Integrating ERP Project System into IS Project Management Curriculum

The project management course is one of the most important IS core courses in the Information Systems (IS) curriculum. It is widely taught as a capstone course in the major, and teaches not only the project management related processes and body of knowledge, but also the practical tools that help organizations manage their IT projects effectively. Although Microsoft Project is widely adopted in IS project management courses for project planning and scheduling, it is relatively difficult to track the actual project cost and to manage the complete project life cycle because it is not integrated into ERP systems. Recognizing the limitations of Microsoft Project as a project management tool, the authors proposed a comprehensive framework to incorporate ERP SAP Project Systems into the project management course in addition to Microsoft Project. We believe this approach enhances students’ understanding of the project management body of knowledge, as specified by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as well as the IS 2010 Curriculum Guidelines. This paper provides the course design, course materials, delivery method, and preliminary student learning outcomes assessment. The data analysis of the course assessment indicates significant improvements on student learning outcomes and positive learning experiences. The purpose of the paper is to provide a guideline for those who seek to incorporate ERP technology in the IS project management curriculum.