OPIM 3801: Principles of Project Management Instructor: Bob Day Associate Professor OPIM Dept.

Greetings from Pr. Day: I apologize that I cannot be here for the first day of class. I have been invited to the International Conference on Operations Research in Vienna, Austria. Because I am presenting my research on Wednesday, this requires missing both of our first two classes. Don’t worry! I have adjusted the schedule for our class so that there is practically no negative consequence. Further, it is going to let us do a fun and productive activity we have never tried before in this class. Today, my PhD student, Hoda, will lead you through a game to help you guys get to know one another better.

Typical OPIM 3801 First Day: Typically on the first day of class, we do this: – To begin, please close your laptops, so that we are all focused on paying attention to one another. – When I call on you, first give your name slowly and clearly, and then please be prepared to discuss your major, career goals, where you’re from, and/or other expectations you might have for the class. My hope has always been that students learn an important point about project management from this exercise on the first day of class: – Engaging people and showing them respect is perhaps the most important part of project management.

Typical OPIM 3801 First Day When a project begins, one of the most important first steps is identifying and engaging all stakeholders (anyone affected by the project’s activities). When possible, it is good form to begin a project with a face- to-face meeting of stakeholders, asking each to express both their objectives and what they have to offer to the project. In your case I’d like to know why you’re taking this class, what you’d like to get out of it, and a fact or two about you to help me remember who you are and what you bring to the table in terms of project-relevant skills.

First Assignment (after a few more slides) Face-to-face is best, but today it is impossible for me to be there. So your assignment is to fill out the relevant information about yourself on the form about to go around, and turn it in to Hoda for today’s participation grade. This information will help me remember who you are and why you are taking this class. But first, I’ll give my expectations for the class:

Bob’s Goals for the Class: Give you formal knowledge about Project Management in an innovative format. – Two midterms; 5 quizzes to help you keep up on Homework material – Every student formally proposes a group project, with a complete detailed plan developed in MS Project and as a written proposal. – Students rate and cross-evaluate proposals. – Best projects become implemented in small project teams. Challenge you to apply an analytical perspective to PM topics, such as scheduling tasks, assigning people to jobs, and tracking project performance. (My PhD is in Math.) Help you get an awesome job! (At least five students in the last two years have ed me that it has!) Have Fun! (Because then you’ll remember this stuff better!)

How we will communicate You are expected to come to every class and are responsible for any material communicated in your absence I will you at address. You can visit my office hours or schedule an appointment at a different time. My Website: (google: bob day uconn) (Hoda, bring up the website)

After class today… Be sure to buy the book. Visit and bookmark the website. Click on the link with instructions for getting a MS Project 2013 Product Key. If you will use a Mac laptop, be sure you can boot it as a PC. Ask for help at the IT service desk if you need it. Google “boot camp for macs.” Hurry!

For Thursday’s class Hoda will be here in the classroom with several discs for Microsoft Project 2013 installation. Once you have your Product Key (see website) you can use the disc to install Project on a PC. Hoda will have an external hard drive USB device in case you don’t have a disc drive for installation.

Project Management BINGO! One piece of feedback I’ve had from former students is that we have to pick and work in teams, but we are never given a chance to meet everyone in the class. So today we’re fixing that with an activity I hope is fun and will give you all a chance to meet one another. I’ll give out a prize based on participation when I’m back.

Project Management BINGO! First, fill out your personal info sheet, circling the answer that applies to you in each category. Turn it in. Mingle among your fellow students. Talk to them and ask them about their answers to these questions. If a person’s answer falls in a BINGO cell, write in their name. Don’t write the same person’s name more than two times on your BINGO sheet. Try to get six across, six down, or six diagonally for more chances to win; more times = more chances.