Outline

Overview

Programs are temporary, flexible organisation structures created to coordinate, direct and oversee the implementation of a set of related projects and activities to enable the implementation of strategy and change and the realisation of benefits. A project portfolio is a set of projects and/or programs and other activities, which are not necessarily related, brought together with the aim of alignment with achievement of organisational goals, optimum use of resources and minimisation of portfolio risk. For the program, shared vision and values are important due to high levels of interrelatedness and interdependence that increase complexity. Project portfolio management is a dynamic decision-making process in which new projects and programs are evaluated, selected, prioritised and balanced to align projects with strategy and resource capability and deliver maximum value from project investments. This Unit addresses the nature, design and management of programs and portfolios. It specifically addresses the selection, prioritisation and balancing of multiple programs and projects which have been grouped to support an organisation's strategic portfolio. The allocation of programs of work within a multi-project environment, benefits definition and realisation, governing, controlling and supporting the organisation's strategy, are considered. Students will learn and practice the issues to be considered in selecting an effective organisation portfolio and how to implement a portfolio management framework. Strategic resourcing, risk and opportunity, funding, governance structures and processes, at program and portfolio levels will also be addressed.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	OPMG6879
Academic unit	Project Management
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	PMGT5879
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Lynn Crawford, lynn.crawford@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Harold Ainsworth, harold.ainsworth@sydney.edu.au
Practitioner(s)	Gerard McGarry, gerard.mcgarry@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Discussion Discussion	12%	Multiple weeks	Various
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 - Portfolio Management Case Study Portfolio Management Case Study - Team based	20%	Please select a valid week from the list below	approx. 20 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 - Program Management Case Study Program Management Case Study - Team based	20%	Please select a valid week from the list below	approx. 20 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 3 - Reflective Journal Reflective Journal	12%	Week 07	approx. 10 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 4 - Selected Case Analysis Selected Case Analysis	12%	Week 08	approx. 5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 5 - Learning Application Learning Application	12%	Week 08	approx. 5 pages or 5 minute video
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz Quiz	12%	Weekly	Various
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assignment 1 – group: For a case study provided select the proposed portfolio for the organisation from the list of possible projects, describing your process and assumptions, and also recommend how it should be monitored during implementation.
Assignment 2 – group: For a case study organisation provided, prepare selected nominated parts of the program plan that both describe the program objectives and how it will be delivered, so that management can approve the plan.
Assignment 3: For each of the 6 weeks, summarise several of your key learnings, and suggest with specific examples how you might apply these in the future. Submit at the end of the session.
Assignment 4: Analyse a program case that you select, highlighting what worked well or did not work well in achieving the planned outcomes.
Assignment 5: Prepare a brief note or a five-minute video presentation discussing your key learnings from the unit of study, and how they can be applied by organisations to improve their portfolio and program management practice.
Discussion forums: Participate with other students by contributing posts in the 4 online forums (weeks 1-4) based on the topics provided.
Knowledge quiz: Answer the 4 questions (mostly multiple choice) provided for each of the 6 weeks to test knowledge of the unit material covered.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark Range	Description
High Distinction	85-100	Work of an exceptional standard
Distinction	75-84	Work of a very high standard
Credit	65-74	Work of a good standard
Pass	50-64	Work of an acceptable standard
Fail	0-49	Does not meet the learning outcomes or assessment requirements at an acceptable 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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Please select a valid week from the list below	Final reading and assignment work	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 01	The Context for Program and Portfolio Management	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 01	The Context for Program and Portfolio Management: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Portfolio Management	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 02	Portfolio Management: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 03	Program Management	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 03	Program Management: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 04	Governance, Reporting and Business Cases	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 04	Governance, Reporting and Business Cases: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Risk and Benefits	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 05	Risk and Benefits: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Change and Stakeholders	Independent study (14 hr)
Week 06	Change and Stakeholders: Live Session	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Final reading and assignment work	Independent study (14 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance, active engagement and contribution to the Live Sessions are required

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 as specified in Canvas including some material available at Sydney University Library Reserves

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. Select, prioritise and balance program and portfolio components required to implement organisational strategy.
LO2. Develop and monitor a strategic resource and finance plan considering the quality, quantity and sourcing of the required resources for programs and portfolios.
LO3. Assess program and portfolio level risks and opportunities and recommend responses.
LO4. Identify, define and develop a strategy for realisation of project and program benefits.
LO5. Design and maintain a program vision, business case, change and execution approach, knowledge sharing and governance framework to deliver desired outcomes and benefits.
LO6. Select and apply analytic techniques to predict future portfolio performance, evaluate implications of program and portfolio decisions and assess alternative solutions.
LO7. Devise processes for program and portfolio performance reporting and knowledge sharing.

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.

Initial version of a new Unit

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

OPMG6879: Program and Portfolio Management

Semester 1b, 2023 [Online] - Online Program

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect