CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLCN29004 Construction Procurement and Cost Planning
Construction Procurement and Cost Planning
All details in this unit profile for BLCN29004 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

While construction procurement is essential in planning delivery methods and procurement tasks of a construction project, cost planning is critical to the financial management of the project throughout all phases of the building life cycle. Construction procurement is always associated with cost and cost planning is dependent on construction procurement. In this unit, therefore, you will study cost planning along with the knowledge of construction procurement. You will develop skills to critically examine the complexity of issues associated with strategic procurement and components of sustainable procurement processes. You will also analyse the impact of construction procurement decisions on economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes referring to a number of national and international case studies. This will enable you to reflect on the key themes in relation to procurement strategies, i.e. partnering culture as well as management of risks, stakeholder relationships, and supply chains. The knowledge gained here will eventually make you confident in practicing construction procurement within complex construction management environments in the public and private sectors. In the cost planning spectrum, the unit covers broader insights of design economics, cost estimating procedures, cost control mechanisms, and life cycle analysis for construction projects. The application of critical self-reflection skills and research principles and methods relevant to the construction industry will help you to prepare for dynamic construction industry environments and make sound professional decisions.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites:BLCN29001 Construction Technology and BLCN29003 Construction Measurement

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Research Assignment
Weighting: 50%
3. Reflective Practice Assignment
Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from End of unit CQU survey feedback

Feedback

Students commented that this unit provided a great learning process.

Recommendation

The unit will continue to make the scaffolded learning and student skills development across this unit explicit. This allows students to monitor and plan their learning journey each week and confidently complete all assessments.

Feedback from End of unit CQU survey feedback

Feedback

Several units cover ethical and behavioural issues. This could be covered over several weeks in one unit.

Recommendation

Ethical behaviour is critical to a successful career in the highly legislated, high-risk construction industry. The potential situations and implications vary due to context and subject matters at hand. Therefore, it is referred to in several units and knowledge fields to highlight its integral linkage to industry practice through examples.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Critically examine concepts and principles of construction procurement and cost planning across the building lifecycle
  2. Apply contemporary practice and research knowledge to project-specific contexts, managing project budget and feasibility
  3. Evaluate the impacts of construction procurement decisions on economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes
  4. Reflect on the key themes of procurement strategies and cost planning in contemporary management contexts.

This unit enhances your professional construction management knowledge and industry attributes in areas such as elemental cost planning, budget and cost control, procurement methods and contracting as well as sustainable procurement strategies and life cycle assessment.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Research Assignment - 50%
3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Building Procurement

Edition: 2nd (2013)
Authors: Morledge, R., Smith, A. J., & Appiah, S. Y.
John Wiley & Sons Hoboken Hoboken
New Jersey New Jersey , USA
ISBN: 9780470672433
Supplementary

Collaborative Construction Procurement and Improved Value

Edition: latest (2019)
Authors: Mosey, D.
Blackwell
New York New York , USA
ISBN: 9781119151913
Supplementary

The Aqua Group Guide to Procurement, Tendering and Contract Administration

Edition: latest (2016)
Authors: Hackett, M, & Statham, G.
John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9781118346624

Additional Textbook Information

The books are available in the form of Ebook from CQUniversity Library and students are not required to purchase them unless they prefer to read from hardcopy books.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Neda Abbasi Unit Coordinator
n.abbasi@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 04 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Introduction to procurement and cost planning

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 11 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Procurement and cost planning strategies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 18 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Pre-construction procurement and cost planning

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 25 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Construction procurement team and tender processes

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Collaborative construction procurement strategies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 1 Due: Week 5 Friday (6 Dec 2024) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 6 Begin Date: 09 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Construction procurement and cost control management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 16 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Construction cost and value management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 23 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture and Tutorial Free Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 30 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Lecture and Tutorial Free Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Sustainable construction procurement practices

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

 

 

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Procurement management of project variations and construction defects

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 2 Due: Week 9 Friday (17 Jan 2025) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Procurement Management: professional and ethical responsibilities

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

 

 

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Construction procurement and cost management trends: local and global

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

Unit Learning Review 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 3 Due: Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 11:55 pm AEST
Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 1

Task Description

 Assessment 1 (20%) addresses Unit Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 and engages students in learning topics Week 1 to 4 with a focus on analysis of procurement strategy and pre-construction cost planning decision making towards tender selection.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (6 Dec 2024) 11:55 pm AEST

Student to submit via Turnitin


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (20 Dec 2024)

Student to access via Turnitin


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed on quality of work submitted, relevance and coherence to the specific question and tasks. This includes clear argumentation and use of quality references (in-text and bibliography). The content prepared is to expand beyond the learning material provided and demonstrates the student's development of the unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Students will work with a marking rubric for self-review and receive formative and summative feedback.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via Moodle unit site Turnitin

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically examine concepts and principles of construction procurement and cost planning across the building lifecycle
  • Apply contemporary practice and research knowledge to project-specific contexts, managing project budget and feasibility


Graduate Attributes

2 Research Assignment

Assessment Title
Assignment 2

Task Description

 Assessment 2 (50%) addresses Unit Leaning Outcomes 2,3, and 4 and focuses on the application of procurement and cost management analysis. Research and development of a construction procurement and cost plan with evaluation of project specific issues and recommendations. This includes reflections on ethical, social, economic and environmental considerations.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (17 Jan 2025) 11:55 pm AEST

Student to submit via Moodle unit site Turnitin


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (31 Jan 2025)

Student to access via Moodle unit site Turnitin


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed on quality of work submitted, relevance and coherence to the specific question and tasks. Clarity of expression and comprehensive coverage of issues as well as the use of quality supporting documentation and original thought and content are important considerations. Your assessment should be produced in electronic format. Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions. Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report. You must ensure that the submission is your own and that any cited work has been correctly referenced as per the CQU requirements.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via Moodle unit learning site

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply contemporary practice and research knowledge to project-specific contexts, managing project budget and feasibility
  • Evaluate the impacts of construction procurement decisions on economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes
  • Reflect on the key themes of procurement strategies and cost planning in contemporary management contexts.


Graduate Attributes

3 Reflective Practice Assignment

Assessment Title
Assignment 3

Task Description

Reflective Practice Assessment 3 (30%) addresses Unit Learning Outcomes 1,3, and 4 and engages students to reflect and apply unit learning including ethical and professional dimensions, construction procurement models and propose cost planning strategies to support project outcomes and with lifecycle considerations.


Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 11:55 pm AEST

Submit by via Moodle unit site Turnitin


Return Date to Students

Within two weeks of the submission and before the certification of grades.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed on quality of work submitted, relevance and coherence to the specific question and tasks. This includes clear argumentation and use of quality references (in-text and bibliography). The content prepared is to expand beyond the learning material provided and demonstrates the student's development of the unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Students will work with a marking rubric for self-review and receive formative and summative feedback.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online Submission via Moodle unit learning site

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically examine concepts and principles of construction procurement and cost planning across the building lifecycle
  • Evaluate the impacts of construction procurement decisions on economic, environmental, social, and cultural outcomes
  • Reflect on the key themes of procurement strategies and cost planning in contemporary management contexts.


Graduate Attributes

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?