Overview
This unit is aimed at providing you with a general introduction to the key features of modern project management practices within organisations. In undertaking this unit you will gain an understanding of the factors required to successfully manage projects by investigating how project success is related to the concept of value held by key stakeholders, alignment with organizational strategy, and benefit realization through the application of project management specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-requisites: COIS20008, MGMT22166, or PPMP20002 then they cannot take this unit.
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 2 - 2022
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Student feedback. New edition of PMBOK.
Unit content: The current content is relevant and useful. It is at an appropriate level for the student cohort. However, there is now a new edition of PMBOK that needs to be incorporated into the unit.
Where relevant, update the materials to reflect the new edition of PMBOK.
Feedback from Student evaluations, feedback from the students and the teaching team.
Assessment items: Positive feedback was received about assessment items. Students enjoyed researching and learning more about a topic of their choice in project management (assessment item 3). They also appreciated the practical aspects of the assessment items where they were able to apply the theory they were learning in class.
Continue with the same assessment regime.
Feedback from Student evaluations, feedback from the students and the teaching team.
Tutorial classes: Due to COVID-19 constraints and the reduced time now available for the tutorial/workshop classes, there is less time to complete all the exercises and Microsoft Practicals in the class. There was also much less time for case studies that illustrate the theory and provide an excellent learning experience. Students indicated they would like longer tutorial classes to have more time for practical work and case study discussions. Although offshore students appreciate the opportunity to have zoom tutorial classes, feedback indicated that students would still prefer face-to-face classes.
The tutorial/workshop activities will be redesigned to incorporate the new edition of PMBOK and to accommodate within the allocated tutorial time.
- Discuss the importance of project management to create value in the context of various organisational cultures and strategies.
- Explain how internal and external project settings influence the selection of adaptive, predictive or hybrid project delivery methods.
- Apply and critique scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and other project management techniques for achieving project success.
- Critically analyse how project management principles and ethics guide people’s behaviour on the project.
This unit will satisfy one of the core requirements for the Australian Computer Society (ACS) accreditation in the postgraduate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses. This unit is also part of an accreditation package granted by the ACS. The unit contributes to the required number of academic study units for students wishing to undertake professional certification with the Project Management Institute's (PMI) professional qualifications, such as CAPM or PMP.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments and individuals in many countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile.
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 8 (the SFIA code is included)
- Project Management (PRMG)
- Change Control (CHMG)
- Requirements definition and management (REQM)
- Stakeholder relationship management (RLMT)
- Risk management (BURM)
- Systems development management (DLMG)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
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
Project Management: The Managerial Process
Edition: 8E (2021)
Authors: Larson, EW, Gray, CF
McGraw-Hill Education
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-1-260-57043-4
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Both paper and eBook copies can now be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code).
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Power Point
- Microsoft Teams - camera and microphone
- Access to Microsoft Project 2019 (available on campus and for download)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.bauwmans@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Modern project management. Organisation strategy and project selection.
Projects, programmes and portfolios as strategy implementation tools.
Chapter
Chapters 1 & 2 plus additional online material.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 1
Tutorial 1
Module/Topic
Organisation: Structure and culture
Chapter
Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 2
Tutorial 2
Module/Topic
Defining the project and project stakeholders. Identifying communication and documentation needs
Chapter
Chapter 4 plus recommended reading on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 3
Tutorial 3
Assessment 1: Part 1 due in week 3 workshop.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 4
Tutorial 4
Assessment 1: Part 2 due in week 4 workshop.
Assessment 2: Teams, topics and schedule finalised by Census date (2 August 2022)
Module/Topic
Estimating project time and Cost
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 5
Tutorial 5
Assessment 1: Part 3 due in week 5 workshop.
Module/Topic
Possible make-up classes as notified
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project budgeting: Time-phased resourcing and costing
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 6
Tutorial 6
Assessment 1: Part 4 due in week 6 workshop.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Chapter 7 plus Kerzner's Chapter 20 (available in eReading list)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 7
Tutorial 7
Assessment 1: Part 5 due in week 7 workshop.
Assessment 2A: Due Friday of week 7
Module/Topic
Reducing project duration through schedule optimisation
Chapter
Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 8
Tutorial 8
Assessment 1: Part 6 due in week 8 workshop.
Assessment 2B: Due Friday of week 8
Assessment 2 presentation schedules finalised by tutors. Online presentation schedule is published in MS Teams for population by offshore and DST students.
Module/Topic
Progress and performance measurement, evaluation and reporting
Chapter
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 9
Tutorial 9
Assessment 1: Part 7 due in week 9 workshop.
Assessment 2: Presentations
Module/Topic
Closing a project: Planned and premature closure
Chapter
Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 10
Tutorial 10
Assessment 1: Part 8 due in week 10 workshop.
Assessment 2: Presentations
Module/Topic
Being an effective project manager. Managing project teams
Chapter
Chapters 10 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 11
Tutorial 11
Assessment 1: Part 9 due in week 11 workshop.
Assessment 2: Presentations
Module/Topic
Introduction to Agile project management. Course conclusion, lessons learned.
Chapter
Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 12
Tutorial 12
Assessment 1: Part 10 due in week 12 workshop.
Assessment 2: Presentations
Module/Topic
Review and preparation for final test
Chapter
All materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review and preparation for final test
Chapter
All materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online test open 19-20 October.
Unit Coordinator: Luc Bauwmans, Sydney campus.
Lecturers and tutors as per Moodle/information/unit contacts.
1 Practical Assessment
This formative assessment is progressively completed and submitted weekly from week 3 to week 12. Its aim is to assess the development of schedule application skills through several progressive steps using Microsoft Project (MSP) software, and an understanding of the value proposition embedded in a well-conceived and optimised project schedule, resource plan and budget.
Submissions are to be made as stated in the weekly worksheets and templates are provided for consistency. Templates may comprise additional exercises supporting the learning of the weekly topics.
Onshore students are required to complete and submit the assessments in class under supervision of the tutor. Offshore and DST students attending the online tutorials do not complete the work in the tutorial session but must submit their work by the due date stated in Moodle. Late submissions will not be accepted unless a formal extension request has been submitted and approved.
Submissions are due weekly
Feedback return period as per CQU policy.
Each weekly assessment submission can earn up to 3 % of the total term marks. The total assessment mark available is 30%.
Marks are awarded for correctness and completeness of the results presented as per the practical instruction sheet and answers provided in the textbook.
Where only MSP practical or template exercises are required, they will represent the full 3 marks. Where both MSP and template submissions are required the weekly marks will be evenly distributed between them.
Submissions after the due date will incur a 0 mark unless an extension has been granted. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
- Discuss the importance of project management to create value in the context of various organisational cultures and strategies.
- Apply and critique scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and other project management techniques for achieving project success.
2 Written Assessment
Strong evidence is presented in the literature on project management of a positive correlation between well-functioning teams and project success. Teams may be collocated or virtual, and the recent pandemic has certainly accelerated a prevalence of the latter. This assessment item therefore aims at not only evidencing learning on a given topic but also of the students’ ability to function well in a team.
This assessment is performed in teams of 3 to 4 students. Teams are formed in the early weeks of term and topics are chosen from areas of project management listed in the assessment specification. Teams and topics must be confirmed to the respective tutors by census date of each term. In-class students must form teams with students from the same tutorial and form a collocated team. Students who are offshore by census date will form virtual teams with other offshore students and keep their virtual team status, irrespective of whether they are coming onshore later in the term. DST students are encouraged to work in teams but may apply to work alone should circumstances prohibit effective team formation.
Assessment deliverables:
Part A:
· A 1500-word essay on the chosen topic, complying with academic conference paper standards.
Part B:
· A PowerPoint presentation of not more than 15 content slides summarizing the key findings.
· A classroom or virtual presentation of the topic by all members of the team, as scheduled by the respective tutors.
· A written critical reflection of min 600 words on the team experience, using the Tuckman model of forming, storming, norming and performing.
Part A is due on the Friday of week 7; Part B is due on the Friday of week 8.
Feedback return period as per CQU policy.
Assessment criteria and mark allocation:
Part A:
· A 1500-word essay on the chosen topic, complying with academic conference paper standards. (20 marks)
Part B:
· A PowerPoint presentation as per the assessment specification of not more than 15 content slides summarizing the key findings. (10 marks)
· A classroom or virtual presentation of the topic by all members of the team, as scheduled by the respective tutors. (10 marks, allocated individually to each team member)
· A written critical reflection of min 600 words on the team experience, using the Tuckman model of forming, storming, norming and performing. (10 marks)
A further detailed breakdown of the marks is provided in the marking rubric.
- Discuss the importance of project management to create value in the context of various organisational cultures and strategies.
- Explain how internal and external project settings influence the selection of adaptive, predictive or hybrid project delivery methods.
- Apply and critique scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and other project management techniques for achieving project success.
- Critically analyse how project management principles and ethics guide people’s behaviour on the project.
3 Online Quiz(zes)
This final assessment is held in week 14 (exam week) of the term to evaluate students’ acquisition of knowledge, comprehension, and application of the unit content. Questions are formulated to assess critical reflection on topics like project management principles, performance domains, adaptive, predictive or hybrid project delivery models, and how ethics influence people’s behaviour on the project.
The assessment takes the form of an on-line quiz which is accessible for 48 hours to allow for offshore and full-time employed students, with a limited duration once the quiz has started. The quiz consists of around 40 questions in multiple choice or true/false format, with a few questions requiring some calculations to be performed. Only one attempt is allowed.
Standard questions will earn 0.5 marks while calculation questions earn 1 mark. The total assessment mark available is 20% of the term grade.
There will be no negative marking for incorrect answers.
- Explain how internal and external project settings influence the selection of adaptive, predictive or hybrid project delivery methods.
- Critically analyse how project management principles and ethics guide people’s behaviour on the project.
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?
