CQUniversity Unit Profile
PPMP20014 Complex Project Management
Complex Project Management
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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

This unit provides an introduction and overview of the field of practice known as complex project management. Complex project management is when a project has three characteristics. Firstly, complex projects are very complicated with lots of parts and interconnections. Secondly, there is a great deal of uncertainty. Finally, they are heavily time-constrained so there is little time to make decisions. In this unit you will explore these characteristics and how to manage them by undertaking assessments for complexity through analysis and systematic inquiry. You will investigate approaches to complexity by forecasting impacts and modelling outcomes. You will analyse the complexities of causes and effects, such as the role played by leaders, setting objectives, environmental and technological limitations and factors, and other constraints that increase complexity. In the unit you will be introduced to a number of examples of complex projects through case studies. You will be able to investigate and discuss the case studies with your peers and lecturers to increase your understanding and proficiency with the management of complex projects.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Students must have completed the CQUniversity Graduate Diploma of Project Management or equivalent Project Management qualification from another Institution in order to do 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 1 - 2019

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Perth
Sydney

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. Group Discussion
Weighting: 40%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 10%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%

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.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
  2. Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.
  3. Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.
  4. Formulate, argue and defend a strategy that a project manager can apply to a complex project case study.
  5. In a team analyse the root causes of failure with a number of sample complex project cases.
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 5
1 - Group Discussion - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
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 - Group Discussion - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Managing Complex Projects: Networks, Knowledge and Integration

Edition: 1st (2014)
Authors: Neil Alderman
Routledge
ISBN: 9781134423606
Binding: eBook

Additional Textbook Information

If you prefer a paper copy, they can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • online database Emrald and Scince direct for journal articles
  • Students are requested to join the Project Management Institute (PMI) and be a member of the PMI so they can download the text book. It is the students' responsibility to get a copy of the text book.
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Ziyad Abunada Unit Coordinator
z.abunada@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 - Defining Complex Projects and Complex Project Management Begin Date: 11 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

Defining Complex Projects and Complex Project Management

Chapter

Chapter 1

Mandatory Readings:

  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; (Note: A complimentary PDF download of this research is available to PMI members)
    • Read the Introduction and Chapter 1
  • Lynelle Briggs, Australian Public Service Commissioner. 2012. Tackling wicked problems : A public policy perspective.

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.


Events and Submissions/Topic

Unit Introduction

Lecture 1

Tutorial : Introduction to the course: Expectations and the way forward by the UC



Week 2 -Managing Projects With High Complexity Begin Date: 18 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

Managing Projects With High Complexity

Chapter

Chapter 2

  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 2 by Stephen Hayes and Daniel Bennett

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 2
  • Week Tutorial 
  • The first Discussion Forum: 
  • This DF is about the general concept of the complexity in engineering projects. Students need to reflect on a case study
Week 3 -Tools for Complex Projects Begin Date: 25 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

Tools for Complex Projects:

Chapter

Chapter 3:Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 3 by Kaye Remington and Julien Pollack


Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 3
  • Week Tutorial
  • Quiz #1: The quiz will be available for one week. Only one attempt is allowed
Week 4 -Strategic Management: Developing Policies and Strategies Begin Date: 01 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Strategic Management: Developing Policies and Strategies


Chapter

Chapter 4

  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 4 by Christoph Loch and Federick Payne
  • An Empirical Study into Identifying Project Complexity Management Strategies by Kermanshachi et al. 2016

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 4
  • Week Tutorial 
  • The second Discussion Forum: We will carry on the case study in DF #1 and we will be applying  and reflect the knowledge we gained until now.
Week 5 -Project complexity assessment and management tools Begin Date: 08 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Project complexity assessment and management tools

Chapter

Chapter 5
  • Project complexity assessment and management tools by Dao et al.2016
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 5 by Stephen Carver and Harvey Maylor

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 5
  • Week Tutorial
  • Quiz #2: The quiz will be open for a week and one attempt is allowed
Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 -The Impact of Complexity on Project Cost and Schedule Estimates Begin Date: 22 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

The Impact of Complexity on Project Cost and Schedule Estimates


Chapter

Chapter 6
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 6 by Dale Shermon
    • The influence of the project complexity on estimating accuracy by Andrew Doyle and Will Hughes
    • Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 6
  • Week Tutorial 
  • The third Discussion Forum: This will take you to a new case study
Week 7 - Beyond Competence: Developing Managers of Complex Projects Begin Date: 29 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Beyond Competence: Developing Managers of Complex Projects

Chapter

Chapter 7
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD; Chapter 7 by Lynn Crawford and Ed Hoffman

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 7
  • Week Tutorial: Skills Acquisition: Constructionarium case
Week 8 -Human Behavior and Complexity: Begin Date: 06 May 2019

Module/Topic

Decision making and Multi Criteria Analysis

Chapter

  • Chapter 8 :Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD.
  • The are of decision making

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 8
  • Week Tutorial
  • Quiz #3
  • The fourth Discussion Forum
Week 9 - Controlling Chaos? The Value and the Challenges of Applying Complexity Theory to Project Management Begin Date: 13 May 2019

Module/Topic

Controlling Chaos? The Value and the Challenges of Applying Complexity Theory to Project Management

Chapter

Chapter 9
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD;
    • Chapter 9 by Kaye Remington and Roxanne Zolin

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be

identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 9
  • Week Tutorial
  • The Fifth Discussion Forum
Week 10 - Systems Thinking and the Systems Movement Begin Date: 20 May 2019

Module/Topic

Systems Thinking and the Systems Movement

Chapter

Chapter 10
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD;
    • Chapter 10 by Peter Checkland and Terry Williams

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 10
  • Week Tutorial 
Week 11 - Systems Engineering and Project Management Begin Date: 27 May 2019

Module/Topic

Systems Engineering and Project Management

Chapter

Chapter 11
  • Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World (2011)Terry Cooke-Davies, PhD;
    • Chapter 11 by Andrew Daw

Additional Readings and Activities

You will also be required to read some academic journal papers, visit web sites, or look at YouTube videos that will be identified on the website for this unit.

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 11
  • Tutorial 11
  • Quiz #4
Week 12- Toward a Coherent Research Agenda and Project Management 2.0 Begin Date: 03 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Lessons Learned

Chapter

What lessons learned from Large complex technical projects by: Cook,S

Events and Submissions/Topic

  • Lecture 12
  • Week Tutorial 
  • written assignment submission

Group Written Assessment Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Group Discussion

Assessment Title
Discussion Forums:

Task Description

Assignment Overview

In this unit you are required to participate in Five Discussion Forums through the Moodle site. The discussion forums intend to discuss one or more case studies by reflecting the knowledge gained during lectures on these real case studies. This will provide evidence of your understanding of Complex Project Management based on your current learning and experience. The discussion forums will present a dynamic record of your development over the duration of this unit. You need to understand the case, apply the knowledge gained, and respond to the points as requested using your own critical analysis and explanation. Tutorial sessions will offer you an opportunity to discuss, ask and explain the forums in detail. However, it is an individual submission and it should be your own produced submission.

Your contribution to the discussion forums should also provide an account of your learning based on your personal practice and your critical reflection regarding the topics introduced during this unit. Failing to contribute to the tutorial sessions may result in deducting marks. Marking criteria will be attached to each discussion in due course.

It is important to note that each discussion forum has a due date where you can upload your submission via Moodle with no penalties, Once the due date is off, you will be able to upload your submission until the Cut Off date with penalties applied (5% per calendar day).

No emailed submissions will be considered under any circumstances. students who are facing a problem with Moodle blockage due to any reason are requested NOT to email their submissions whatever the case.  

NOTE: Only submissions via Moodle can be graded. Any emailed submission beyond the Cut Off date WILL NOT BE GRADED NOR CONSIDERED!.  

Task

Your task is to attend the lectures and tutorials and to upload the assignments reflecting upon your learning and insights. The Discussion forum will be initiated by the unit coordinator and you must participate and upload your INDIVIDUAL response within the due date! Each discussion forum will include detailed tasks that you need to respond to.

You may be asked to present your work to your peers and lead a discussion group during tutorial sessions as part of your submission!

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills for undertaking research and translating, via your technical and creative skills, underpinning concepts about the important ideas and concepts of complex project management. The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis, critical thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of thinking about and reflecting on different project domains and complex project management. You are requested to apply some of the tools you learnt about managing complex projects, estimating the level of complexity as well as forming a proper scope of the context. Your participation, as a result, makes your learning more explicit as you translate your educational, workplace and personal experiences into documented evidence and share it with colleagues. You can then learn to critically examine the nature of your learning on this unit in relation to specific experiences in your project management practice and demonstrate that you have learned from those experiences and how you have achieved or maintained your professional competence.


Assessment Due Date

Students will be having one week to submit their work from the discussion releasing date


Return Date to Students

You will get comments on your submission within two weeks


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.

  1. Direct, accurate and proper tackling of the discussion subject. You need to respond to the requirements forming detailed reflection, analysis and judgement (40%)
  2. Use of relevant reference and evidence sources taken from PPMP units, literature, in the CQUni Project Management program (30%)
  3. The presentation of the case study and the complex features and connect this to the information explained in lectures (20%)
  4. Present your assessment in proper academic writing style and structure (10%)


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Submission Instructions
You may need to upload your file to Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
  • Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.
  • Formulate, argue and defend a strategy that a project manager can apply to a complex project case study.
  • In a team analyse the root causes of failure with a number of sample complex project cases.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quizes 10%

Task Description

Assignment

You are required to attempt ALL Quizzes on time! Only one attempt is allowed

Quiz # 3 will have a wight of four points. 

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to identify factors associated with complex project management.

The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis and critical thinking skills.

Notes

All questions will be reflecting and testing the knowledge and understanding of lecture materials


Number of Quizzes

4


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Quiz should be attempted within a week from the release date


Return Date to Students

This assignment will be marked by the Moodle computer program upon submission.


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

The following criteria will be used to grade your assignments:

  • The percentage of correct answers
  • You are encouraged to read the program materials to complete the assignment


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
  • Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Group Written Assessment

Task Description

NOTE : FAILING TO SCORE 50% OF THIS WRITTEN ASSESSMENT WILL LEAD TO FAILING THE UNIT.

Task

Your task is to consider:-

  • critically analyse the provided case study showing the the degree of complexity as well as defining its main causes and effects of the uncertainty, interconnections and non technical aspects ;
  • identify and critically analyse the stakeholders involved and how they contribute to the project complexity
  • the scope of the project and the changes took place over the life span. Any issues that has significantly contribute to this complexity
  • the surrounding environmental, political, social and financial aspects of the project
  • the four main complexity parameters including structural, temporal, directional and technical complexity. You need to explain each parameter in light of the case and what is the sources and details of each
  • assessment the level of complexity in this case and provide detail analysis of complexity type using the tools being taught including assessment matrix, radar diagram and others
  • describe what was the impact of the complexity on the project;
  • different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage this complex project from your own thought;
  • proposing a framework to manage such a complex case and highlight the aspects that can be changed and how.

You should write an article explaining the above points. You need to thoroughly study the case study, create clear and good understanding, identifying what are the causes and types of complexity, its level and all relevant complexity aspects of the case study. You need to illustrate the theories, tools and techniques that might be relevant to manage this complex projects. Identify and critically analyse the stakeholders. You should use evidences from the real situation to highlight the aspects of complexity. Then you need to propose your own management context on how to respond to better manage the complexity using the knowledge you gained over the course.

This is group assessment. Random groups will be created and each group will contain 2-3 students (subject to students' number).

Each student will be evaluating as well as evaluated by his peers in the same group. Students will be requested to fill in a separate sheet explaining their own contribution as well as their peers. 10% of the whole grades will go for this sheet based on the amount of contribution to ensure fair contribution by all members.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to define your thinking and to classify the tools and techniques related for complex project management.

The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your team work, analysis, critical thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of argument development and academic writing.

Structure

Your submission should be a properly constructed academic research article of 5,000 words (excluding references). It should contain abstract, effective introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusions.

The abstract should summaries your findings in no more than 250 words.

The introduction should introduce to the article and include your brief relevant information about the case study as well as the objectives.

The literature should present the evidence you have collected to support your argument, detailed information about the case, relevant previous literature and highlight the problem(s) and uncertainty in the case. The literature review should be integrated into the article

The methodology should show what has been done to analyse this case and how did you carried out the research/analysis.

The results should present your findings with critical discussion and the conclusion should restate your argument, summaries the evidence and make a conclusion regarding your argument.

Each member should attach a sheet showing his contribution and which sections he did contribute with

APA Reference style should be followed

NO ZIP file submission


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Assessment will be returned to students prior to confirmation of grades


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

This is an GROUP assignment with minimum mark requirements of 50% in order to pass the unit. This assessment has a Minimum Grade of 25 points.

Your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.

  1. Clear understanding of the case study based on thorough review of the case study, its aspects of complexity and the detailed events. Every thing should be specific to the case study(7%)
  2. An explanation of the causes, environments, and properties leading to complexity in this project? Clear detail of the complexity Four main types(8%)
  3. Clear and accurate assessment of the level of complexity, providing relevant complexity radar diagrams. This assessment should include relevant weights and justification for each complexity type, why and how did you calculate this (7%)
  4. Explaining, identifying full list of stakeholders, and critically analyzing the stakeholders involved, their roles, interest and importance (should include stakeholder matrix for all relevant ones) (6%)
  5. A discussion of the tools and techniques to aid the project manager to manage such a complex project? your input why this is complex and what to be done to manage it based on your assessment of the complexity level?(5%)
  6. A clear flow throughout the paper with a clear purpose described in the abstract, introduction and a comprehensive conclusion. the format of the task description in the unit (5%)
  7. Each group will be given 10 minuets to presenting their work and showing the main achievement. Q and A session will follow. Failing to answer clearly and showing a reasonable level of understanding may lead to failing the unit (7%)
  8. Peer assessment based on the level of your contribution was viewed by your peers (team-mates) (5%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
  • Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.
  • Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management

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?