This unit focuses on a holistic approach to project management. It provides students with a high level of understanding of the processes of project management, as well as sound skills in use of project tools. Proficiency in using key tools and concepts could give students a significant competitive advantage in the market place. The content deals with: concepts and definitions; organising and staffing the project office and team; planning, scheduling techniques; cost control; risk management; contracts and procurement; etc. Case studies, articles of interest that may appear in current media, and students' own work experiences with project management, will be discussed in the class to optimise the learning opportunity in the unit.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Study schedule for off-campus students:
(c.) Additional requirements (all students):
See also Unit timetable information
FIT5022, MBA9052
Sue Foster
Mark Wallace
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
Based on previous student feedback this unit has been updated: all tests have been removed and these have been replaced with a final exam.
In accordance with student feedback further changes include tutorial hours increasing from 1 hour per lecture to 2 hours per lecture. Students rated their satisfaction with the way the tutorial activities were conducted as 3.70.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Introduction to Project Management | Tutorial exercise/case study. Resource: Chapter 1/2 |
| 2 | Overview of Project Management | Tutorial exercises/case studies. Resource: Chapter 1/2. Assignment 1 handed out |
| 3 | Project Selection and initiation | Tutorial exercises. Working on assignment. Resource: Chapter 4 |
| 4 | Project scope management and HR | Tutorial exercises. Resource: Chapter 5 |
| 5 | Project time management | Tutorial exercises/case studies. Resource: Chapter 6 |
| 6 | Project cost management | Tutorial exercises/case studies. Resource: Chapter 6 |
| 7 | Risk Management | Assignment 1 due Monday 20 April 2015 at 4.00 pm. Assignment 2 handed out. In teams working on assignment: Resource: Chapter 8 |
| 8 | Project Quality management | Tutorial exercise. Resource: Chapter 7. Working on assignment |
| 9 | Project procurement management | Tutorial exercises/case studies. Resource: Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Project performance - expected business benefits - metrics, KPIs | Tutorial exercises/case studies |
| 11 | Project execution, monitoring and control | Tutorial exercise/case study. Resource: Chapter 10/11/12. Working on assignment. Assignment 2 due Friday 22 May 2015 at 4.00 pm |
| 12 | Guest speaker and wrap up | Exam review |
| 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.
Examination (3 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: Business Case | 35% | Monday 20 April 2015 at 4.00 pm |
| Assignment 2: Risk Management Report | 25% | Friday 22 May 2015 at 4.00 pm |
| Examination 1 | 40% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
1. Students in their groups will develop a business case from a template provided in the assignment. The businiess case will be assessed via a detailed marking guide marked by the tutor.
2. Teams are expected to write up minutes of meetings, timesheets for each team member and complete a project plan which is presented in the form of a Gantt chart. These items are evaluated by the tutor and included in the marking guide. Meeting and timesheet templates are provided with examples.
3. Each individual member of the team is to complete a confidential peer review handed in separately to their tutor. This is evaluated by each team member out of five and the mark averaged by the number of team members. Where major discrepancies occur teams will be required to arrange a meeting to discuss any issues with the lecturer and the tutor or head tutor.
1. Students in their groups will develop a risk management report from a template. The risk management report will be assessed via a detailed marking guide marked by the tutor.
2. Teams are expected to write up minutes of meetings, timesheets for each team member and complete a project plan which is presented in the form of a Gantt chart. These items are evaluated by the tutor and included in the marking guide. Meeting and timesheet templates are provided with examples.
3. Each individual member of the team is to complete a confidential peer review handed in separately to their tutor. This is evaluated out of five by each team member and the mark averaged by the number of team members. Where major discrepancies occur team will be required to arrange a meeting to discuss any issues with the lecturer and the tutor or head tutor.
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
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.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
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.
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.
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.
There are two options available for you to purchase the prescribed text: ie via the bookshop or directly online - these options are discussed below.
1. The price of this book is approximately $175.00 if purchased from the Caulfield bookshop. Students who would prefer to purchase this book from the bookshop register their names with the bookshop by Friday of week 2 of semester 1. The bookshop will order the required number of texts for you.
2. However if you purchase this book directly from the Purdue Press website you can purchase it for $136 (at the current exchange rate). The more expensive rate is due to import duties imposed on the bookshop.
This is the link to the book on the publishers website http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/format/9781557536631.
In the meantime there are e-copies of this book in the library - which you will be able to download to view only for 7 days.
Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.
Jeffrey L Brewer and Kevin C Dittman. (2013). Methods of IT Project Management. (2nd Edition) Purdue University Press (ISBN: 3: 9781557536631).
Microsoft Project, or similar software.
Microsoft Project can be obtained from:
http://infotech.monash.edu/itsupport/msdnaa.html
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
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
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 http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Malaysia see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.