Main Content

SE 329 - Software Project Management

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this course will have the basic preparation for managing projects, will know what to expect from a project manager and the factors that significantly affect the success of a project. In particular, they will:
  1. Understand project management processes
  2. Develop project schedule
  3. Identify risk and possible solutions
  4. Manage human resources
  5. Understand how to manage quality in software projects
  6. Plan for communication
  7. Control project prograss
  8. Understand intellectual property

Lecture

Lecture asynchronously via Canvas

Instructor

Dr. Lotfi ben Othmane

Durham Hall #315 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Iowa State University
Phone: 515-294-0416
Email: othmanel@iastate.edu

Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM via Webex
Tuesday: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM via Webex
Webex Link: https://iastate.webex.com/meet/othmanel
Other times by email appointment

Teaching Assistants

Austin Boling | adboling@iastate.edu

Resources

A set of previous quizzes and exams

Industry Guest Lectures (Summer 2020)

Kinland
Workiva
Collins Aerospace

Tentative Schedule (Summer 2020)

Week Topic Assignment
1 - Introduction
- Software Development Lifecycle 		- Practice 1
- Discussion: What is a Project?
- Practice 2
- Discussion: Selection of development approaches
2 - Project Management Processes - Assignment: Capability Maturity Models
- Quiz 1
- Discussion: Qualities of good PM
3 - Project Proposal
- Project Planning 		- Project: Project Proposal
- Discussion: Scrum and project planning
4 - Software Architecture and Project Management - Discussion: Relationships between software architecture and project management
5 - Time and Cost Planning - Practice 3
- Discussion: Task estimation
6 - Time and Cost Planning (1)
- Time and Cost Planning (2)
- Time and Cost Planning (3)
- Time and Cost Planning (4)
- Advances in Time Estimation (Optional)
- Intellectual Property 		- Project (Phase 1): Develop the schedule of a project
- Quiz 2
7 - Project Risk Management - Practice 4
- Project (Phase 2): Risk Planning
- Quiz 3
8 - Human Resources Management - Practice 5
- Practice 6
- Project (Phase 3): Human resource management
- Quiz 4
- Discussion: Lessons learned from interviews
9 - Quality Management - Discussion: Compare the quality of four operating systems
- Practice 7
- Quiz 5
- Project (Phase 4) Quality management plan
10 - Communication Management (1)
- Communication Management (2) 		- Discussions: Communication planning
- Practice 8
- Practice 9
- Project (Phase 5): Communication plan
- Quiz 6
11 - Project Progress Monitoring and Control
- Deadly Sins 		- Project (Final): Final Submission (August 3)
- Assignment 2: Retrospective (August 4)

Final Exam

The exam is available here. and the project plan is available here.

Grading

  • 40% Project (5 phases)
  • 15% Assignments (2 assignments)
  • 20% Quizzes (5 quizzes)
  • 15% Final exam
  • 10% Participation

We will use the standard grade levels. Do not expect the grades to be curved.

Textbook

Project Management Body of Knowledge by Project Management Institute, Fifth Edition

Available in ISU Digital Library

Communication

The best way to communicate with me is by email—use [SE329] as subject prefix. I usually reply in 2 business days. Remind me if you do not get an answer. Do not expect me to respond to a communication when the exchange exceeds 4 or 5 emails. In such cases, the issue shall be addressed in a face-to-face meeting.

Evaluation

All assignments must be submitted through Canvas.

The course may be completed at your own pace. There are recommended dates to have materials completed by, but there are no late penalties.

All materials are due by the end of the semester, followed by the final project submission, and the final exam (exact dates determined by the term's end date).

Of the project submissions, only the final project submission is graded. All project phases will be provided feedback.

Participation

The score for the participation is given at the end of the term based on the student's engagement in the course.