Catalog Course Description
Focuses on first-line management of software system development.  Covers major themes including estimation (software cost factors, estimation models, and risk management), planning (work breakdown, scheduling, staffing, resource allocation, and creation of a project plan), and execution (team building, leadership, motivation, process tracking, control, recovery, and communication within and outside the project).

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Pre-requisite:  MSSE student
or
INFO 620  Information Systems Analysis and Design

Curriculum Role
This course is:
•Required for the MSIS and MSSE programs.

Course Rationale
This course helps students understand the larger context of a software development or maintenance project.  Initially in their careers, this will help them understand their supervisor’s perspective; later it will help them be better managers.

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Develop a basic software project plan and prepare a Gantt chart
• Demonstrate understanding of how planning tools can help a software project manager, and demonstrate use of planning and estimation tools
• Explain cost and risk factors for a software project
• Discuss the importance of motivation for a successful project
• Explain the general state-of-the-practice of software development and why this is frequently different from the state-of-the-art

Course Content
Principal topics and the approximate number of weeks devoted to each are:
• Project management overview (1)
• Software cost factors and estimation models (2)
• Risk assessment and management (1)
• Developing a project plan (1)
• Project staffing, team building, negotiation and leadership (1)
• Project tracking and reporting (2)
• Control and recovery (1)
• Communication (1)

Presentation
Note: Presentation method may vary somewhat from section to section.
Lectures, class discussion, and homework assignments. 

Assessment
Note: Assessment method may vary somewhat from section to section.
Evaluation is based on individual and group assignments, homework and class participation.