University of Technology, Sydney

Staff directory | Webmail | Maps | Newsroom | What's on

15338 Strategic Procurement and Contract Management

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Building
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 15315 Project Management Principles
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Handbook description

This subject focuses on the role of a project manager to procure goods and services and its timely provision for a project on behalf of a principal or client. It provides an overview of the laws relating to corporations, intellectual property, employment and contracts used in projects. It enables students to understand the law of contracts and statutory obligations of a purchaser and owner in a project to demonstrate how such obligations of the parties to a transaction might be varied by agreement. Students learn how ethical rules of professional bodies impact on commercial conduct in a project. As a result of knowledge gained through this subject, students learn how to interact confidently with persons who have legal training while dealing with contractual issues arising in projects.

Subject objectives/outcomes

The objectives of the subject are to develop the following attributes at an advanced post-graduate level:

1. Ability to source and apply tools and techniques to meet contextual demands (Technique Application)

2. Ability to effectively use oral communication in project environments (Oral Communication)

3. Ability to effectively communicate in writing in project environments (Written Communication)

4. Ability to make ethical judgements in project contexts (Ethical Judgments)

5. Ability to manage cultural diversity to meet project objectives (Managing Diversity)

6. Ability to manage project activities from an organisational perspective (Organisational Management)

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

The subject places a strong emphasis on dealing with legal issues that arise while carrying out procurement and contractual activities for a project. The two graduate attributes most strongly emphasized are ‘communication and interpersonal skills’ and ‘attitudes and values’.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject involves an individual pre-workshop assignment and in-class materials delivered during an intensive four-day workshop. The workshop will include lectures, activities, simulated experiences in dealing with legal and contractual issues and student presentations. After the workshop, students will submit a final assignment based on knowledge gained in the subject through the semester.

Content

Managing procurement;
Common law and statutory obligations;
Overview of intellectual property, employment and contracts;
Commercial relationships in projects;
Ethical and professional conduct;
Executing contracts and agreements;
Legal aspects of international transactions.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Individual pre-workshop assignment. Details to be posted in the assignment folder in UTS online.

Intent:

Ability to source and apply tools and techniques to meet contextual demands based on pre-workshop readings made available through e-readings
Objective(s):

1
Weighting: 10%
Length:

One or two pages.

Assessment Item 2: Workshop assessment - team assignment and individual participation

Intent:

Ability to communicate orally and through writing, make ethical judgements and manage cultural diversity during simulations and presentations at the block workshop both individually and as a team.
Objective(s):

2,3,4 & 5
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 3: Individual post-class assignment - essay

Intent:

Demonstrate an ability to source and apply tools and techniques to meet contextual demands, communicate effectively in a project related environment and manage project activities from an organisational perpsective.
Objective(s):

1,3 & 6.
Weighting: 50%

Required texts

There is no specific text book for this subject. A range of readings will be placed on e-readings for the subject in the library for students to read prior to the workshop.

Recommended texts

Caldwell, N & Howard, M. 2011. Procuring complex performance studies of innovation in product-service management, Routledge, London.

Litwak, N. 2012. Contracts for the Film & Television Industry, 3rd Edition, Silma-James Press, Beverly Hills, CA.

References

Carter, J. W., and Harland, D.J. (2002) Contract Law in Australia, Butterworths, 4th ed.

Balkin, R. P., and Davis, J.L.R. (2008) Law of Torts, LexisNexis Butteworths, 4th ed.

Miller, Russell V. (2009) Miller’s Annotated Trade Practices Act, Law Book Co, 30th ed. NSW PWD (1992) Total Asset
Management Manual, NSW Government, Sydney.

Uher, T.E. (2002) Fundamentals of building contract management, UNSW Press, Sydney: Australia.

Websites:

Australasian Legal Information Institute website: http://www.austlii.edu.au

http://www.nswprocurement.com.au/psc/ppg/contract_management.aspx

Example of a Project Management contract AS4915-2002 http://www.saiglobal.com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/online/autologin.asp

http://www.nswprocurement.com.au/Procurement-System-for-Construction/Reference-material/Procurement-practice-guides.aspx

http://www.nswprocurement.com.au/Procurement-System-for-Construction.aspx