Course Title: Manage IT projects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 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
Sunam Pradhan sunam.pradhan@rmit.edu.au
Joyce Liang joyce.liang@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
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 |
Element: |
2. Undertake project planning |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Plan information-gathering activities to determine project requirements, constraints and risks |
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 |
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 |
Element: |
5. Coordinate project closure |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Prepare IT support plans and maintenance or support documents |
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
| |||
| Week | Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment |
| 1 | 8th Jul 2013 | Pre-training review: |
|
| 2 | 15th Jul2013 | Initiating projects - project governance & project objectives |
|
| 3 | 22nd Jul 2013 | Initiating projects - project constraints, identifying tasks, work breakdown structures, project charters | TASK 1 - Project specifications issued |
| 4 | 29th Jul 2013 | Initiating projects - project feasibility using break-even & NPV calculations, business cases | |
| 5 | 5th Aug 2013 | Initiating projects - completion of project charter & business case | TASK 1 - Project Initiation Documents due |
| 6 | 12th Aug 2013 | Planning projects - team members roles, training needs, team contracts, stakeholder management plans | |
| 7 | 17th Aug 2013 | Planning projects - planning project scope, time, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk & procurement | |
| 8 | 25th Aug2013 | Planning projects - schedules & budgets, project management plans | TASK 1 - Project Team Documents due |
| MID-SEMESTER BREAK (2nd Sep - 6th Sep 2013 inclusive) | |||
| 9 | 9th Sep 2013 | Planning projects - completion of project management plan Class work on project database & mockups |
TASK 1 - Project Planning Documents due |
| 10 | 16th Sep 2013 | Executing projects - monitoring & control: managing tasks, scope changes, quality, risks, team work & issues | |
| 11 | 23rd Sep 2013 | Executing projects - project status reports. Class work on project. Prototype demonstrations (bookstore) |
|
| 12 | 30th Sep 2013 | Closing projects - post-project reviews, signoff, maintenance & support, disaster recovery. Class work on project execution, testing & documentation |
TASK 1 - Project Execution Documents due |
| 13 | 7th Oct2013 | Closing projects - finalisation reports. Class work on project. Revision for assessment |
|
| 14 | 14th Oct 2013 |
Concept Review conducted Class work on project execution, testing & documentation |
TASK 2 - Concept Review |
| 15 | 21st Oct 2013 | Final work on project testing & documentation | TASK 1 - Project Closure Documents due |
| 16 | 28th Oct 2013 | Course & assessment feedback. Re-submission of documents if required |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
There is no prescribed textbook for this course. |
References
Schwalbe, K. (4th edn, 2012), An Introduction to Project Management, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN: 978-0-928003-3-1 |
Other Resources
Students may also refer to various Websites, textbooks and e-books as indicated their teacher.
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 Documentation ie. a project charter for the Website project and a business case incorporating financial feasibility calculations
- Project Planning Documentation ie. a comprehensive project management plan covering all the various required aspects, including a WBS in Microsoft Project 2010
- Project Team Documentation ie. a stakeholder management plan and an optional team contract
- Project Execution Documentation ie. a project status report covering quality control, scope changes, risks and issues etc. Students will also be expected to demonstrate stages in the development of their Website.
- Project Closure Documentation ie. a finalisation report covering IT support and maintenance, disaster recovery procedures, project sign-off and lessons learned etc.
Document templates and guidelines will be available after each of the relevant topics are covered. It is strongly recommended that each team uses Google Docs. This should ensure a fair distribution of the workload, and allow all team members to learn all the important PM concepts.
Teams are likely to be requested to submit interim versions of documents in printout form, and submit their final project document portfolio on Blackboard.
Late submissions of documents required for developmental stages of the project will be eligible for grading at pass level only.
General Points
- All documents are to be presented in portfolio form ie. a folder of documents submitted on Blackboard
- 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. Google Docs is preferred.
- RMIT academic discipline procedures will apply in cases of plagiarism. Students should use Turnitin to avoid plagiarism.
TASK 2 - PM Concept Review (Conducted in Week 14)
In the first part of the course each team of students will be expected 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 essential.
In week 14 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.
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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.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview