Course Title: Support small scale IT projects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2014

Course Code: BUSM7885C

Course Title: Support small scale IT projects

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4299 - Certificate IV in Information Technology Networking

Course Contact: Geoff Moss

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4852

Course Contact Email: geoff.moss@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this course.

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to support the management of low risk, straightforward information technology (IT) projects within an organisation.

This unit applies to information and communications technology (ICT) practitioners who need to support the initiation, implementation and completion of small-scale IT projects. The projects can range across a wide range of ICT related financial, management and business areas. The provision of support within these projects is a key component of ICT environments.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICAPMG401A Support small scale IT projects

Element:

1. Support project commencement

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Confirm business opportunity to ensure the project objectives are understood
1.2 Identify stakeholders and gather requirements
1.3 Prepare a project charter or project proposal and obtain agreement from project sponsor

Element:

2. Support project plan development

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Break down the requirements to identify tasks and resources needed to complete the project plan
2.2 Compile a schedule of project tasks, including realistic timeframes and costs if required
2.3 Allocate task responsibilities to project team members
2.4 Agree on a process with the sponsor to manage risks or unexpected events that may arise and affect project objectives or expectations

Element:

3. Support project completion

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Work with project team to ensure project activities meet timeframe, scope, cost and quality expectations
3.2 Monitor and control project risks and issues according to the agreed process
3.3 Verify that project deliverables meet project expectations and sign off as complete
3.4 Train users if applicable

Element:

4. Support project closure

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Prepare IT support or maintenance documents if applicable
4.2 Obtain final project sign-off from sponsor and key stakeholders
4.3 Document lessons learned and close the project

Learning Outcomes


Activities in this course aim to develop your communication skills in negotiating with clients and stakeholders and to introduce you to project management skills and tasks. You will work as part of a team to ascertain the needs and expectations of a client in developing a project. In designing the project you will be required to identify the tasks and resources needed to complete the project and develop a project plan that will involve a costings plan and a project management tool – a Gannt chart. You will then implement this project plan to complete the project.

The Internet will be used as a learning tool and a resource for students to seek and locate relevant information.

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Identify stakeholders within an organisation
  • cope the task
  • Set project objectives
  • Provide cost estimates
  • Develop a budget within a task prescription
  • Understand milestones and predecessors
  • Undertake resource management
  • Develop a schedule or timeline
  • Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS)
  • Develop a simple Gannt chart
  • Relate work in this course to the work in other courses within the cluster.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning Activities
Activities in this course are aimed at enhancing student understanding and knowledge of the concepts of simple project management and its application in the workplace and the IT profession.

The Internet and YouTube videos will be used as a learning tool and a resource for students to seek and locate relevant information.
Learning activities may be modified during the semester to meet the needs of students in the current program and, in the case of trainees, the needs of their workplace.

Activities will include:

  • Classroom discussion
  • Classroom activities and Activity Tasks
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Case Studies
  • Internet research
  • Online courses
  • Integrated Assignment and Project

Specifically for trainees:

  • Work-based activities and tasks
  • Observation and discussion in the workplace 


Teaching Schedule

WeeksTopic/sSoftware / ReadingPractical TasksAssessment
1 Introduction to topic.
Overview of course		      
2 Basic project management concepts and terms Lynda.com Course 1 Lynda.com Course 1  
3   Lynda.com Course 1 Lynda.com Course 1 Lynda.com Course 1 certificate
4 Fundamentals of Project management Lynda.com Course 2 Lynda.com Course 2  
5   Lynda.com Course 2 Lynda.com Course 2 Lynda.com Course 2 certificate
6 Excel spreadsheets - introduction, functions Excel; class and Blackboard notes Excel exercises  
7 Developing Invoices for business using Excel Excel; class and Blackboard notes Invoices Invoice
8 Project Introduction      
9 Scoping the project Excel; class and Blackboard notes  Scoping document 

Project proposal
Project Scoping document
10 Work Breakdown Structure Excel; class and Blackboard notes  WBS document  Work Breakdown Structure
11 Gannt Chart  Excel; class and Blackboard notes  Gannt charts  
12 Gannt chart  Excel; class and Blackboard notes   Gannt charts  Draft Gannt chart  
13 Costings; Invoice Excel; class and Blackboard notes   Costings sheet; Invoice  Costings and Invoice 
14 Risk Analysis  Excel; class and Blackboard notes   Risk Analysis document  Risk Analysis document  
15 Development of final draft and proposal Word and Excel software; class and Blackboard notes    
16 Development of final draft and proposal Word and Excel software; class and Blackboard notes  Gannt chart Final Proposal
17 Evaluation and closure of project class and Blackboard notes    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

  • Class Notes
  • Lynda.com courses (as specified on Blackboard)
  • PowerPoint presentations on Learning Hub;
  • Internet
  • Case studies
  • Newspaper and Internet news extracts
     


Overview of Assessment

The competency based Assessment will consist of a range of class activities and the completion of an Integrated Project where you will be a member of a team. The integrated tasks will be assessed within a cluster of courses as well as being assessed individually for this course.

The assessment will involve both in-class and group-based elements. It will also involve observation of your understanding, knowledge and practice of the elements in both the theoretical and practical environment.

You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. 


Assessment Tasks

Individually, you will complete two Lynda.com courses as specified in course information on Blackboard.

  1. Lynda.com course 1
  2. Lynda.com course 2

As a member of a team you will produce the following:

  1. Project Proposal
  2. Scoping document
  3. Work Breakdown Structure
  4. Draft Gannt Chart
  5. Costings and Invoice
  6. Risk Analysis
  7. Final Draft and Proposal documents
  8. Evaluation and Close documentation


Assessment Matrix

CriteriaPractical TasksIn Class / Work ObservationIndividual/Group WorkProject/Assignment
1.1 x   x x
1.2 x x x x
1.3     x x
2.1 x x x x
2.2 x x x x
2.3   x x x
2.4 x x x x
3.1   x   x
3.2   x x x
3.3 x x x x
3.4   x x x
4.1 x x x x
4.2     x x
4.3 x   x x

Other Information

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview