Year
2024Credit points
5Campus offering
Prerequisites
Nil
Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit offers practical techniques for the successful selection, planning, monitoring, control, implementation and evaluation of projects. The unit works from the assumption that project management in a modern organisation is a complex team-based activity, where various types of technologies (including project management software as well as software to support group collaboration) are an inherent part of the project management process.
The primary aim of this unit is to provide students with ability to apply their project management knowledge and skills planning and delivery processes employed in medium to large-scale commercial projects. The unit equips students with a practical skills in project management, vital skills applicable across various disciplines and industries.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Utilising project management tools, develop a scope statement, work breakdown structure, detailed schedule and budget for a case study project. | GC2, GC7 |
| LO2 | Prepare a resource, procurement and a quality management plan together with risk management and a stakeholder strategy. | GC2, GC7 |
| LO3 | Create a comprehensive project management plan, ensuring the plan reflects relevant legal, contractual and WHS requirements. | GC7, GC8 |
Content
Topics will include:
- Development of project plan including risk strategies and alignment with legal, contractual and WHS requirements
- Development of project schedule, resources and budget
- Project management tools and techniques
- Project control and auditing.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The standard mode of delivery for this unit is multi-mode, via online and in-person classes, which may include full-day sessions, to enable interaction. Activities that require attendance will appear in a student’s timetable. This unit will be offered over 2 weeks period during professional terms.
Students will have access to all primary learning materials online through CANVAS, along with formative and summative assessments, all of which will be available online.
Students should anticipate undertaking 75 hours of study for this unit, including readings, videos, in-class participation and assessment preparation.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy for this unit is based on the need to determine authentic student achievement of the learning outcomes. The following assessment overview is indicative and may vary over time according to industry requirements, delivery mode, University policy and regulatory requirements.
Unit Assessment will assess students’ abilities to apply their theoretical knowledge, understanding and skills in planning for case study projects. For this purpose, students will be engaging with an actual/real life project from a local, national or international context.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment: Group Project Plan This assessment task consists of a 2000-word project plan. This task requires students to work collaboratively to create a comprehensive project plan using appropriate project management tools and techniques, including a scope statement, a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and develop critical path, and a schedule that includes resource allocations. The focus is to develop professional project planning and management skills through creative application of theoretical knowledge and understanding. | 100 | LO1, LO2, LO3 | GC2, GC7, GC8 |
Representative texts and references
Larson, EW, Gray, CF, Honig, B, Baccarini, D & Dantin, U., 2018, Project Management: The Managerial Process, 7th edn, McGraw Hill, New York, NY.
Gido, J & Clements, J 2018, Successful project management, 7th edn, South-Western, Boston, MA.
Harned, B., Storey, G., Aoki, D., 2017, Project Management for Humans: Helping People get Things Done. Rosenfelds Media
Heagney, J 2016, Fundamentals of project management, 5th edn, AMACOM, New York.
Project Management Institute 2020 A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide, 6th ed.,