Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
No prerequisite courses are required. Basic prior knowledge of the processes of the AEC industry is expected.
Course Materials
There is no required text for this course. The following are reference texts for the course:
- The Toyota Way, Jeffrey K. Liker, McGraw Hill Publication, 2nd ed. ISBN-978-1260468519
- Modern Construction: Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices, Lincoln H. Forbes, Syed M. Ahmed, CRC Press/ Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN-978-1429963127
- Managing to Learn: Using the A3 Management Process to Solve Problems, Gain Agreement, Mentor, and Lead, John Shook, Lean Enterprise Institute, ISBN-978-1-934109-20-5
- The Lean Builder: A Builder’s Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field, Joe Donarumo, Keyan Zandy, Lulu Publishing Services, ISBN-978-1-4834-3092-8
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Online Discussions |
Students are expected to offer comments, questions, and replies to the online “Discussion” based on assigned readings. Students are expected to actively participate in the online discussion each week throughout the semester. |
15% |
| Group Projects |
Students will work in small groups to complete the projects. The objective of the projects is to allow students to work collaboratively with the group members toward applying the lean tools for process measurement and process improvement. |
40% |
| Lean Journal |
Each student shall maintain and submit a Journal at the end of the eighth week. The Journal shall consist of the student’s lessons learned on each topic and plus/delta analysis from across the semester. More details on the Lean Journal will be provided by the instructor. |
20% |
| Final Exam |
Each student must take a comprehensive Final Exam that will assess the following:
|
25% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Live Sessions
Live sessions will provide opportunities to interact in real-time with the instructor, industry experts, and peers; learn new content in a synchronous online environment.
Online Discussions
Online discussions will provide a platform to articulate the learnings from the readings and compare/contrast with previous knowledge. Comparing learnings with peers will increase the collaborative environment (15% of your final grade).
Group Projects
Students will improve their understanding of the lean tools by applying them to improve processes typical in the construction industry. They will work in small groups to work collaboratively and learn from each other (40% of your final grade).
Lean Journal
Identify the lessons learned on each topic and capture them in the form of a journal. The journal can be a comprehensive document the students can use as reference material for the future (20% of your final grade).
Final Exam
Comprehensive assessment of understanding the evolution of lean and its function in improving the processes of the construction industry (25% of your final grade).
Course Policies
Communication
The primary form of communication and platform for the dissemination of information for this course is Canvas (https://canvas.ou.edu). Students are responsible for checking these pages regularly. Assignments, changes to the course schedule, and other relevant information will be posted to this website and this will be the primary means for communicating this type of information. It is also imperative that each student verify that the email address that he or she checks regularly is linked to the email for that student in Canvas. There can be random and unannounced quizzes throughout the semester. These will be based on reading assignments due and materials covered on the same day of the lecture.
Students can also email the instructor at sghosh@ou.edu. The instructor will try to respond to all emails within 48 hours.
Late Policy
Make-up Policy
There will be no make-up quizzes/exams if not due to any of the Provost approved activities or legally required activities.
Other Policies
Assignments are due before noon on Tuesdays and will need to be turned in on time for consideration for full credit. Unless otherwise stated, students are expected to complete all course requirements as individuals. Any indication of unauthorized collaboration will be dealt with in accordance with University policy.
Late assignment/homework will receive a penalty of 25% per class period. Assignment/homework turned in more than one week late will not be accepted and will receive a grade of zero. Assignment/homework shall be submitted in a neat, complete, readable, and understandable (to the Instructor), and professional manner.
Problems with technology are not an excuse for late submission.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center before receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to request reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week before the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|