PMGT5898: Semester 1, 2020

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Units PMGT5898 Semester 1 2020 [Block mode]

Unit of study_

PMGT5898: Complex Project Leadership

Semester 1, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit offers students an innovative way of looking at projects and programs and treating them as complex adaptive systems. Applying the principles of complexity and systems thinking assists project and program managers and leadership teams in formulating approaches to leadership of challenging and large-scale initiatives. The expected outcomes of this unit include development of: ability to diagnose complexity on a wide range of projects types; understanding of how systems thinking and complexity theories can be used to find new, creative ways to think about and lead complex projects and programs; ability to select and apply a range of systems thinking and management modelling tools and techniques to understanding, management and leadership of complex business problems; ability to reflect upon your own practice and develop self awareness as a key to leadership in the face of complexity.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	PMGT5898
Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	WORK6130
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

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Discussion Forum Weekly readings and contribution to Discussion Forums - Weeks 2-12	20%	Multiple weeks	500 words or less per week
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Initial activities Survey and Discussion Forum entries in Canvas	5%	Week 02 Due date: 05 Mar 2020 at 09:00	2 x 500 words or less
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team Assignment Part 1 Presentation to Client 'Board' - refer Canvas for details.	20%	Week 09 Due date: 01 May 2020 at 09:00	10 minute team presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team Assignment Part 2 Presentation to Client 'Board' - refer to Canvas for details.	20%	Week 11 Due date: 15 May 2020 at 09:00	10 minute team presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflective leadership report A reflective report on a project of your own. Details in Canvas.	35%	Week 13 Due date: 25 May 2020 at 09:00	5000 words or less
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

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.

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.

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
Week 01	Introduction and overview	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 01	Introduction and overview	Online class (2 hr)
Week 02	Understanding and categorising complexity	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 02	Understanding and categorising complexity	Online class (2 hr)
Week 03	Complexity theory overview	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 03	Complexity theory overview	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Thinking holistically: Systems thinking	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 04	Thinking holistically: Systems thinking	Online class (2 hr)
Week 05	Thinking holistically: Systems thinking	Independent study (16 hr)
Week 06	Thinking holistically: systems thinking and modelling	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Thinking holistically: systems thinking and modelling	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 07	Provide conditions to enable decisions and action	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 07	Provide conditions to enable decisions and action	Online class (2 hr)
Week 08	Provide Conditions to Enable Decisions and Action	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 08	Provide Conditions to Enable Decisions and Action	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	Respond to the environment	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 09	Respond to the environment	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	Respond to the environment	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 10	Respond to the environment	Online class (2 hr)
Week 11	Engage collaboratively	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 11	Engage collaboratively	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Engage collaboratively	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 12	Engage collaboratively	Online class (2 hr)
Week 13	Exercise personal mastery	Independent study (8 hr)
Week 13	Exercise personal mastery	Online class (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

For Block Mode students, the intensive Blocks will be held at 133 Castlereagh Street, from 9am to 5pm on the following dates:

6-7 March 2020
1-2 May 2020
15-16 May 2020

Online mode students are invited to attend the intensive Blocks in person wherever possible as this will enrich the learning experience. If unable ot attend in person they should aim to join the session via Zoom. They will be required to work in teams with Block Mode students and devise ways of contributing to the Team Presentations which will be held on the afternoon of the first day of the second and third blocks, in May.

All students are required to complete weekly activities in Canvas.

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

No prescribed readings.

Refer to Canvas for recommended reference material and specific readings for each week of Semester.

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. understand the basic principles of complex adaptive systems and selected complexity theories and apply this understanding to management and leadership of projects
LO2. use categorisation techniques to diagnose levels of management complexity on projects as a guide to assessing risk and determining management approaches
LO3. select and use systems thinking approaches and modelling tools to assist in formulating responses to complex projects and organisational phenomena
LO4. recognise the difference between use of models as devices for design and implementation vs sense-making and learning
LO5. draw upon understanding of multiple perspectives when dealing with management complexity
LO6. critically reflect on practice and increase self-awareness in order to improve team and leadership effectiveness.

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.

In response to student feedback, changes have been made to ensure timely contribution to Discussion Forums and activities added to block sessions.

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

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