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Unit of study_

PMGT6850: Project and Program Management Capstone

Semester 2, 2020 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The capstone project aims to provide students with the opportunity to carry out a defined piece of workplace related research and assessment in a way that fosters the development of practical and research skills relevant to project, program and portfolio management. Students will work in small teams on an approved project for the semester. The concepts covered depend on the nature of the project. Students are encouraged to work on a project drawn from or situated in their workplace which would benefit from insights provided by a diverse student team. The intention is to demonstrate integration of learning from the course and the ability to apply this to an identified and defined project.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PMGT6850
Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
24 credit points of 5000 or 6000 level units of study
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) Kestrel Stone, kestrel.stone@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Project charter
Project Charter
10% Week 03
Due date: 08 Sep 2020 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Project plan
Project Plan
20% Week 05
Due date: 22 Sep 2020 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Status report
Presentation of status report to client
20% Week 07
Due date: 15 Oct 2020 at 23:59
20 to 30 minutes plus Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation group assignment Final product report
Final presentation to client and product handover
30% Week 10
Due date: 05 Nov 2020 at 23:59
20 to 30 minutes plus Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Post implementation review
Closure Report - project performance and lessons for future projects
20% Week 12
Due date: 11 Nov 2020 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment for this Unit is based on teamwork to conduct and complete a project:

  • Group work
    • Project charter
    • Project plan
    • Status report
    • Final product report
  • Individual assignments
    • Post implementation review

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction - Welcome and overview of program, select one of two projects, walk through the project management methodology and templates to be applied. Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1
Week 02 Workshop 1 - Teams develop Project Charter. Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Scoping Meeting with Client - Teams meet with the client for the first time to discuss the background of the project, its objective/s, intended benefits/outcomes, scope of work, assumptions, and constraints. This will validate the information in the Project Charter and/or progressively elaborate it as an input to the Project Plan. Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Workshop 2 - Teams develop the Project Plan. Teams to send the Project Plan to the client for review prior to discussion at the next event. Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Client Meeting – Review Project Plan Walk through Project Plan with client to ensure that it reflects the direction given at the scoping meeting and aligns with the client’s objectives and expectations. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Workshop 3 - Review Status Report template to be used in Workshop 4 Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Workshop 4 - Teams present Project Status Report to client, discuss issues/changes/next steps Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Workshop 5 - Teams give Final Presentation to client and hand over product. Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Workshop 6 - Debrief and discussion of insights and lessons learned as an input to the Closure Report (Individual Assignment). Workshop (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Weekly Work on project Project (102 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Weekly team meetings Project (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment: It is expected that students will spend at least one full day per week undertaking background research work, organizing their plan of work, gathering data, conducting analysis and preparing their final report and presentation. Projects are to be undertaken in teams as this is how the majority of projects are delivered. Individual projects are an exception to be undertaken under exceptional circumstances with the permission of the lecturer. Even as projects are undertaken by a group of students, each team should maintain a log of contributions to the team’s work. Minutes must be taken for all group meetings and these minutes and other working papers must be handed in when and if requested by the course coordinator. Weekly meetings with supervisor/tutor are required, unless otherwise agreed.

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. initiate and coordinate a critical analysis and investigation of project, program and portfolio management processes in a specific context
  • LO2. formulate and justify plans or recommendations for achieving project, program and / or portfolio goals and systemic improvement of performance
  • LO3. convey complex ideas, analysis and recommendations in a manner suited to the specific purpose and audience
  • LO4. demonstrate well-integrated critical judgement concerning content, assumptions, uncertainties and inter-connections
  • LO5. demonstrate understanding of theory and practical context with fluent command of specialist language
  • LO6. demonstrate ability to select and apply current and new project, program and portfolio management knowledge relevant to purpose and audienc
  • LO7. demonstrate understanding of context and of operational implications of plans and recommendations.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Two concurrent streams introduced to cater for students working full time - one stream meets during working hours, one team meets after hours.

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.