Overview
Executing and Closing Projects will develop your skills in the executing and closing stages of the project life cycle. You will consider several different definitions of what is required when executing a project from the perspective of different standards, frameworks and academic works. Projects will be investigated according to industry, project domain, and other factors to enable you to describe their influences and approaches to project execution and closing. You will analyse inputs and outputs, and the tools and techniques applied in different project domains. This will enable you to identify the practical application of project monitoring, control systems, and the management of control issues, such as, scope creep, risk, quality, baseline changes in the context of project outsourcing, oversight, and contract closure.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for 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 - 2018
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
Assignment 3 difficulty - extra resources should be provided to students.
This assignment requires students to research and find a 'failed' project case study and critically analyse it as to why it failed. The tutor and lecturer cannot provide extra resources/readings as this is part of the student's assignment. At a postgraduate level students need to be information literate and be able to critically analyse the literature. Without this assessment task, the unit will lose its weighting as a postgraduate unit. However, lecturers and tutors will be tasked to provide further support where required and to ensure students are on the right track to select an appropriate case study.
Feedback from Student Feedback
It will be more appropriate to teach PMBOK and PRINCE2 separately instead of in one unit together.
Both PRINCE2 and PMBOK are used together in many industries when it comes to executing and closing projects. Students require knowledge across both standards.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Tutorial questions can be improved to be more interesting.
Tutorial questions will be improved upon to encourage further discussion in class as well as deep debates on topics.
- Examine the knowledge areas and processes applied in the execution and closing stages of the project management life cycle
- Critically analyse how the needs of stakeholders might change the priority of outputs from the execution and closing stages of the project management life cycle
- Define and justify project event-driven and time-driven controls for a case study project
- Define and justify audit, governance and termination reporting for a case study project.
- Business Analysis (BUAN),
- Project Management (PRMG),
- Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT),
- Systems Integration (SINT),
- Change Management (CHMG),
- Release and Deployment (RELM),
- IT Operations (ITOP),
- Problem Management (PBMG).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
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 |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
Textbooks
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge ( PMBOK guide )
Edition: 6th edn (2017)
Authors: Project Management Institute
Project Management Institute
Newtown Square Newtown Square , PA , USA
ISBN: 9781628251845
Binding: Paperback
Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 : 2009
(2009)
Authors: Office of Government Commerce
TSO
Norwich Norwich , UK
ISBN: 9780113310609
Binding: Paperback
Managing successful projects with PRINCE2
Edition: 6th edn (2017)
Authors: Bennett, Nigel
TSO
Norwich Norwich , UK
ISBN: 9780113315338
Binding: Paperback
Project Management : A Systems Approach to Planning , Scheduling , and Controlling
Edition: 12th edn (2017)
Authors: Kerzner , Harold
John Wiley and Sons
Hoboken Hoboken , NJ , USA
ISBN: 9781119165354
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
- An eBook version of A Guide to The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide 2017) is available through CQU Library.
- An eBook version of Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (Kerzner 2013) is available through CQU Library.
- An eBook version of Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2017 is available through the TSO Shop UK. Please follow the link http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?FO=1162740#GEMS6473580 to purchase a copy.
- An eBook version of Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 is available through the TSO Shop UK. Please follow the link http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?FO=1162740#GEMS6473576 to purchase a copy.
- Paper copies of all the above texts are still available through the CQUni Bookshop here.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer - ability to access study materials, including instructional videos & upload assessment
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.veljanovski@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Executing and closing projects.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 3 Kerzner Chapter 1, 24.6-24.7, 24.11-24.12, Appendix E (A.E)
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 1, 2 & 3
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start of unit induction and overview of the three assessment tasks.
Lecture 1. Tutorial 1.
Module/Topic
Project performance management.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 4.3, 10.2-10.3, & 13.3-13.4
Kerzner Chapters 2, 3, 25 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 4 & 5
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 9 & 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 2. Tutorial 2.
Module/Topic
Earned Value Management - I
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 6.7, 7.4, & 10.2
Kerzner Chapters 15 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 7
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 11, 15 & E4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 3. Tutorial 3.
Module/Topic
Earned Value Management - II.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 10.3, & 11.6
Kerzner Chapter 17 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 8
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 16, 17, E5 & E6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 4. Tutorial 4.
Module/Topic
Project Control Systems - I.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 3.8, 6.7, & 8.2-8.3
Kerzner Chapter 5.0-5.5, & 23 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Appendix A
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 9.3, & 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 5. Tutorial 5.
Assessment 1 Part A
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project Control Systems – II.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 9.2-9.4, & 12.2-12.3
Kerzner Chapter 2.6, 16, 19 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Appendix A
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 6. Tutorial 6.
Module/Topic
Project Audit.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 1.4-1.6, 2.1.4-2.1.5, 4.4-4.5, 5.5, 8.2,-8.3, 11.6, & 12.3
Kerzner Chapter 11.35, 20.7, 25.4-25.5 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 10
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 6.3, 9.3, 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 7. Tutorial 7.
Assessment 1 Part B
Module/Topic
Project Termination & Lessons Learnt
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 3.7, 4.6, & 12.4
Kerzner Chapter 9, 11.19-11.21, & 19.10 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 9
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 17 & 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 8. Tutorial 8.
Module/Topic
Project Governance - I.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 1.5.2.2, 2.2, 13.1
Kerzner Chapter 1.10, 2.5, 25.1 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Appendix B
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 19.6, Appendix B
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 9. Tutorial 9.
Assessment 2 Part A
Module/Topic
Project Governance - II.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 4.1, 9.2, & 13.2
Kerzner Chapter 8.6,-8.7 10-10.2, + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Chapter 11, Appendix C
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 14, Appendix C
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 10. Tutorial 10.
Module/Topic
Integration Management – I.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 4
Kerzner Chapter 3.11, 18, 25.3-25.5 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Appendix A, & C
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 12, & 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 11. Tutorial 11.
Assessment 2 Part B
Module/Topic
Integration Management – II.
Chapter
PMBOK Chapter 4
Kerzner Chapter 11, 22 + A.E
Directing with PRINCE2 Appendix A, & C
Managing with PRINCE2 Chapter 16 & 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 12.
Oral Presentation for Assignment 3 in Tutorial Class (For distance students via zoom/phone)
Critical Analysis Report + Presentation Due: Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical Assessment
This assessment will take place during your tutorial class (for distance students a time will be specified in Moodle where the assessment will be time released for completion) and it includes two parts: Part A and Part B.
Please also read the case study that is in Moodle ahead of time as it is required for this assessment.
Note: This assessment is to be completed on an individual basis.
.
.
PART A - Earned Value Management (Project Status) - Week 5
For Part A you will be given the assessment during your 2 hour tutorial class in Week 5 (for distance students it will be time released in Moodle during Week 5). This assessment will contain questions on earned value management. The information provided to you in the assessment will contain raw data for planned values, actual expenditure and a Gantt chart. Your tasks for this part of the assessment are as follows:
- Task
- Calculate the variances based on the raw data provided
- Calculate various forecasts based on the raw data provided
- Add appropriate task names to the Gantt chart based on the case study
- Plot the S-Curve
- Purpose
- The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills in earned value analysis/management and development of S-Curves
- Structure
- You will be provided the assessment in class (hard copy print) with ample space to answer the questions. At the end of the tutorial class your tutor will collect your assessment. For distance students this will be managed electronically via Moodle.
- No phones (or other portable devices) are allowed during the assessment time although you are allowed to use the computer to look up resources/references to help you with this assessment.
- Please bring a pen
.
.
PART B - Controls - Week 7
For Part B you will be given the assessment during your tutorial class in Week 7 (for distance students it will be time released in Moodle during Week 7). This assessment will contain questions on project controls. A template will be provided to you so you can complete the assessment. The objectives of this part of the assessment is to develop your skills in time and event driven controls.
- Task
- Based on the case study provided in Moodle specify the main event drive controls
- Based on the case study provided in Moodle specify the main time drive controls
- Define the configuration procedural outputs for each control item above
- Map the control items to PMBOK knowledge areas
- Purpose
- The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills in the definition and development of event and time driven management processes.
- The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to consider progress and project control requirements within a project life cycle.
- Structure
- You will be provided the assessment in class (hard copy print) with ample space to answer the questions. At the end of the tutorial class your tutor will collect your assessment. For distance students this will be managed electronically via Moodle.
- No phones (or other portable devices) are allowed during the assessment time although you are allowed to use the computer to look up resources/references to help you with this assessment.
- Please bring a pen
Your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.
- Part A - A complete and correct earned value analysis? (50%)
- Part B - A complete and correct controls specification? (50%)
Each part above will h ave individual marks for the various sections in the assessment and these will be specified in the assessment documentation when handed to students.
- Define and justify project event-driven and time-driven controls for a case study project
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Practical Assessment
This assessment will take place during your tutorial class (for distance students a time will be specified in Moodle where the assessment will be time released for completion) and it includes two parts: Part A and Part B.
Please also read the case study that is in Moodle ahead of time as it is required for this assessment.
Note: This assessment is to be completed on an individual basis.
.
.
PART A - Audit & Termination - Week 9
For Part A you will be given the assessment during your tutorial class in Week 9 (for distance students it will be time released in Moodle during Week 9). This assessment will contain questions on project audit and termination. A template will be provided to you so you can complete the assessment.
- Task
- Based on the case study provided in Moodle specify the requested auditable items
- Describe how those items above will be closed assuming the related project tasks have been successfully completed.
- Purpose
- The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills in the definition and development project auditable items and project termination/closure.
- Structure
- You will be provided the assessment in class (hard copy print) with ample space to answer the questions. At the end of the tutorial class your tutor will collect your assessment. For distance students this will be managed electronically via Moodle.
- No phones (or other portable devices) are allowed during the assessment time although you are allowed to use the computer to look up resources/references to help you with this assessment.
- Please bring a pen
.
.
PART B - Audit & Termination - Week 11
For Part A you will be given the assessment during your tutorial class in Week 11 (for distance students it will be time released in Moodle during Week 11). This assessment will contain questions on project governance. A template will be provided to you so you can complete the assessment.
- Task
- Based on the case study provided in Moodle (and characteristics given to you when you commence the assessment) you are required to develop project governance arrangements.
- Define the various roles and responsibilities within the governance arrangement above.
- Purpose
- The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills in the definition and development project governance arrangements
- Structure
- You will be provided the assessment in class (hard copy print) with ample space to answer the questions. At the end of the tutorial class your tutor will collect your assessment. For distance students this will be managed electronically via Moodle.
- No phones (or other portable devices) are allowed during the assessment time although you are allowed to use the computer to look up resources/references to help you with this assessment.
- Please bring a pen
Your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.
- Part A - A complete and correct analysis of project audit and termination? (50%)
- Part B - A complete and correct description and analysis of project governance? (50%)
Each part above will have individual marks for the various sections in the assessment and these will be specified in the assessment documentation when handed to students.
- Define and justify audit, governance and termination reporting for a case study project.
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Written Assessment
Assignment Overview
Project Management in various domains is considered to be a relatively mature discipline. There is extensive body of knowledge that promotes project management and supports its main object of delivering successful projects. This knowledge base is supplemented by a well-established standards that have been evolving over years such as PMBOK and Prince2 to equip project managers with the knowledge, tools and skills to perform their role.
Having said that, project delivery in various domains is still unsatisfactory. Many recent studies and audits have revealed that project management fails to deliver successful project outcomes with alarming frequency. In the case of construction, for example, recent figures show that around 50% of projects fail to meet the delivery targets. Those problems are not exclusive to the construction sector. The IT sector projects also encounter an estimated 70% failure rate. This should be alarming to project management professionals and practitioners whose main duties are to ensure successful delivery of projects.
Since project management is supposed to improve project delivery, it is essential to fully appreciate the reasons behind project failure. Understanding the reasons for project failure will help protect management profession work towards achieving more consistent project delivery.
This is a group assignment (individual for distance education students). This assessment item requires you to consider:
- Project execution,
- Project success factors,
- Reasons for cost and time overruns,
- Application of project control systems,
- Stakeholders' influence on project performance
You must demonstrate your understanding of the above in the context of a project of your choice and submit a critical analysis report. You are encouraged to use assignment output and ideas that you may have developed from previous practical assignments within this unit as supporting evidence for your analysis.
Task
- (Worth 30%) Your task is to consider the first two learning outcomes (L1 and L2) in the context of this unit. This assignment requires you to examine a significant project of your own choice from any discipline (perhaps from personal experience or professional network). You are required to produce a detailed report which forwards a critical analysis of project control approaches used to ensure successful completion of the project and stakeholders’ influence. The report should include a demonstration of the range of control systems and evaluation of their application and whether or not a poor application of the control systems and lack of stakeholder’s management has contributed partially or fully to the project failure.
- (Worth 10%) In addition, you are required to give an oral presentation of duration 10 minutes about your written report. Your presentation will be during tutorial class time in Week 12 for face to face students (via Zoom/Phone for Distance Students).
Purpose
- The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop and demonstrate your skills in the use of project management concepts, principles, theories and arguments about the project management execution phase. You are particularly required to demonstrate your understanding of the real application of control system. You must then be able to analyse and argue what type of control systems will enable better or worse project outcomes.
Structure of the Written Report
Your report should be of 4000 words (excluding references and appendices). The report should include the following 7 key sections:
- An introduction to the project you have chosen;
- Explanation of the range of used control systems for cost, schedule, quality and scope.
- An analysis of the reasons that explain the cost and/or time overruns encountered during the project;
- An analysis of the extent to which the project execution team could be held responsible of the incurred time and/or cost overruns;
- An analysis of the relationship between the problems you identify in (3) and the stakeholders’ needs and influence;
- An analysis of the project management actions that could have been taken to better control the project and stakeholders in order to increase the chance for successful delivery;
- A conclusion which identifies the key lessons that Project Management can learn from the experience of the project.
Note: your presentation should also follow a similar structure as per your written report.
This assessment also involves researching your assigned topic to enhance your understanding of project management concepts and utilisation of academic literature. Whilst you should use the recommended textbooks you may also refer to relevant peer reviewed academic journal articles. You will be expected to present information and evidence from, and cite from the reading material from the unit. You are also encouraged to cite other material that is peer reviewed.
- Note: start your assignment early in the term as it will require you to research and find a suitable failed project case study by either searching the web or searching for appropriate journal articles by using the library website. .
Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Written Report and Powerpoint File to be submitted in Moodle and Oral Presentation to be given as per the task description above
Assignment will be returned prior to confirmation of grades
Report (30% scaled) The report will be generally assessed on the quality of the work presented, the extent and coverage of the key aspects, and understanding of the issues involved. More specifically, your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.
- Familiarity with project context, issues and applicable control systems (30%)
- Critical evaluation of the effectiveness of applied control systems and stakeholder’s management (40%)
- Appropriate and well structured, concise and clear understanding of project management arguments in response to the assessment task? (20%)
- Clarity of expression, language, format and presentation of the written report (10%)
Oral Presentation (10% scaled)
- Preparation and consistency of presentation (10%)
- Set up and use of visual aids, including Powerpoint slides (10%)
- Timing including Q&A (5%)
- Presentation content is relevant to the topic (20%)
- Content is clear, concise and relevant (20%)
- Response to Questions during Q&A (20%)
- Presentation manner (5%)
- Content is explained well (10%)
- Examine the knowledge areas and processes applied in the execution and closing stages of the project management life cycle
- Critically analyse how the needs of stakeholders might change the priority of outputs from the execution and closing stages of the project management life cycle
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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.