Course Title: Manage complex projects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: BUSM7779C

Course Title: Manage complex projects

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5194 - Diploma of Information Technology (General)

Course Contact : Catherine Han Lin

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1336

Course Contact Email:catherinehan.lin@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Course Contact: Nawal Shomali
Phone: +61 3 9925 5826
Email: nawal.shomali@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 80

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

None

This course is co-delivered and co-assessed holistically along with three (3) other competencies:

(ICAS5202B) COSC 6065C Ensure Privacy for Users, (ICAP5039B) COSC 6067C Match IT needs with the strategic directions of the enterprise, (ICAA5158B) COSC 6066C Translate Business Needs into Technical Requirements.
 

Course Description

This unit covers management of projects that may be reasonably complex in terms of scope, degree of risk, political, cultural and social factors that apply consequences of failure and degree of control of the projects. It includes managing start up, project implementation, project integration and follow up activities.

If you are undertaking this course in Melbourne from semester 2, 2012 onward your class will be held in a device-equipped teaching space. Each student group will have access to a laptop. It is however recommended that you have access to a mobile computing device to allow greater flexibility in terms of where you can work on campus both in and outside class times.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

PSPPM502B Manage complex projects

Element:

1. Manage start-up activities

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Project plans are refined in consultation with steering committee and team members, and precise details are included for schedules of activities, milestones and resources
1.2. Required systems are established and maintained throughout the project in accordance with the complexity of the project and in line with the project plan
1.3. Project team members' understanding of and commitment to fulfilling the project requirements and their roles and responsibilities for the duration of the project are confirmed
1.4. Project management tools are selected and applied effectively to achieve project outcomes

Element:

2. Manage project implementation

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Integration and management of complex project activities are handled in accordance with the project plan
2.2. Leadership and required development are provided to the project team, and morale, stress levels and triggers are managed throughout the life of the project in accordance with organisational policy and procedures
2.3. Stakeholder input and expectations are managed throughout the project in accordance with the communication plan
2.4. Disagreements and disputes are resolved to the satisfaction of stakeholders or referred to a higher authority in accordance with organisational policy and procedures
2.5. Project change proposals are negotiated, agreed and documented in accordance with policy and procedures

Element:

3. Manage project integration

Performance Criteria:

3.1. All aspects of the project and related projects are integrated and links are established to ensure objectives are met in accordance with the project plan
3.2. Consultation and reporting mechanisms are applied in accordance with the communication plan and staff and contractors are regularly consulted to discuss progress and ensure effective results
3.3. Project integration is monitored, and management plans and any related contracts are reviewed and amended as appropriate, with results reported in accordance with mechanisms identified in the communication plan
3.4. Ongoing progress is monitored against agreed milestones in accordance with the project plan to provide a measure of performance throughout the life of the project
3.5. Programmed review of objectives and achievement is planned and implemented in accordance with the project plan

Element:

4. Coordinate project follow-up activities

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Significant judgment is applied in the analysis of project deliverables against specifications, performance standards and project objectives, and the results are reported to stakeholders
4.2. Support package arrangements are identified and offered to stakeholders who will be required to apply the project results
4.3. Options for stakeholders to take account of environmental and cultural factors in applying the project results are included in the support package
4.4. Operational and support authorities are consulted to investigate any testing/trialling/building and evaluation requirements resulting from the project, and funding implications estimated in project report


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Students will be exposed to a variety of learning activities, such as:

  • Theory sessions
  • practical lab sessions
  • tutorial sessions
  • assignments and homework


Teaching Schedule

The total number of scheduled hours of teaching, learning and assessment involved in this course will include all planned activities. This may incorporate face-to-face classes, lectures, workshops and seminars; wherever possible workplace visits, online learning and other forms of structured teaching and learning. The total scheduled hours includes the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including observation of work performance, discussions with supervisors and others providing third party evidence and one on one and group assessment sessions with students.

All elements for this competency are covered every week (Elements 1-4)

Week  Week commencing  Topic/Learning Activities  Assessment Tasks  National Codes
 1  07/02/2011  Introduction to PM & Process groups  Teacher handouts in-class exercises  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A

 2

  14/02/2011  Problem solving and Systems Development Life Cycle.
 Meeting Program Needs		 Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 3  21/02/2011  Project Management Knowledge Areas  Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 4  28/02/2011  Project Management Knowledge Areas  Class exercises / projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 5  07/03/2011  Project Management Knowledge Areas
 Form project teams		  Class exercises / projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 6  14/03/2011  Teamwork & Project Planning  Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 7  21/03/2011  Project planning contd. &
 commence Project Implementation		  Client interview and team contract due (10%)  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 8  28/03/2011  Project Work - PM  Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 9  04/04/2011  Project Work - PM  Project investigation documentation due (10%)  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 10  11/04/2011  Project Work - PM  Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
 ICAP5039A
 PSPPM502B
 ICAA5158A
 11  18/04/2011  Project Work - PM  Class exercises projects  ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
     Mid semester Easter break Wed 21st April – Thurs 27th April, 2011
11 25/04/2011 (25th Apr, public holiday) Project Work - PM Class exercises projects ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
12 2/05/2011 Project Work - PM Class exercises projects ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
13 09/05/2011 Project Work - PM Project reports Due (20%) ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
 14  16/05/2011 Project Closure Project management portfolio Due (20%) ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
 15  24/05/2011 Project Closure  Project Closure ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A
16 30/05/2011 The product - Presentations (20%) and Final graded assessment (20%)
ICAS5202A
ICAP5039A
PSPPM502B
ICAA5158A

Students who have been granted special consideration or are required to resubmit, will be able to submit/sit their assessment by arrangement with the class teacher in weeks 17 or 18.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Schwalbe, K. 2011, Information Technology Project Management, 6th ed. Revised Thomson Course Technology, Boston, Mass.

9781111221751

References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
• demonstration of techniques
 


Assessment Tasks


Assessment Number-Due Week Assessment Description Maximum % grade allocated
1. Client Interview & Team contract
Week 7 1. Compile business needs
2. Determine technical requirements
3. Evaluate current business strategy
4. Evaluate impact of changes CA / NYC – 10%
2. Project investigation Week 9 1. Develop action plans
2. Secure sign off for technical requirements and solutions CA / NYC – 10%
3. Project reports Week 13 1. Status report s
2. Progress reports
3. Other necessary reports CA / NYC – 20%
4. Project management portfolio
Week 14 1. Manage start-up activities
2. Manage project implementation
3. Manage project integration CA / NYC – 20%
5. The product – Presentation Week 16 1. Coordinate project follow-up activities
2. Review privacy policy in relation to legislation
3. Determine policy shortfalls
4. Update and review policies CA / NYC – 20%
6. Final Graded Assessment Week 16 This assessment is a graded assessment where learners can demonstrate a higher level of understanding. 20%


Assessment Matrix

PSPPM502B -
Manage Complex Projects
Assessment 1
(CA / NYC)
(10%)		 Assessment 2
(CA / NYC)
(10%) 		Assessment 3
(CA / NYC)
(20%)		 Assessment 4
Privacy Recommendation
Report
(CA/NYC)
(20%) 		Assessment 5
Final Project reports
and Presentations
(CA/NYC)
(20%)		 Assessment 6
( for grading
purposes only)
(20%)
Element 1:
Manage start-up activities		 V  V  V       
Element 2:
Manage project implementation		      V V V   
Element 3:
Manage project integration		      V V  V   
Element 4:
Coordinate project follow-up activities		        V V   
 

Other Information

Competency and grading requirements
To be deemed competent students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of each competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks.
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
All assessments for this course must be completed to achieve CA (Competency Achieved) grade.
Each assessment task will also carry a numerical weighting to be used for grading purposes. The grade applied to this weighting will only be awarded if a CA has been achieved in all compulsory assessment tasks.
If a student has been marked NYC (Not Yet Competent) in any of the assessment tasks, the weighting will carry no value until the student has obtained CA.
If a CA is achieved on re-assessment then a maximum mark of 50% of the original weighting will be granted for that assessment.
Reassessments will only be granted to students who were either unsuccessful in the first attempt or have an approved special consideration application.
An final graded assessment worth 20% will be offered to students who have achieved CA

Course Overview: Access Course Overview