Outline

Overview

This unit introduces students to the foundations of project management in business contexts. It provides an overview and practical understanding of different project management approaches, ranging from structured frameworks such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to light-weight techniques such as Agile or Lean Management. Students learn how to select appropriate projects based on their alignment with an organisation's strategy and then how to manage those projects successfully from initiation through execution to completion. The unit explores both the technical and behavioural aspects of project management and students gain experience in critically analysing the application of techniques in specific business contexts. As organisations increasingly structure their activities on a project basis, the unit is of value to a range of discipline specialisations.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Business Information Systems
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mark Freeman, mark.freeman1@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Individual assignment 2 Written task	30%	Formal exam period Due date: 16 Nov 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 Nov 2026	2,000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Individual assignment 1 Written tasks completed in tutorials	25%	Multiple weeks	30 min to 1 hour per tutorial.	AI limited - refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Class Quiz Online quiz	10%	Week 04 Due date: 24 Aug 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 28 Aug 2026	20 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Group Project Assignment Written task	35%	Week 12 Due date: 30 Oct 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Nov 2026	3,000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Class Quiz: One (1) online quiz will be completed by Monday, Week 4 at 23:59. The quiz assesses students’ understanding of foundational project management concepts introduced in the first three weeks of the unit, including the project management landscape, project value and benefits, governance, ethics, professional practice, and contemporary project management frameworks. Questions may draw on lecture content, tutorial activities, prescribed readings, and other learning resources. The quiz will be administered through Canvas using a variety of question types. Students will be assessed on the accuracy and completeness of their responses.

Individual Assignment 1: This secure written assessment is completed progressively during tutorials in Weeks 4, 5 and 6. Students will assume the role of a project team member who has been asked by a Project Manager to investigate a proposed project and provide professional advice to support project planning and decision-making.

Working with a supplied project scenario, students will engage with project information and stakeholder perspectives to analyse the project’s context, complexity, uncertainty, and organisational environment. Students will evaluate the suitability of different project management approaches, identify project risks and challenges, and provide recommendations regarding project delivery, planning priorities, and success factors.

This assessment is completed during scheduled tutorial classes. Work undertaken during each tutorial session will be recorded to maintain assessment integrity and combined into a final submission. Students will be assessed on their ability to critically analyse project contexts, evaluate project management frameworks and methodologies, identify project challenges, and provide well-supported recommendations for project planning and delivery.

Group Project Assignment: This assignment adopts a Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach, in which student teams act as a project planning team, developing a comprehensive project planning portfolio for a simulated, realistic organisational project.

Throughout the semester, teams will work within a simulated project environment supported by AI-enabled stakeholder personas. These stakeholder personas may represent, for example, project sponsors, clients, regulators, technical specialists, end users, operations managers, and other project stakeholders. Teams will be required to actively engage with these stakeholders to gather information, clarify requirements, resolve conflicts, manage emerging issues, and inform project planning decisions.

As the project progresses, new information, stakeholder feedback, constraints, and project challenges may emerge, requiring teams to reassess assumptions and adapt their planning approaches. Students will apply project management concepts, methodologies, frameworks, and techniques to develop a professional project planning portfolio that may include governance structures, project scope, methodology selection and tailoring rationale, schedules, stakeholder and communication plans, resource and team plans, risk management artefacts, and approaches to measuring project success and benefits realisation.

Students will be expected to justify their project management decisions and demonstrate how project context, complexity, uncertainty, stakeholder needs, and organisational objectives have influenced their chosen approach. Students will be assessed on the quality and integration of their planning artefacts, continued and professional engagement with project stakeholders, application of project management theory to practice, and the strength of their supporting rationale.

Individual Assignment 2: This individual assessment requires students to critically evaluate project management decisions made throughout the group project and reflect on their professional learning and development. Drawing on unit concepts, contemporary project management literature, experiences gained through the project simulation, and interactions with project stakeholders, students will prepare a concise analytical report examining the suitability and application of project management approaches in complex organisational environments.

Students will critically analyse project challenges, stakeholder dynamics, team processes, planning decisions, and the selection and tailoring of project management methodologies and frameworks. Students will also reflect on lessons learned from the project, considering how project complexity, uncertainty, stakeholder engagement, and emerging technologies influenced project outcomes and decision-making.

Students will be assessed on the quality of their critical analysis, the integration of relevant literature, the depth of their reflection, their ability to evaluate project management approaches, and their capacity to justify recommendations for future practice.

Detailed instructions, marking criteria, project briefs, stakeholder interaction requirements, and submission guidelines for all assessments will be provided on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (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	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

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 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. 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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	The Project Management Landscape [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 01	The Project Management Landscape [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Value, Strategy and Benefits Realisation [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Value, Strategy and Benefits Realisation [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 03	Principles, Ethics and Governance [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 03	Principles, Ethics and Governance [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 04	Complexity, Uncertainty and Project Context [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 04	Complexity, Uncertainty and Project Context [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Project Life Cycles and Delivery Approaches [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Project Life Cycles and Delivery Approaches [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Scope, Planning and Risk Fundamentals [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Scope, Planning and Risk Fundamentals [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Risk, Uncertainty and Project Challenges [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Risk, Uncertainty and Project Challenges [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 08	Communication and Stakeholder Engagement [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 08	Communication and Stakeholder Engagement [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 09	Resources, Teams and Leadership [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 09	Resources, Teams and Leadership [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 10	Performance, Finance and Benefits Realisation [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 10	Performance, Finance and Benefits Realisation [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 11	Sustainability, Responsibility and Emerging Challenges [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 11	Sustainability, Responsibility and Emerging Challenges [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 12	Tailoring, Adaptive and Hybrid Project Management [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 12	Tailoring, Adaptive and Hybrid Project Management [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 13	AI, PM Maturity and Professional Identity [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 13	AI, PM Maturity and Professional Identity [online recorded lecture + on-campus tutorial]	Tutorial (1.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

To assist with your learning in INFS6071:

Recorded Online Lectures

The lecture content is prerecorded and made available online before the week on Canvas.
In your timetable, there is a 1.5-hour block on Monday from 18:00 to 19:30 for you to engage with the lecture recordings and begin the subject readings.
The lecturer will be online to answer any questions about the materials during the lecture block. During this time, live online Q&A sessions will be conducted via Zoom. All students are highly encouraged to attend these sessions.
The weekly subject materials should be completed before attending your allocated on-campus tutorial.

On-Campus Tutorials

You have enrolled in an on-campus tutorial.
The tutorials allow you to actively engage with a small group of students from the unit.
In weeks 4 to 6, Individual Assignment 1 will be held during part of the tutorial time.
Please attend your allocated tutorial; the unit coordinator must approve any weekly changes (with clear documentation on the reasons for a change).

You will learn more if you complete all the activities as you work through this Unit of Study.

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

There are no assigned textbooks.

Readings and online resources will be made available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Apply and analyse project management methodologies, frameworks and knowledge areas for planning across the project lifecycle.
LO2. Evaluate formal and adaptive project management practices, considering their guiding principles and processes.
LO3. Evaluate and critically analyse the factors affecting various project stakeholders and team processes.
LO4. Create and critically reflect on project planning by applying relevant project management techniques.
LO5. Identify and critically assess project challenges, success factors and the applicability of formal project management frameworks.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This subject underwent a redesign process in S2,2024. This involved modernising the course content and emphasising transferable project management skills. Teaching materials and activities were updated to reflect current industry developments and changing global business environments. Changes have been made to the Learning Outcomes, weekly schedule, and assessment activities with consultation and the support of the Business Co-Design unit. Further refinement occurred in S2, 2025, based on student feedback from the USS and the changing nature of project management. This has included the redevelopment of Individual Assignment 1, modifications to the quizzes and changes to the assessment instructions. Based on further student input, additional changes have been made in S1 and S2, 2026. Changes in this delivery have also been made to align with the latest version of PMBOK.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

INFS6071: Project Management in Business

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links