[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • describe the characteristics and phases of a project and its life cycle and explain the role played by the project manager;
  • explain the need for and develop specific goals, detailed plans and control strategies in large scale projects and relate this to the major reasons for the failure of IT projects;
  • explain and use standard project management techniques including Project Networks, Critical Path Analysis and Management, Gantt Charts and Time-Phased Budgets for high and low level project planning;
  • discuss the communication, people handling and team management skills required of a project manager and explain some of the techniques that may be employed;
  • explain the processes involved in selecting and initiating a project and prepare various critical documents required for these processes, including financial justification;
  • explain the importance of resource availability on project plans and develop and manage resource constrained project plans;
  • describe the need for Quality Management in projects and explain, compare and use various techniques currently employed by professional project managers;
  • describe the impact of risk on a project managers decision process, explain how that risk may be managed and/or mitigated and develop an appropriate risk management plan;
  • develop relevant, achievable and measurable project goals;
  • identify and critically discuss the impact on a project of external influences, including organisational structure, and stakeholders;
  • monitor the progress of a project, determine performance against the plan, develop strategies to manage any variation and discuss formal change control processes;
  • produce useful, informative progress reports for various project stakeholders and conduct stage and post project reviews.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Project Selection, Charter and Network Development & Crashing 20% Week 9 - Friday (by 4pm for printed copy submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), 23 September, 2011
Assignment 2: A Microsoft Project Case Study 20% Week 12 - Friday (by 4pm for printed copy submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), 21 October, 2011
Examination 1 60% To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Recommended Resources

Microsoft Project 2010

This software is freely available through MSDNAA infotech, where a link is provided:  http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/itssupport/msdnaa.html

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment is undertaken in week 0
1 Unit overview and Introduction to project management No tutorial on week 1
2 Project selection Tutorial 1
3 Project initiation Tutorial 2
4 Project work breakdown structure Tutorial 3
5 Project activity planning and project networks Tutorial 4
6 Project network calculations and project crashing Tutorial 5
7 Project crashing calculations and resource scheduling Tutorial 6
8 Project cost management Tutorial 7
9 Project quality and risk management Tutorial 8 and Assignment 1 is due Friday (by 4PM for Printed Copy Submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), September 23, 2011
10 Project HR, communication, and procurement management Tutorial 9
11 Project monitoring, control, and closure management Tutorial 10
12 Contemporary project management issues and exam overview Tutorial 11 & Sample exam review. Assignment 2 is due Friday (by 4PM for Printed Copy Submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), October 21, 2011
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Project Selection, Charter and Network Development & Crashing
    Description:
    This is an individual project. 
    The assignment is designed to demonstrate a student's:

    a) understanding of project initiation, in particular the preparation of a project charter,
    b) ability to apply techniques to evaluate financial attractiveness of a project,
    c) develop network diagrams based on project activities, and
    d) ability to perform network crashing techniques

    Students must submit calculations to address project selection issues by preparing economic attractiveness of the project, submit a project charter, prepare a network diagram and perform network crashing.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The following broad criteria will be followed for evaluating student assignments:

    a) Correctness of calculations

    b) How well project charter is developed in line with the standard project management principles

    c) How well project networks are developed in line with the standard project management principles

    d) degree of clarity

    e) Depth of explanations provided

    Due date:
    Week 9 - Friday (by 4pm for printed copy submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), 23 September, 2011
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2: A Microsoft Project Case Study
    Description:
    This is an individual assignment. Use MS Project software to plan and control a medium sized project. A case description will be provided. The aim of this assignment is for students to demonstrate their knowledge of MS Project and general project planning and project management principles.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The following broad criteria will be followed for evaluating student assignments:

    a) Degree of accuracy in project planning 

    b) Degree of clarity

    c) Degree of comprehensiveness in project planning and control

    d) Depth of explanations offered

    Due date:
    Week 12 - Friday (by 4pm for printed copy submission for on-campus students, by 5pm in Moodle for electronic submission), 21 October, 2011

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    60%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None
    Remarks:
    Normally in three sections.

    Section A: Is composed of several short discussion questions where students are given choices. 
    Section B: Includes mini-cases where students are asked to answer all questions.
    Section C: Contains several problem solving exercises where students are asked to answer all questions. 

    There will be no Microsoft Project based exercises in the exam paper.

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Extensions and penalties

Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

Returning assignments

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Key educational policies include:

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

READING LIST:

a) Schwalbe K (2009) Introduction to Project Management, Edition: 2ed, Thomson Course Technology

b) Schwalbe, K. (2010) Information Technology Project Management, Kathy Schwalbe, 6th Edition, Thomson Course Technology

c) Bunin R & Biheller (2010) New Perspectives on Microsoft Project 2010 Introductory, Edition: 2010, Cengage Learning

[an error occurred while processing this directive]