Project managers are largely judged by their ability to deliver planned scope on time and within the budget which is why this intermediate course dives into the complex interplay of the three components of the triple constraints-scope, schedule, and cost.
Often referred to as the Iron Triangle of Project Management, these components of each deliverable and project task contain elements of each of the triple constraints: What is being made? How much will it cost? How long will it take? Changes to any one of these factors will impact the other two. So, successful project management demands constant monitoring of each constraint and its mutual dependencies.
This course focuses deeply on how to manage the triple constraints, their interplay, and their impact on risk, quality, and procurement management throughout the project life cycle.
Some familiarity with execution of a project (not necessarily technical).
Additional Information
AI* - This course allows students to use AI to support homework and enhance data-driven storytelling, provided they are able to explain each step and demonstrate thoughtful oversight in their analyses.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 01-13-2026 | 8:30am | 4:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Tue, 01-20-2026 | 8:30am | 4:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Tue, 01-27-2026 | 8:30am | 4:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Tue, 02-03-2026 | 8:30am | 4:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Just like a traditional in-person class meeting, you are expected to attend and participate in the discussion. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience.
Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop / tablet to each class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
Electronic Course Materials: You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials:
This is a tool-independent course.
This class is intended to address project management techniques, not teach a particular tool.
Please note that homework cannot be done using MS Word or MS PowerPoint. A tool that can perform mathematics and export data in tabular and database-friendly format is required.
However, usage of Microsoft Project 2010+ is highly recommended. In general, students use Microsoft project provided on their work laptops. Additionally, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension provides Microsoft Project via AWS Appstream for all participants free of charge (see welcome letter for details).
See "Files" Section On CANVAS
You do not need to buy any books for the class.
Each session has a PDF file "Main Materials" and a few "Supplemental Material" presentations. These should cover what will discuss in class, as well serve as a handbook for reference later. However, we will discuss "further reading" at the end of the session depending on the Learning Outcomes.
Recommended Tools & Materials:
At a minimum, a spreadsheet tool - e.g., MS Excel or Google Sheets.
