BMATWT 353 - Business of Building
Syllabus
BMATWT 353 - Business of Building
Instructor: Dr. David T. Damery
Office: Room 120, Holdsworth
Office Hours: By appointment. Please call or email to set a date and time.
Phone: 413-545-1770
email: ddamery@nrc.umass.eduTeaching Assistant: Shinyoung Park
email:Class Meets: Tuesday, Thursday 9:30-10:45am, Holdsworth 203
COURSE WEBSITE: http://courses.umass.edu/bmat353/
TEXT & MATERIALS:
Ebert, Ronald J. and Ricky W. Griffin, Business Essentials, 5th Edition, Prentice-Hall
Other Required Reading: Online Readings
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduces business concepts to students interested in design and construction of structures. Managing a project, contracts, marketing, scheduling, personnel, leadership, interpersonal communication, human behavior, finance, budgeting, ethical and legal considerations.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To gain an understanding of the basic business functions of design and construction of structures including ethical, legal and diversity issues.
2. To gain insight into techniques of business communication. To understand the importance of teamwork, leadership and human behavior.
3. To understand costing, budgeting, and finance as they relate to project management.
4. To enhance decision-making and problem solving skills. Individual and group skills are honed through case studies, in-class discussion presentations and exercises.
CREDITS: Three
PREREQUISITES: None.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
All reasonable efforts will be made to meet the individual needs of the student. If you have a learning disability or need special accommodation please make an appointment with the instructor to discuss your needs. All discussions will be strictly confidential.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Lectures, discussion, exercises, and exams will be given during the scheduled class times. Class attendance is extremely important in providing the student with the best chances for meeting the course objective. Any absences need to be discussed with the Instructor beforehand.
GRADING AND EVALUATION:
Students are expected to have read the text and course packet material prior to each class lecture. The lectures are designed to reinforce and expand on the readings. Students are encouraged and will be called on to participate and contribute in class discussions, in-class exercises, group work and case presentations.
The concepts and techniques being studied will first be presented and discussed in class. Real world problems and examples will frequently be used to tie theory with practical issues in design-build organizations.
Homework Assignments ( 15@ 2% each ) 30% Case Studies ( 2 @ 10% each ) 20% Exams ( 2 @ 15% each ) 30% Final Exam 20% Total 100% * Case presentations are graded on a group basis.
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
Grade Ranges Grade Range A GE 93 A- 90 - 92+ B+ 87 - 89+ B 83 - 86+
B- 80 - 82+ C+ 77 - 79+ C 73 - 76+ C- 70 - 72+ D+ 67 - 69+ D 60 - 66+ F LT 60 GROUP WORK:
Students will be assigned to four person groups. Groups will be required to prepare two case write-ups during the semester. Groups may also be called on to participate in in-class exercises. It is highly encouraged that ALL team members participate in class exercises and in case write-ups. Please remember that performance on exams will depend on individual skills and knowledge. Good attendance, active participation in group work, class participation and mastery of the text and course packet reading material will assist the student in successfully meeting the course objectives.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
The University Academic Honesty policy applies in this class, as it should in all your University undertakings. This policy explicitly prohibits any form of plagiarism, cheating, fabrication of information, and assisting others in dishonest acts. The learning environment and all class participants suffer from dishonest acts and will not be tolerated.
Produced and maintained by David
T. Damery
Building Materials and Wood Technology
Department of Natural Resources Conservation
College of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Massachusetts, Amherst.