Course Title: Risk and Project Management

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Risk and Project Management

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

OENG1117

City Campus

Postgraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr Lei Hou

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 03 9925 9531

Course Coordinator Email: lei.hou@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will study advanced concepts of risk and the ISO31000 risk management standards within an engineering context. You will identify risk evaluation tools relevant to engineering and technology-based problems. The risk assessment process is then applied to customer-driven project management via the design and development of project proposals. You will develop specific skills in project management systems and explore related commercial business strategies at different risk levels. In addition the course develops the knowledge, skills and their application necessary to manage technology-based projects (e.g. large civil infrastructure, environmental upgrade projects, new technology and product introduction). You will consider the relationship between projects and risk, including project planning, project control and mitigation plans. The course covers areas such as: philosophy and concepts of advanced project planning and control, the project life cycle, organisational behaviour, performance measurement and evaluation and systems and procedures for project management.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

This course contributes to development of the following program learning outcomes:

1. Needs, Context and Systems

- Identify and assess risks (including OH&S) as well as the economic, social and environmental impacts of engineering activities


2. Problem Solving and Design

- Anticipate the consequences of intended action or inaction and understand how the consequences are managed collectively by your organisation, project or team
- Develop and operate within a hazard and risk framework appropriate to engineering activities


4. Professional Practice

- Initiate, plan, lead or manage engineering activities
- Apply systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects
- Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership
- Demonstrate orderly management of self, and professional conduct.


5. Research

- Acknowledge (clearly) your own contributions and the contributions from others and distinguish contributions you may have made as a result of discussions or collaboration with other people

 


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Critically apply advanced concepts of risk to a project management scenario and propose appropriate tools to assess risk.
    2. Integrate project management and risk practices to critically assess project designs using authentic proposal/expression of interest documentation.
    3. Develop project appraisal proposals to assess aspects of a project in response to a variety of client project briefing documents, utilising project management tools and techniques.
    4. Reflect on the impact of organisational context and behaviour, group processes, teamwork, individual practice communication strategies and professional conduct in the realisation of successful, collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects.
     


Overview of Learning Activities

The course activities are structured around lectures, tutorials, case studies and workshop discussions, and presentations


Overview of Learning Resources

Course-related resources will be provided on Blackboard, which is accessed through myRMIT. This can include lecture material, supplementary course notes, problem sheets and solutions, and references.


Overview of Assessment

A proposal of a real world engineering design and development project will be provided to the class at the beginning of the semester. Students will form syndicate groups and work on the follow three assessment tasks.

Assessment Task 1: Risk Assessment Report (Individual Assessment)
Weighting of final grade: 30%         
Related course learning outcomes:  1, 3, 4
Description:  You will submit a proposal for risk assessment of an engineering design and development project, based on a critical review of advanced concepts and practices in risk assessment and project management.
Due Date: Week 4

Assessment Task 2:  Project Appraisal Report (Group Assessment)
Weighting of final grade:  50%        
Related course learning outcomes:  2, 3, 4
Description:  You will submit a group report on your work assessing the feasibility of an engineering design and development project. You need to apply the economics and non-economics based appraisal techniques to assess the viability of the proposed project.
Due Date: Week 12

Assessment Task 3:  Presentation (Individual Assessment)
Weighting of final grade: 20%         
Related course learning outcomes: 1,  2,  3, 4
Description:  You will present and defend whether the proposed engineering design and development project should be supported based on the risk assessment and project appraisal work that your group have undertaken.
Due Date: Week 11