media coverage. It introduces the emerging concepts of "agile" and "extreme" project management for dealing with situations of complexity and uncertainty.
Who Should Take This Class?:: Most Humphrey graduates will be involved in leading projects, regardless of their field of study. Students interested in preparing for this role, which is often a stepping stone to higher leadership roles, should consider taking this class. Since this class uses a hybrid model, students must take responsibility for completing their on-line work in a timely way in preparation for the Thursday class each week (see class format below).
Learning Objectives:: 1) Understand, describe, and apply the concepts and tools of project management.
2) Summarize and recommend leadership strategies for a project manager, especially in dealing with conflicts, unanticipated events, political and public visibility, and project crises.
3) Enhance and use communication and team skills for working with and leading professionals on project teams.
4) Demonstrate use of project management software.
Grading:: Grades will be determined based on the performance of the following:

30% On-line quizzes and assignments
10% MS Project software analysis
30% A review and application paper
30% A group project to plan and schedule a fictitious public policy project.
Exam Format:: There is no mid-term or final exam
Class Format:: This course uses a hybrid model, where learning occurs both on-line and in class. Instead of meeting face-to-face on Tuesday, students will learn by watching video lectures, participating in on-line discussion forums, taking on-line quizzes, and completing assignments in preparation for the Thursday class. The Thursday class will meet in person, in which students will interact with the instructor and their peers in discussions, class exercises, synthesis activities, and group project work.
Workload:: 1) One or two academic articles each week, approximately 10 pages each
2) One or two video lectures each week, approximately 10-15 minutes each
2) Online self-check quiz each week--three multiple choice questions covering video lectures
3) Group project - in class and out of class
4) Preparation of journal review and MS Project analyses
5) Preparation of review and application paper
In addition, chapters from the Robert Wysocki text are recommended for reading each week to provide more in-depth learning
Textbooks:: https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/58244/1193
Syllabus:: http://classinfo.umn.edu/syllabi/johns003_PA5137_Spring2019.pdf
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:: 4 December 2018

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