Course Title: Manage IT projects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: BUSM6459C

Course Title: Manage IT projects

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5300 - Diploma of Information Technology

Course Contact : Swati Dave

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925-5811

Course Contact Email:swati.dave@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

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

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage information technology (IT) projects within a medium to large organisation. 

This unit is delivered using a blend of classroom based and self-paced learning activities.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICAPMG501A Manage IT projects

Element:

1. Manage project definition activities

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Confirm organisational project governance policy and processes
1.2 Confirm business problem or opportunity as well as project objectives
1.3 Develop project charter, including preliminary statement of project scope and obtain sign-off
1.4 Conduct a feasibility study and prepare a business case as necessary

Element:

2. Undertake project planning

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Plan information-gathering activities to determine project requirements, constraints and risks
2.2 Identify project partitioning on the basis of intended system development life cycle and risk
2.3 Prepare project work breakdown, schedule and budget
2.4 Compile project-management plan documents as necessary to communicate the intended management strategy for the project and obtain sign-off

Element:

4. Manage project execution activities

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Monitor delivery and acceptance of assigned project team work activities and manage individuals as necessary
4.2 Monitor and control the quality of project deliverables
4.3 Monitor and control project scope changes, risks and issues
4.4 Manage system testing and hand-over activities

Element:

3. Establish the IT project team

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify and select team members, including roles and responsibilities, based on project solution requirements
3.2 Determine training and support needs of team members3.3 Establish project team values and agreed behavioural standards with team members

Element:

5. Coordinate project closure

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Prepare IT support plans and maintenance or support documents
5.2 Obtain final project sign-off
5.3 Conduct post-project review and document lessons learned
5.4 Review and update disaster recovery plan
5.5 Close project


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

Learning activities will include laboratory-based sessions on a variety of topics as shown in the weekly breakdown. Learning activities will generally consist of practical computer exercises based on teacher handouts. Students should attend all sessions.

Students will also be expected to undertake work on a small IT project and other activities for homework.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
 


Teaching Schedule


The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
 

Week Week Commencing Topics Assessment
1 11th Feb 2013

Pre-training review:
• RPL
• LLN as required

Familiarisation with:
• Program
• Services/facilities
• Other students
• Teacher(s)
• Where to get support
• Student responsibilities
• Course requirements
• Course support documents
• Pre-reading
• Blackboard

Overview of assessment requirements:
• Grading
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Resubmission policy

Introduction to course:
• Course introduction & overview
• Project management concepts

 
2 18th Feb 2013

Initiating projects - project governance & project objectives

 
3 25th Feb 2013 Initiating projects - business cases, feasibility studies & project charters  
4 4th Mar 2013 Planning projects - information gathering, project constraints & identifying tasks, work breakdown structures TASK 1 - Project specifications issued 
5 11th Mar 2013 PUBLIC HOLIDAY (Mon, 11th Mar)  
6 18th Mar 2013 Planning projects - schedules & budgets, project management plan documents TASK 1 - Project Initiation Documents due
7 25th Mar 2013 Planning projects - team members roles, training needs & team contracts  
MID-SEMESTER BREAK (28th Mar - 3rd Apr 2013 inclusive)
7 1st Apr 2013 Planning projects - team members roles, training needs & team contracts  
8 8th Apr 2013 Planning projects - planning project scope, time, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk & procurement TASK 1 - Project Team Documents due
9 15th Apr 2013 Executing projects - managing team work, tasks & quality.
Class work on actual project execution
TASK 1 - Project Planning Documents due 
10 22nd Apr 2013 Executing projects - managing scope changes, risks & issues. Project testing & handover.
Class work on project execution
 
11 29th Apr 2013 Closing projects - project support, maintenance & sign-off.
Class work on actual project execution
TASK 1 - Project Execution Documents due
12 6th May 2013 Closing projects - post-project reviews & disaster recovery plans
Class work on actual project execution
 
13 13th May 2013 Concept Review conducted (whole class) TASK 2 - Concept Review
14 20th May 2013 Class work on project execution, testing & documentation  
15 27th May 2013 Final work on project documentation TASK 1 - Project Closure Documents due
 16 3rd Jun 2013 Course & assessment feedback.
Re-submission of documents if required
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Hughes, B et al. (2nd edn, 2012), Project Management for IT-Related Projects, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Print ISBN: 9781780171180

This text is available free of charge as an e-book via the RMIT Library Website, but with a different ISBN. Your teacher will explain how to use e-books such as this one. This text will be particularly useful in introducing PM concepts initially.

Maley, C. (2011), Project Management Concepts, Methods and Techniques, Auerbach Publications, Print ISBN: 97814665028888

This text is available free of charge as an e-book via the RMIT Library Website, but with a different ISBN. This text will be useful after the basic PM concepts have been introduced. This text also covers project closure, unlike the first one.
 


References

Schwalbe, K. (7th edn, 2014), Information Technology Project Management, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN: 978-1-133-52685-3 This edition is only available in hard copy form, and is expensive. However older editions are available in the RMIT Library.

This text is much more detailed than the texts listed above, but is useful as a source of PM document templates.

Schwalbe, K. (4th edn, 2012), An Introduction to Project Management, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN: 978-0-928003-3-1

This edition is also only available in hard copy form, and is difficult to obtain. It is essentially a summarised form of the other text by Schwalbe listed above. It is possibly the most suitable of all these texts, and contains most of the PM document templates required.
 


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 observation of the candidate carrying out project work
  • verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills
  • review of reports and implementation plans
  • review of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

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.


Assessment Tasks

You are required to complete 2 tasks. You must successfully complete each task to be deemed competent in this unit.


TASK 1 - Project Document Portfolio
(for Website Project) (Refer to Teaching Schedule for due dates)

For this task you will work in your Website project teams to manage the development and testing of a small business Website. You will need to pay to particular attention to the planning and testing of your Website, with all stages delivered on time etc.

Each team will also need to manage any potential risks in the development of the Website such as loss of files and issues with team members.

To be deemed competent in this task each team must develop, review and submit documentation at each stage of the project (and for each element of competency) as requested:

  • Project Initiation Documents including a feasibility study, business case and project charter
  • Project Planning Documents i.e. a project management plan covering all the various required aspects, including a WBS in Microsoft Project 2010
  • Project Team Documents including a full team contract
  • Project Execution Documents covering quality control, scope changes, risks and issues etc
  • Project Closure Documents covering IT support, maintenance, disaster recovery, sign-off and review

More detailed guidelines will be available after each of the relevant topics are covered.

Teams may in some cases be expected to produce an interim versions of documents and present their final project documentation to the class in their final portfolio.

General Points

  • All these documents are to be presented in portfolio form i.e. a folder of documents
  • Each document should include a header (eg with the name of the document and team members’ names) and a footer (eg with the date and page number).
  • Soft copies are to be retained by all team members as backups.
  • RMIT academic discipline procedures will apply in cases of plagiarism.


TASK 2 - PM Concept Review (Conducted in Week 13)

In the first part of the course each team of students will be required to complete worksheets on various aspects of project management as per the Teaching Schedule. Some of the questions may require research and peer review by team members will be important.

In Week 13 there will be a concept review task, which will cover the material studied in class each week. You will need to answer number of questions covering both project management concepts and application of those concepts to projects, such as your team Website project. Resources such as Websites and texts may be used.

To be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts covered in all sections of the course.


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Submission Requirements

Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.

You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
     
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
     
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.

Resubmission Guide:

Once a student has submitted an assessment task, a resubmission may be granted if deemed NYC. On resubmission, a student will not receive a grade higher than CAG (Competency achieved).


Marking Guide (Competency):


Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT).

So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.

You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.

Please refer to the Final Grades table below.


Marking Guide (Grading):

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.

The grading will include the following criteria:

1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK

We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of understanding of project management principles in your approach to managing a project.

2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING

We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required in managing IT projects. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable project management principles and requirements in all the assessment tasks. You should also be prepared to research topics to improve your understanding.

3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

We are looking for appropriate use of technology and project management tools to assist in presenting all tasks clearly and suitable for the intended stakeholders. You also need to show an understanding of the kinds of problems and risks that can arise in managing projects and how these might be addressed.

4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT

You should aim to attend all class sessions and save your solutions to all exercises and assessment tasks you have completed. It will be very advantageous to prepare for and review class materials using suggested resources, such as the recommended textbook or Websites indicated by your teacher.

We expect to see ongoing progress and status reports of the projects relevant to the unit, utilisation of Blackboard as required and timely submission of all required assessment tasks.

5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK

We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions and scheduled team sessions. In addition your tasks should demonstrate a very good understanding of strategies for a collaborative approach towards teamwork and managing projects. You will also need to liaise regularly with your teacher in order to ensure that all tasks have been completed satisfactorily.

 

Final Grades Table:

CHD      Competent with High Distinction
CDI       Competent with Distinction
CC        Competent with Credit
CAG      Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC      Yet Competent
DNS      Did Not Submit for assessment

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
 

 

 

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