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 3 - 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 Unit and Teaching Evaluation (SUTE) survey
Students complimented teaching staff and methods and the learning opportunity that the unit provides, and lauded the interactive nature of the learning experience.
To maintain a high level of student-facilitator interaction, especially in the tutorials. Encourage students to ask questions and complete their assessments in the tutorial class where practicable.
Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation (SUTE) survey
Students expressed concern about the complicated nature of assessment descriptions and the dispersed information locations in Moodle.
To review and streamline the assessment specifications, and relocate all information about an assessment in one Moodle location.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator observation, staff feedback
The different assessment submission deadlines for onshore and offshore students created confusion and dissatisfaction among some students.
To impose and enforce a single submission deadline for each assessment item. However onshore students should still be encouraged to submit by the end of their class, instilling a sense of urgency and enhancing planning and personal time management skills.
- 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
Options to acquire textbook are shown on Moodle.
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 style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
g.chaudhry@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Modern project management
Organisation strategy and project selection
Projects, programs, 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 its 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 during this week's tutorial class
Module/Topic
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 4
Tutorial 4
Assessment 1 Part 2: due during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2: Groups, topics, and schedule finalised by Census date
Module/Topic
Possible make-up classes as notified
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Estimating project times and costs
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 5
Tutorial 5
Assessment 1 Part 3: due during this week's tutorial class
Module/Topic
Scheduling resources and costs
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 6
Tutorial 6
Assessment 1 Part 4: due during this week's tutorial class
Module/Topic
Possible make-up classes as notified
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Managing risk, change control, quality management
Chapter
Chapter 7 plus Kerzner's Book Chapter 20 (available in the eReading Lists)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 7
Tutorial 7
Assessment 1 Part 5: due during this week's tutorial class
Module/Topic
Reducing project duration
Chapter
Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 8
Tutorial 8
Assessment 1 Part 6: due during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2 Part A & B: Due Friday of week 8
Assessment 2 presentation schedules finalized by tutors. The online presentation schedule is published in MS Teams for the population by offshore and DST students.
Written essay and presentation (group work) Due: Week 8 Friday (13 Jan 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Progress and performance measurement and evaluation
Chapter
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 9
Tutorial 9
Assessment 1 Part 7: due during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2B: In-class presentations
Module/Topic
Project closure
Chapter
Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 10
Tutorial 10
Assessment 1 Part 8: due during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2B: In-class 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 during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2B: In-class presentations
Module/Topic
An introduction to agile project management
Chapter
Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 12
Tutorial 12
Assessment 1 Part 10: due during this week's tutorial class
Assessment 2B: In-class presentations
Module/Topic
Review and preparation for the online quiz
Chapter
All unit material (lectures, tutorials, reading material, etc.)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 Online Quiz to be attempted in exam week
1 Practical Assessment
This assessment item involves in-class practicals and exercises which are worth 30% of the unit marks. The 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 the 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 unit marks.
Marks are awarded for the correctness and completeness of the results presented as per the practical instructions sheet and answers provided in the textbook.
Where only Microsoft Project practical or template exercises are required, they will represent the full 3 marks. Where both Microsoft Project and template submissions are required, the weekly marks will be evenly distributed between them.
Submissions after the due date will incur zero (0) marks 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
This assessment item involves a written essay on a project management topic and its presentation which is worth 50% of the unit marks. 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 the prevalence of the latter. This assessment item, therefore, aims at not only evidencing learning on a given topic but also the student's ability to function well in a team.
This assessment item is performed in groups of 3 to 4 students. Groups are formed in the early weeks of the term and topics are chosen from different areas of project management listed in the assessment specification. Groups and topics must be confirmed to the respective tutors by the census date of the term. On-campus students must form groups with students from the same tutorial class. Students who are offshore by the 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 groups as well but may apply to work individually should circumstances prohibit effective group formation.
Part A (20%):
- A 1500-word essay on the chosen topic, complying with the standard of academic articles.
Part B (30%):
- 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 group, as scheduled by the respective tutors.
- A written critical reflection of 600-800 words on the team experience, using the Tuckman model of forming, storming, norming, and performing.
Week 8 Friday (13 Jan 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Feedback return period as per CQU policy.
Part A (20 marks)
- Introduction: Clear introduction of the topic, engaging the reader from the outset. (2 marks)
- Body: Quality of content, extending the knowledge about project management, level of detail provided, the flow of information, and coherence. (6 marks)
- Conclusion: Summarise the key points and formulate your own conclusions. (2 marks)
- Evidence of comprehension: Students' opinions, and contextualization of concepts through experience and/or examples. (6 marks)
- Format: Clarity of expression, structure, and grammar of an academic standard. (2 marks)
- Referencing: Correct referencing of sources and correlation with in-text citations. (2 marks)
Part B (30 marks)
- 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 group member)
- A written critical reflection of around 600 words on the team experience, using the Tuckman model of forming, storming, norming, and performing. (10 marks)
A detailed breakdown of the marks will be provided in the marking rubric on Moodle.
- 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 assessment item involves an online quiz which is worth 20% of the unit marks. The students will be evaluated on their acquisition of knowledge, comprehension, and application of the unit content.
- The online quiz will be an open-book test.
- Only one attempt will be allowed.
- The online quiz will be held in week 14 (exam week).
- The quiz will be available for 48 hours on the Moodle website.
- The quiz must be completed within the given timeframe while the quiz is open.
- There will be 40 questions (a combination of multiple-choice, true/false, and calculations questions).
- There will be a time limit of 60 minutes to complete the quiz. Your quiz will automatically be submitted after 80 minutes.
- The quiz covers the content from weeks 1 to 12 (lectures, tutorials, readings, etc.).
- When you attempt the quiz, the questions will be randomly selected from a pool of questions and displayed to you. It is very unlikely that two students will see the same questions.
- You can attempt the quiz at any location provided you have access to Moodle website.
- It is your responsibility to use a reliable and uninterrupted internet connection to attempt the quiz.
1
- Each question will earn 0.5 marks except the CPA calculation question which will earn 1 mark.
- There will be no penalty 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?
