Applied Project Management

Course Description

ETI 4448 — Applied Project Management is an upper-division, 3-credit-hour course in the Engineering Technologies / Industrial Systems Technology taxonomy of the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course stresses mathematical, scientific, and technical knowledge as it relates to the planning and control of industrial systems projects. Students build statements of work and work breakdown structures (WBS), make activity and resourcing decisions, set timelines, and utilize scheduling and resource allocation methods. The course is typically offered as part of a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) program and is grounded in the Project Management Institute (PMI) Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®).

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop a Statement of Work (SOW) and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for a technical or industrial project.
• Apply scheduling techniques (including CPM/PERT and Gantt charts) to plan, sequence, and track project activities.
• Perform resource allocation and leveling to optimize human, material, and financial resources across a project timeline.
• Define and manage project scope, including identifying deliverables, milestones, and scope change control procedures.
• Develop and manage a project budget, including cost estimation, baseline development, and variance tracking.
• Identify, analyze, and respond to project risks using qualitative and quantitative risk management techniques.
• Apply the PMI PMBOK® knowledge areas — integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communication, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management — to project scenarios.
• Use project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project) to plan, monitor, and report on project performance.
• Communicate project status and results through written reports and oral presentations appropriate to technical and managerial audiences.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on instructor emphasis and institutional offerings, students may also:

• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) to measure project performance against baseline cost and schedule.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Agile and hybrid project management methodologies as alternatives to traditional waterfall approaches.
• Analyze project procurement and contract management processes within an industrial or engineering context.
• Apply conflict resolution and negotiation techniques within project teams and stakeholder groups.
• Evaluate organizational structures (functional, matrix, projectized) and their effect on project authority and resource availability.
• Prepare for industry certification exams such as the CAPM® or PMP® through PMI-aligned coursework.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Project Life Cycle and Process Groups — Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing phases; project charter development.
• Scope Management — Defining project scope, creating WBS, managing scope creep and change control.
• Statement of Work (SOW) — Structure, content, and use of SOW documents in technical projects.
• Activity Definition and Sequencing — Identifying activities, estimating durations, and establishing logical dependencies.
• Schedule Development and Control — CPM (Critical Path Method), PERT, Gantt charts, schedule compression techniques (crashing, fast-tracking).
• Resource Planning and Allocation — Resource identification, loading, leveling, and management.
• Cost Estimation and Budgeting — Bottom-up and analogous estimating, cost baseline, budget variance analysis.
• Risk Management — Risk identification, qualitative/quantitative analysis, risk response planning, and monitoring.
• Quality Management — Quality planning, assurance, and control in a project environment.
• Project Communication and Stakeholder Management — Communication planning, stakeholder identification, and engagement strategies.
• Project Management Software — Hands-on use of scheduling and resource management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project).
• Applied Project Capstone/Case Study — Students develop and present a comprehensive project plan integrating all PMBOK® knowledge areas.

Optional Topics

• Earned Value Management (EVM) — CPI, SPI, EAC, ETC calculations and performance reporting.
• Agile and Scrum Methodologies — Sprints, backlogs, retrospectives, and hybrid PM frameworks.
• Procurement and Contract Management — Contract types, make-or-buy decisions, vendor management.
• Project Management Office (PMO) — Roles, functions, and governance structures of PMOs.
• Organizational Behavior and Team Dynamics — Leadership styles, team development stages, conflict resolution, and motivation.
• Ethics in Project Management — PMI Code of Ethics, professional responsibility, and ethical decision-making.
• Portfolio and Program Management — Distinctions between project, program, and portfolio management; strategic alignment.

Resources & Tools

• Primary Text: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Project Management Institute (current edition) — core reference aligned to all Florida college offerings of this course.
• Supplementary Text: Larson & Gray, Project Management: The Managerial Process (commonly used at FAU and other Florida institutions).
• Software: Microsoft Project (desktop or cloud/online version) — primary scheduling and resource management tool; free or institutional licenses typically available.
• Alternative Software: ProjectLibre (free, open-source), Smartsheet, or Monday.com for scheduling exercises.
• PMI Resources: PMI.org, including the Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures and Practice Standard for Scheduling.
• Learning Management System: Canvas or equivalent — used for assignments, case studies, and project submissions.

Career Pathways

Graduates who complete ETI 4448 as part of a B.A.S. in Industrial Systems Technology or related programs are prepared for the following roles:

• Project Manager — Manufacturing, construction, defense contracting, aerospace, utilities, and healthcare sectors.
• Project Coordinator / Scheduler — Supporting project teams with planning, tracking, and reporting functions.
• Operations Manager — Overseeing production, logistics, or facilities projects within industrial organizations.
• Contract Manager / Technical Analyst — Managing procurement and vendor relationships on engineering projects.
• Quality Assurance Manager — Applying project quality planning and control within industrial systems environments.
• Program/Portfolio Analyst — Supporting enterprise-level project oversight in government agencies, defense, or large industry.

Recent graduates from Florida B.A.S. programs with this coursework are employed in manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and tourism, state and county government, defense contractors, civil service, and the military.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

This course provides direct academic preparation for the following PMI industry certifications:

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) — This course provides foundational PMBOK®-aligned content satisfying a significant portion of the CAPM® education requirement.
• Project Management Professional (PMP®) — Contact hours earned in this course may be applied toward the 35-hour education prerequisite for the PMP® exam, particularly at institutions that are PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.).
• CompTIA Project+ — Course content also aligns with the vendor-neutral CompTIA Project+ certification, which covers project initiation, planning, execution, and closure.

Note: Students at institutions such as Seminole State College that hold PMI R.E.P. status may receive official Professional Development Units (PDUs) applicable to PMP® and CAPM® certification and renewal requirements. Students should verify R.E.P. status and PDU eligibility with their institution.