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Monash University

FIT2002 Project management - Semester 1, 2015

This unit introduces students to the many concepts, tools and techniques for managing information technology projects. Exploring traditional and agile approaches for managing projects, topics include project lifecycles, project planning, project scheduling, team building, risk management, time and quality management. A case study approach will be used to provide learning opportunities, with an emphasis on the unique aspects of information technology projects.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • One 2-hour lecture
  • One 2-hour laboratory

(b.) Study schedule for off-campus students:

  • Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions, however should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week.

(c.) Additional requirements (all students):

  • a minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

See also Unit timetable information

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

AFW3043, BEW3640, BUS2176, CIV3205, CPE2006, CSE2203, GCO3807, GEG3104, GSE3003, FIT3086, MGW2700, MMS2203

Prerequisites

Completion of at least 24 points of level one study or equivalent.

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Karan Pedramrazi

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 the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. 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, see:

www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

In response to student feedback, the unit has been revised with an IT project management focus and less accounting. Assignments have been redesigned to develop project management aspects.

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

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:
  1. describe the Project Management Body of Knowledge;
  2. discuss the unique attributes and diverse nature of IT projects;
  3. create a project plan;
  4. use project management techniques and tools to manage a small-scale project.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to project management  
2 Project/product lifecycles and organisational structures  
3 Project selection and intitiation Confirm business problem/solution
4 Project scope and human resources Quiz
5 Project time management Project Plan - Part 1 due
6 Project cost management Quiz
7 Project risk management  
8 Project quality management Quiz
9 Project communication and procurement management  
10 Project execution, monitoring and control Quiz
11 Project closure; guest speaker Project Plan - Part 2 due
12 Guest speaker and wrap up Quiz
  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 learning system.

Teaching Approach

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

Assessment Summary

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

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Project Plan - Part 1 10% Week 5
Project Plan - Part 2 20% (15% Plan - Part 2, 5% video presentation) Week 11
Quizzes 10% Weeks 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Examination 1 60% To be advised

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Project Plan - Part 1
    Description:
    In teams of two, you will identify a business problem and propose an information technology solution for the business problem. You will need to confirm your business problem and proposed solution with your tutor by week 3. For the business problem and proposed solution you will need to describe the business problem and solution, describe the expected benefits, identify the project methodology, and identify the project scope and stakeholders.
    Weighting:
    10%
    Criteria for assessment:
    • How well the problem and solution are described.
    • How well the methodology is justified.
    • Quality of the analysis.
    • Report presentation.

    Team members will be awarded the same mark with adjustments made for each team member based on peer assessment.

    Due date:
    Week 5
    Remarks:
    You must confirm your business problems and proposed solution with your tutor by week 3.
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Project Plan - Part 2
    Description:
    Continuing on your proposed information technology solution for a business problem, you will need to prepare a schedule, create risk management and communication plans, and prepare a video presentation (approximately 5 minutes) of your identified problem and how you will manage your proposed solution. The purpose of the video presentation is to communicate to the business owner that project is feasible.
    Weighting:
    20% (15% Plan - Part 2, 5% video presentation)
    Criteria for assessment:
    • How well the plan is organised and presented.
    • Quality of the analysis.
    • Justification of the schedule and risks
    • Quality and feasibility of the communication plan
    • Quality of, and how well the information is communicated in the video presentation.

    Team members will be awarded the same mark with adjustments made for each team member based on peer assessment.

    Due date:
    Week 11
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Quizzes
    Description:
    There are five online quizzes consisting of randomly generated multiple choice questions on project management topics.
    Weighting:
    10%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Accuracy of answers

    Due date:
    Weeks 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    60%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    Calculators - Non Programmable

Learning resources

Reading list

Schwalbe, K. (2013) Information Technology Project Management, Kathy Schwalbe, 7th Edition, Cengage Learning

Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, by Harold Kerzner, 2013, 11th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Australia

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMBOK 5th Edition. 2013. Project Management Institute. (Available as an e-book)

ICT project management: ICT projects demand human skills. (2014, Dec 07). Sunday Business Post

Almgren, K. (2014). Information technology project management processes and practices: A comprehensive study for successful implementation of IT projects. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 5(11)

Project management; studies in the area of project management reported from monash university. (2014). Technology & Business Journal, , 1802.

Patanakul, P. (2014). Managing large-scale IS/IT projects in the public sector: Problems and causes leading to poor performance. The Journal of High Technology Management Research. 25(1)

Peslak, A.R. (2012). Information Technology Project Management and Project Success. International Journal of Information Technology and Project Success. 3(3)

Thomas, G., & Fernandez, W. (2008). Success in IT projects: A matter of definition?26(7)

Katzen, B. (2001). Project mismanagement. Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. 72(7)

Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

Feedback to you

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:

  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Quiz results

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-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 electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Required Resources

Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.

You can purchase the prescribed text by:

  1. Placing an order online BY 13 March 2015 at http://www.thecampusbookstore.com/Products?q=9781557536631,
  2. Contacting the Campus Bookstore via phone on (03) 8573 5300, email on caulfield@thecampusbookstore.com, or come in store BY 13 March 2015.
  3. Ordering direct from the publisher at http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/format/9781557536631

The prescribed text is also available to borrow as an eBook in the library.

Prescribed text(s)

Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.

Brewer, J.L., & Dittman, K.C.,. (2013). Methos of IT project management. (2nd Edition) Purdue University Press.

Recommended Resources

Microsoft Project 2013. Download from http://msdnaa.monash.edu.au/fit and install on your own computer.

This software is available in student labs (please confirm with your tutor during tutorials).

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: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Faculty resources and policies

Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

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.

Other

Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies

This unit is a core unit in the Bachelor of Software Engineering accredited by Engineers Australia. Engineers Australia Accreditation Policy of Professional Engineering Programs requires that programs demonstrate how engineering graduates are prepared for entry to the profession and achieve Stage 1 competencies. The following information describes how this unit contributes to the development of these competencies for the Bachelor of Software Engineering. (Note: not all competencies may be emphasised in this unit).

Stage 1 competency How the compency is developed in this unit
 1. Knowledge and Skills base  
 1.1. Comprehension, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. Not covered in this unit
 1.2. Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences, which underpin the engineering discipline. Some aspects on statistical evaluation and decision making techniques and tools for project management are covered and applied.
 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. Not covered in this unit.
 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within th engineering discipline. Not covered in this unit.

 1.5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.

Lecture and tutorial cover aspects of contextual factors that impact on the projects and on decision making.
 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. Materials cover fundamental principles of project management, including planning and organising resources, as well as risk management./td>
 2. Engineering application ability  
 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. Some aspects are covered by the unit - in terms of the application of project management principles to problem solving.
 2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. Not covered in this unit.;
 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. Not covered in this unit.
 2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. Not covered in this unit.
 3. Professional and personal attributes  
 3.1. Ethical conduct and professional accountability. The unit addresses issues on risk management and professional accountability in IT projects.
 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. Students are expected to communicate effectively when developing solutions to projects. This includes oral and written communication in the form of stakeholder presentation and project documentation.
 3.3. Creative, innovative and proactive demeanour. Students will develop creative and innovative information technology solutions for business problems.
 3.4. Professional use and management of information. Not covered in this unit.
 3.5. Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. Students will need to prepare a professional presentation for their business information technology solution. To achieve this they will need to manage their self.
 3.6. Effective team membership and team leadership. Students will work in teams, and study team management and leadership skills in relation to leading information technology projects.

Relationship between Unit Learning Outcomes and BSE Course Outcomes

No. CO 1 CO 2 CO 3 CO 4 CO 5 CO 6 CO 7 C0 8 CO 9 CO 10 CO 11 CO 12 CO 13
 1    X                X      
 2    X                X      
 3    X X     X X  X  X  X  X  X  
 4  X                X  X      

Relationship between Unit Learning Outcomes and Assessments

No. Assignments Quizzes Practical Exercises Exam
1    X    X
2    X    X
3  X      X
4  X      X
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