Outline

Overview

The heart of a project lies in its delivery. Good planning sets the foundation for good execution; however projects need to be actively managed to ensure they are successfully delivered. This Unit of Study explores project execution through a hands on simulation that allows students to experience the delivery of a project including start-up and closure, progress reporting, decision making and change control.

Details

Academic unit	Project Management
Unit code	PMGT2854
Unit name	Executing Projects
Session, year ?	Intensive February, 2021
Attendance mode	Normal day
Location	Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Credit points	6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	ENGG1860 OR ENGG1850
Corequisites ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator	Marzena Baker, marzena.baker@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	In-class Quiz #1 In-class Quiz. 5 multiple choice questions and 2 short answers.	15%	Week 01	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Simulation Group Assessment #1 Groups to amend, update and present planning documents for final sign-off.	10%	Week 02	N/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Simulation Group Assessment #2 Groups review and expend risk plan. Present report.	10%	Week 02	N/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Simulation Group Assessment #3 Groups to respond to triggered project change and report actions.	10%	Week 03	N/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Simulation Group Assessment #4 Groups to prepare and present project closure documentation.	10%	Week 03	N/a
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	In-class Quiz #2 In-class Quiz. 5 multiple choice questions and 2 short answers.	15%	Week 03	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Individual Assignment Post simulation project review and lessons learned for future practice.	30%	Week 03	1500 words +/- 10%
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Workshop simulation small continuous assessments: Basis for entire subject is a simulation of executing projects using a case study. Student groups to take on PM role for simulation reporting to lecturer or tutors as individual group Sponsor. Simulation is presented to students having been initiated and planned. Students are presented with a signed off project docs. using suitable software (e.g. MS Project), including project charter, and baseline plan scope, schedule, budget, quality plan, resource schedule, basic (incomplete) risk plan, procurement decisions. The signed off project plan will be constructed based on assumptions made one year earlier. There will be gaps in the plan and errors for students to find during their analysis. The hypothetical timeframe for the implementation and handover simulation will be 12-18 months. The format for presenting the assessments will be described in Canvas and discussed in workshops.

Simulation group assessment #1:

Groups to review basic risk plan critically analyse and expand with developed mitigation and management strategies. List conditions that will inform contracts to be drafted for supply of goods and services. Prepare report for presentation.

Simulation group assessment #2:

Based on analysis of documents and review of risks, groups to amend planning documents and present them to the Sponsor for sign-off, negotiating changes where appropriate.

Simulation group assessment #3:

Simulation is hypothetically advanced in time. Students are notified that several risks have been triggered. Groups to respond by choosing how they will respond to the risks and calculating impact on baselined plan (scope, time, cost, quality). Student groups to meet with sponsor to report and negotiate changes. Decisions will be informed and limited by procurement decisions made earlier. Prepare report for presentation.

Simulation group assessment #4:

Simulation is hypothetically advanced in time to delivery and review. Student groups prepare and submit closure documentation and conduct a post-review. The post-project review will be conducted by assigning stakeholder roles to the students within their groups. Each stakeholder role will be written so that the stakeholder has particular issues to present.

In-class Quizzes: The purpose of these assessments is to equip students with the capabilities to apply theory to practice. Students are required to complete the weekly readings and videos prior to attending workshops, attend weekly workshops, and complete two on-line multiple answer and short answers quizzes. The quizzes are designed to review student’s understanding of the weekly reading material and ability to apply knowledge within a collaborative and competitive project environment.

Individual Assignment: The purpose of this assessment is to equip students with an analytical mindset to make sense of project realities. Students are required to provide a post simulation project review. Having participated in the start-up, execution and close of the simulation project, students experienced hands-on project management and are now required to look at lessons learned for future practice. The format for the assignment will be described in Canvas and discussed in workshops.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found 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
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 sydney.edu.au/students/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.

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic honesty, academic dishonesty, 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 dishonesty or plagiarism seriously.

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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to the unit	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 01	Introduction to the unit	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 02	Project start-up	Workshop (2 hr)
	Project start-up	Independent study (8 hr)
	Stakeholder management and project governance	Workshop (2 hr)
	Stakeholder management and project governance & revision for assessment	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 03	Success and common problems in project execution	Workshop (2 hr)
	Success and common problems in project execution	Independent study (8 hr)
	Project completion and close	Workshop (2 hr)
	Project completion and close	Independent study (8 hr)
	Agile projects - delivering in agile environment	Workshop (2 hr)
	Agile projects - delivering in agile environment & revision for group activity	Independent study (10 hr)
	Revision	Workshop (2 hr)
	Revision	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 04	Project resourcing and leadership	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Project resourcing and leadership & revision for assessment	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 05	Evaluate and manage risk	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Evaluate and manage risk	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 06	Develop and apply change control	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Develop and apply change control & revision for group activity	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 07	Manage and report on project progress	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Manage and report on project progress	Independent study (8 hr)

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through 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. Monitor and control progress against performance expectations and make any necessary adjustments
LO2. Initiate and manage project start-up or the transition to a new project phase
LO3. Allocate and monitor resources
LO4. Evaluate and monitor risks, opportunities and implement responses
LO5. Develop and apply change control and configuration management; obtain agreement on, and implement project changes
LO6. Report on project progress; verify the achievement of project requirements and objectives, including quality and recommend any necessary corrective and/or preventive actions
LO7. Distil critical information, evaluate and review decisions to move the project forward
LO8. Deliver results, get acceptance, close and evaluate a phase or the 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
Learning outcomes

Closing the loop

Some changes have been made to the unit since the unit was last offered. The changes relate to further alignment between content of study and learning outcomes. The unit was also adapted for Block mode.

Additional information

Students will be required to have basic knowledge of and be able to use project management software (e.g. MS Project). The software will be used in the project simulation group activities and assessments.

Key dates
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Student administration
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Expectations of student conduct
Code of Conduct for Students, Conditions of Enrollment, University Privacy Statement, Academic Integrity
Academic appeals
Academic appeals process, special consideration, rules and guidelines, advice and support
Learning and teaching policy
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Financial support
Scholarships, interest free loans, bursaries, money management
Study resources
Learning Centre, faculty and school programs, Library, online resources
Health and support
Student Centre, counselling & psychological services, University Health Service, general health and wellbeing

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

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PMGT2854: Executing Projects

Overview

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect