Outline

Overview

Project Management is a key approach to achieving organisational objectives across multiple industries, including engineering, construction, IT, organisational change and transformation, including many others. Project Management is a rapidly growing profession, involving the coordinated definition and delivery of unique objectives within time, cost, and quality constraints. This unit provides students with an introduction to Project Management, including a review of the project lifecycle from conception, through delivery, to acceptance. In this unit, students will also gain an understanding of different project methodologies and the organisational context in which projects are managed.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Project Management
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ENGG5205
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Louis Taborda, louis.taborda@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Louis Taborda, louis.taborda@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Jeffrey Scales, jeffrey.scales@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Catherine Graham, catherine.graham@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Assessment 3 (A3) - Online Canvas Quiz Quiz on concepts + short answers for case study/ scenario covered in class	30%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Weekly Worksheets Individual and group exercises, quizzes, surveys, revision conducted weekly	15%	Multiple weeks	In class + up to 1 hour/ wk after class
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 4 (A4) Collation of project lifecycle deliverables for scenario provided in class.	7%	STUVAC Due date: 07 Jun 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Jun 2025	~2000-word structured report
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 5 (A5) Reflection/ retrospective + review potential PM roles + job application	8%	STUVAC Due date: 12 Jun 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 14 Jun 2025	~500-word structured reflection
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Assessment 1 (A1) - Online Canvas Quiz Quiz on concepts + short answers for case study/ scenario covered in class	20%	Week 05 Due date: 28 Mar 2025 at 14:00 Closing date: 28 Mar 2025	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 2 (A2) - Group Report Team-based report responding to scenario provided in class: SparkPlus used	20%	Week 10 Due date: 10 May 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 May 2025	Minimum 20 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

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	Exceptional project deliverables/ value delivered to sponsor by team with excellent peer-evaluations
Distinction	75 - 84	Excellent project deliverables/ value delivered to sponsor by team with excellent/good peer-evaluations
Credit	65 - 74	Professional project deliverables/ value delivered to sponsor by team with good peer-evaluation
Pass	50 - 64	Adequate project deliverables/ value delivered to sponsor by team with fair peer-evaluation
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) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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 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.

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
Multiple weeks	Independent study guided by the online content & lectures. You are expected to undertake 8 - 10 hours per week of independent study in addition to the workshops.	Independent study (120 hr)
Week 01	Introduction to project management: 1. Project management history; 2. Project manager roles and responsibilities; 3. Project complexity and uncertainty; 4. Project typologies, structures and frameworks	Online class (2 hr)
Week 02	Strategy and Project Initiation: 1. Project justification & Business Case 2. Strategic and organisational context; 3. Strategic alignment & project selection	Online class (2 hr)
Week 03	Stakeholder management: 1. Definitions of stakeholder 2. Analysing stakeholders 3. Understand the stakeholder perspectives 4. Stakeholder engagement/ comms	Online class (2 hr)
Week 04	Scope and requirements: 1. Collecting requirements; 2. Recording requirements; 3. Requirements analysis/ traceability;	Online class (2 hr)
Week 05	Project planning: 1. Network diagrams and their variants; 2. Scheduling/ time planning including Gantt charts; 3. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)	Online class (2 hr)
Week 06	Costs & Estimates: 1. Cost management: 2. Cost estimating; 3. Cost planning	Online class (2 hr)
Week 07	Resource management: 1. Resource estimating; 2. Resource planning; 3. Resource leveling	Online class (2 hr)
Week 08	Risk and quality management: 1. Risk identification, analysis and response; 2. Quality control and assurance	Online class (2 hr)
Week 09	Procurement and ethics: 1. Procurement planning and control; 2. Why does ethics matter?	Online class (2 hr)
Week 10	Execution and governance/ monitoring 1. Work delegation; 2. Project governance; 3. Progress monitoring and reporting	Online class (2 hr)
Week 11	Teamwork & Leadership: 1. Team collaboration; 2. Leadership styles;	Online class (2 hr)
Week 12	Project communication and closure: 1. Project success and evaluation; 2. Project completion and handover activities	Online class (2 hr)
Week 13	Organizational Maturity & Integrated PM Review	Online class (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per the Faculty of Engineering Coursework Awards Resolutions, students are expected to attend and actively engage in all timetabled activities of their respective units of study.

For this unit of study, students are expected to attend a minimum of 85 percent of timetabled activities. Exceptions to this requirement may be granted only by the Dean or the Head of School.

Failure to meet the minimum attendance requirement may result in a fail grade.

Heads of School, Program Directors and / or Unit of Study Coordinators may set additional assessment items where the attendance requirement differs from 85 percent.

Workshop Participation:

Students are required to engage in a professional manner during workshops. This includes being fully prepared by thoroughly reviewing and engaging with all materials provided by the Unit of Study Coordinator and / or teaching team prior to the workshop where applicable. Active participation in class activities, discussions, and team-based tasks is expected to ensure meaningful contributions and effective collaboration.

Students participating in learning activities, including workshops conducted remotely or online, are strongly encouraged to have their cameras turned on for the duration of the session. Failure to comply may result in a request to show cause. Continued non-compliance may be deemed as non-participation, which could impact assessment outcomes.

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

Some weekly exercises that form a part of the Continuous Assessments mark can take the form of critical reviews of readings that will be provided in class.

The text below is recommended reading (limited copies are available in the USYD library) with excerpts/ case studies forming the basis of some exercises:

Project Management: Creating Sustainable Value (2nd Edition) by Stewart R. Clegg, Torgeir Skyttermoen, and Anne Live Vaagaasar

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. Describe the nature of projects and their organisational context
LO2. Evaluate the implications of project lifecycles in different contexts and from different perspectives
LO3. Analyse the trade-offs between competing constraints such as time, cost and resources.
LO4. Recognise various stakeholder roles in projects and the need for stakeholder management.
LO5. Recognise the broad principles and processes that guide project management practice.
LO6. Recognise ethical issues and considerations facing project management professionals.

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 unit regularly receives positive student feedback and we continue to apply continuous improvement initiatives to keep the content relevant and in line with professional practices.

Additional information

For prompt response, all correspondence relating to this unit must be sent to the email: pmgt5205@sydney.edu.au

Assessments and/or documentation students create in this unit will need to use the naming convention provided in semester.

All administrative/ enrolment matters should be directed to the Student Centre in the first instance.

Requests for References:

Unit of Study Coordinators and the teaching team for this unit are not obligated to, and typically will not, provide personal references for students.

Students requiring a letter of good standing should direct their request to the Student Centre as the first point of contact.

Support with Administrative / Enrolment Matters:

The Student Centre is the primary point of contact for students seeking assistance with administrative, enrolment, or timetable matters.

In certain cases, the School’s Administrative Team may be able to provide additional support and can be contacted at: project.management@sydney.edu.au.

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice.

Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

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

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

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

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PMGT5205: Professional Project Practice

Semester 1, 2025 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

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

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

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links