Skip to main content
Unit outline_

CIVL4817: Adapting to Project Context

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

There is more than one way to manage a project. However many organisations become entrenched in standardisation that may no longer meet their needs, including consideration of change required for the project to be successful. This unit of study introduces students to a range of different approaches to project management, building the ability to critically question current practice and improve organisational outcomes.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Project Management
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CIVL2812
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PMGT3858
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Claire Kim-Chung, claire.kimchung@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Claire Kim-Chung, claire.kimchung@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Leo Ridge, leo.ridge@sydney.edu.au
Jafar Hamra, jafar.hamra@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Group Task 3: Final Presentation
Final Group presentation (weeks 11 & 12)
25% Multiple weeks 10 minutes + 5 mins Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Participation Participation
Participation includes engagement during workshops and on Canvas
10% Progressive During the workshop
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation group assignment Group task 1: Introduction Presentation
Introduction presentation of the group. See details on Canvas.
5% Week 05 5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO7 LO2
Tutorial quiz Individual Quiz 1
MCQ & Short Answers
20% Week 07 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment group assignment Group task 2: Final Report
Final group report of the process of project delivery.
15% Week 10
Due date: 28 Apr 2024 at 23:55
1500 words max
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Individual Quiz 2
MCQ & Short answer
25% Week 13 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment components:

Individual Quiz 1: This is a multiple choice and short answer type quiz held in your workshop using pen and paper, covering topics from weeks 1 - 6 inclusive. Duration is for 1 hour.

Individual Quiz 2: Taking the same format of quiz 1, quiz 2 will cover topics from weeks 6-12 inclusive. Duration is for 1.5 hours.

Participation: Participation is required and highly encouraged during the workshops and online via Canvas activities where applicable. This comes in the form of taking initiatives such as answering and asking questions, leading your group work, being involved in workshop activities and so on. Remember that attendance is not participation.

Group Task 1: Introduction Presentation: This is your first presentation, where you will formally introduce your team, and the choice of organisation you wish to propose a project for.

Group Task 2: Final Report: As you progress along each week of semester, utilise the various learnings (e.g. PM frameworks, governance models, etc.) to build into your final report, which will also guide your final presentation.

Group Task 3: Final Group Presentation: In this final presentation, you will provide analysis of the organisation/company's problem area(s) chosen, and your proposed project, along with PM frameworks, governance models, and risk management aspects that are adaptable to the organisation.

 

Study Commitment:

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Text-matching software for Assignment Submission:

As part of the assessment process, text matching software such as Turnitin will be used to identify plagiarism and/or be used for providing feedback.

Confidential Peer Evaluation:

As part of the group contribution assessment process, collaborative & self-peer evaluation tools (e.g. SparkPlus, CATME, etc.) may be used, either on a confidential or non-confidential basis, to understand contributions and interactions amongst group members. Marks may be adjusted for an individual team member, following on from the peer evaluation process.

Mark Moderation:

Mark moderation: There may be statistically defensible moderation when combining the marks from each component to ensure consistency of marking between markers, and alignment of final grades with unit outcomes.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. Example: Consider an assignment's maximum awardable mark is 10; the assignment is submitted 2 days late; and the assignment is marked as 7/10. After applying the penalty, marks will be: 7 - (0.5 x 2) = 6/10. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work. Refer to section 7A of Assessment procedures policy available at: http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/267&RendNum=0

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and overview Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO3 LO7
Week 02 Culture, environment and context Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Approaches, frameworks, methods, methodology and tools Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO3 LO6 LO7
Week 04 1. Governance versus management; 2. Standards and guides Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Communicating for governance Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Project approaches - diving deeper Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO3 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Developing an enterprise PM method or framework: part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Stability to chaos Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO5 LO7
Week 09 Change, transformation and purpose Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO6
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO4 LO6
Week 10 Developing an enterprise PM method or framework: part 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Implementing a PM method Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Other: Evaluating your PM method or framework Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 1. You; 2. Your role; 3. Your influence Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Independent study expanding on the weekly module and workshop. Independent study (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

A substantial part of this unit is based on the experiences and outputs from the weekly workshops. This makes regular engagement of high importance.

Please note there is not always a direct relationship between the week’s workshop activity and the online module. However, these become more unified by the time we reach the final presentation and the group report submission deadline.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings and lectures are integrated within the material on Canvas. You are expected to study these as part of your independent study time each week.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate understanding of how methodologies are constructed
  • LO2. Explain the relationship between governance and methodology in projects
  • LO3. Demonstrate how the project is aligned with internal reporting and control processes within different project contexts
  • LO4. Identify essential differences between methodologies commonly used in a range of different contexts
  • LO5. Assess project complexity and its consequences for the approach
  • LO6. Identify and implement change and transformation requirements related to the project
  • LO7. Build a methodology to suit the needs of a non-standard project

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Following feedback from students, we have more clearly identified the individual and group contributions that are linked to assessments and workshop activity. The Symposium group activity was very confusing and thus now replaced with two presentations. This will greatly assist with their preparation of the final report as well.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.