49002 Managing Projects

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, 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.

Subject handbook information prior to 2017 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Systems, Management and Leadership
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 31272 Project Management and the Professional AND 32541 Project Management AND 32601 Advanced Project Management AND 48260 Ver 4 Engineering Project Management

Description

The subject introduces project management principles and tools. Students develop an understanding of management practices and their application to the successful performance of engineering projects and engineering works. What students learn in this subject enhances their ability to make and implement decisions for strategic and operational management within an engineering setting.

This subject is offered in two modes: standard and distance.

• In standard mode, students are expected to attend lectures and participate in class and group activities. Classes are three hours per week for one session. Students are expected to enrol and remain in a particular session all session.
• In distance mode, students undertake the subject without attending classes thus enabling those who would have difficulty attending, for geographic or other reasons, to undertake the study of the subject.

The subject’s learning objectives and content are the same for both modes. There are, however, some differences in emphasis and assignment work because of the specific nature and constraints presented by the distance mode such as participating in presentations to staff and peers. While these aspects are mandatory for students participating in standard mode, they are not required for distance mode students.

The subject outline must be read read in conjunction with any subject instructions posted on UTSOnline in any specific session. The instructions provide additional information and advice on any facet of the subject content, its administration and students' obligations.

It is mandatory that students obtain, read and comply with requirements of both the subject outline and any instructions posted on UTSOnline during the session.

Students are expected to regularly check the UTSOnline page of the subject.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

1.	Describe the nature of projects and how they differ from processes and operations.
2.	Develop competence in presenting concepts through constructive oral and written communications.
3.	Identify and appreciate the role of people in management and engineering interdependence.
4.	Develop problem-solving techniques.
5.	Evaluate the impact of decisions on interrelated systems.
6.	Develop skills in collaborative communication and team work
7.	Use project management tools such as WBS, Gantt chart and CPM of network charts.
8.	Consider different ways by which people can be motivated.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) and Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:

• Needs, context and systems - Engineering and IT take place within the larger context of society and the environment, which encompasses social, economic and sustainability needs. (A.0)
• Identify, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs. (A.1)
• Identify constraints, uncertainties and risk of the system (social, cultural, legislative, environmental, business etc.) (A.3)
• Apply systems thinking to understand complex system behaviour including interactions between components and with other systems (social, cultural, legislative, environmental, business etc.) (A.5)
• Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies (B.1)
• Synthesise alternative/innovative solutions, concepts and procedures (B.3)
• Apply decision-making methodologies to evaluate solutions for efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability (B.4)
• Demonstrate research skills (B.6)
• Manage own time and processes effectively by prioritising competing demands to achieve personal goals (Manage self) (D.1)
• Communication and coordination - Engineering and IT practice involves the coordination of a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities to arrive at problem and design solutions. (E.0)
• Communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose. (E.1)
• Work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams within a multi-level, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural setting (E.2)
• Identify and apply relevant project management methodologies (E.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies
Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering Practice should note that this subject contributes to the assurance of Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies: 1.6, 2.1, 2.4, 3.2, 3.6.

Teaching and learning strategies

By their nature, most management practices are not rigid and are not always solved by mathematical equations. The teaching and learning methods together with the assessment items, are designed to allow students to reflect on the management topics covered in this subject, and encourage brainstorming and investigation.

The fundamental approach to learning in this course can be summarised as follows:

• Understand rather than memorise
• Take responsibility for your own learning
• Explore and test ideas, without limiting yourself to textbook situations
• Work collaboratively with others
• Above all, enjoy the experience

To achieve the objectives of this course, a combination of lecture presentations, tutorials and assessment exercises are used. These methods introduce general management principles to students to enable them to critically reflect on how these principles are employed in the real world. Students’ experiences and readings should be reflected through active contributions to class and tutorial discussion to facilitate learning from each other.

Lecture notes, and suggested references, tutorial material and other resources are provided to assist you in this endeavour.

Teaching and learning strategies for standard mode students

Lectures

• Find out what you must learn
• Follow worked examples

Private Study

For each hour of contact it is expected that you will dedicate at least 1.5 hours to private study.

• Review lecture material, textbook and references
• Do any set exercises and assignments
• Join in discussions
• Reflect on class and tutorial material
• Keep up with notices and find out marks

UTSOnline

• Check announcements on any course changes
• Keep up with notices and find out marks
• Check lecture slides
• Use Discussion Boards to communicate with others and to ask questions

Assessment

• Demonstrate your knowledge and skills
• Demonstrate higher understanding and problem solving

Subject Outline

• Find out what you must learn
• Find out what the learning objectives of the subject are

Additional resources for standard mode students

Tutorials

• Practice principles and theories learnt in lectures
• Practice solving set problems
• Ask questions

Additional resources for Distance Mode

By opting to be enrolled as a distance-mode student you have chosen to be an independent learner who is separated from the classroom environment. Hence, some of the teaching strategies (such as tutorials) are different to those used in standard mode.

The objective of the provided tools is to assist and support students in achieving the learning objectives of this subject.

Learning and Reading Material (LRM)

• Expand your knowledge of the topics covered in the subject

The provided LRM in addition to the aforementioned strategies and tools aim to assist and support the independent learning of distance mode students in achieving the learning objectives of this subject.

Content (topics)

This subject includes the following topics in the context of project management:

• Stakeholder Managemnt
• Communication Management
• Project Scope Management
• Estimation
• Time Management
• Developing a Project Plan
• Resource Management
• Risk Management
• Cost Management
• Reducing Project Duration
• Quality and Procurement Management

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Research

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2, 5 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.5, B.3, B.6, E.1 and E.3
Type:	Demonstration
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	20%
Length:	Ten (10) Power point slides and corresponding speaker notes.
Criteria:	Please note: The weighting of Assessment Criteria is approximate; for detailed information, please see your Marking Guide.
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Quality of Discussion - depth & complexity of research, analysis, and synthesis of ideas 50 2, 5 B.3, B.6, E.3 Selected topic directly and comprehensively addressed 20 2, 8 A.5 Grammer, Spelling, and presentation 10 2 E.1 Quality of referencing 10 2 B.6 Professional quality of structure and content of final presentation 10 2 E.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Group Project Report

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.0, A.1, A.3, B.3, B.4, D.1, E.0, E.1 and E.2
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Group, group assessed
Weight:	30%
Length:	3000 words maximum
Criteria:	Please note: The weighting of Assessment Criteria is approximate; for detailed information, please see your Marking Guide.
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Development and application of project planning skills and knowledge 40 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 A.0, A.1, A.3, B.3, B.4, D.1, E.0 Professional quality of structure and content of final report 40 1, 2, 4, 7 E.1 Communication of ideas in presentations 10 2, 6, 7 E.1, E.2 Ability to work in teams 10 6 E.1, E.2 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Final Exam

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs): A.3, B.1, E.1 and E.3
Type:	Examination
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	50%
Criteria:	Please note: The weighting of Assessment Criteria is approximate; for detailed information, please see your Marking Guide.
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Correctness of answers 25 1, 4, 5 A.3, B.1, E.3 Correctness of application of methodology 25 7 B.1, E.3 Knowledge of criteria and issues in questions 25 2 E.1, E.3 Ability to express concepts and information 25 2 E.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Students are advised that a 50% grade in the final exam is a mandatory requirement for passing the subject.

Students who obtain a mark of >= 50% for this subject, but have failed in the final examination will be awarded a Fail (X) grade for this subject.

Recommended texts

Larson E.W., Honig B., Gray C.F., Dantin U., Baccarini D., 2016, Project Management - The Managerial Process,
McGraw - Hill Education, Australia ISBN 9781743071809 (pbk.)

This book is available for purchase through UTS:Co-Op Bookshop or as an e-book through the publisher.

Copies are in UTS:Library and FEIT Building 11 Learning Precinct.

References

Carbone, T.A. 2004. ‘Project Risk Management Using the Project Risk FMEA’, Engineering Management Journal, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 28–35.

Crawford, J. 2002. Project Management Maturity Model: Providing a Proven Path to Project Management Excellence, Marcel Dekker, New York.

Fleming, Q. & Koppelman, J. 2006. Earned Value Management, Project Management Institute, 3rd ed., Project Management Institute; 3rd edition (February 2006).

Flyvbjerg, B. 2006. ‘From Nobel Prize to Project Management: Getting Risks Right’, Project Management Journal, Research Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 3, Special PMI Research Conference Edition, August 2006.

Gonçalves, M. 2005. Managing Virtual Projects, McGraw-Hill, New York.

Grant, K. & Pennypacker, S. 2006. ‘Project Management Maturity: An Assessment of Project Management Capabilities Among and Between Selected Industries’, IEEE Transactions On Engineering Management, vol. 53, no. 1.

Gray, C. F. & Larson E. W. 2006. Project Management: the Management Process, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York.

Kerzner, H. 2005. Project Management, A systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling, 9th ed., Wiley.

Kerzner, H. 2006. Project Management Case Studies, McGraw-Hill.

Kwak,Y. & Ibbs, C. 2000. ‘Calculating project management’s return on investment’, Project Management Journal, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 38–47.

Leach, L. 2004. Critical Chain Project Management, 2nd ed., Artech House Publishers.

Leach, L. 2006. Lean Project Management: Eight Principles for Success, BookSurge Publishing, New York.

Lewis, J. 2005. Fundamentals of Project Management, 3rd ed., AMACOM/American Management Association.

Lloyd, S. & Simpson, A. 2005. ‘Project Management in Multi-Disciplinary Collaborative Research’, 2005 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference Proceedings.

Loch, C., Meyer, A. & Pich, M. 2006. Managing the Unknown: a New Approach to Managing High Uncertainty and Risk in Projects, Wiley, New York.

Lock, D. 2003. Project Management, 8th edition, Gower, Vermont.

Loosemore, M. 2006. Risk management in projects, 2nd ed., Taylor and Francis, London.

Meredith, J. & Mantel, S. 2005. Project Management: A Managerial Approach, 6th ed., Wiley.

Pollock, S. 2005. ‘Create a Simple Framework to Validate FMEA Performance,’ Six Sigma Forum Magazine, August 2005.

Project Management Institute 2004. Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd ed.

Rad, P. & Levin, G. 2003. Achieving Project Management Success Using Virtual Teams, J. Ross, Publishing.

Regev, S. Shtub, A. & Ben-Haim, Y. 2006. ‘Managing Project Risks as Knowledge Gaps’, Project Management Journal, Research Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 5.

Rozenes, S., Vitner, G. & Spraggett S. 2006. ‘Project Control: Literature Review’, Project Management Journal, Research Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 4.

Taylor, H. 2006. ‘Risk Management and Problem Resolution Strategies for IT Projects: Prescription and Practice’, Project Management Journal, Research Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 5.

Wysocki, R. F. 2006. Effective Project Management: Traditional, Adaptive, Extreme, 4th ed., Wiley.

Other resources

Lectures and Reading Material (LRM)

Students will downlaod teaching and reading material through UTSOnline