Course Title: Manage IT projects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

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
 

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:

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 members
3.3 Establish project team values and agreed behavioural standards with team members
 

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:

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
 

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:

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 members
3.3 Establish project team values and agreed behavioural standards with team members
 

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:

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 10th Feb 2014

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 17th Feb 2014

Initiating projects - project governance & project objectives
Microsoft Project skills. Milestones & resources in your project.

 
3 24th Feb 2014 Initiating projects - project constraints, identifying tasks, work breakdown structures, project charters TASK 1 - Project specifications issued 
4 3rd Mar 2014 Initiating projects - project feasibility using break-even & NPV calculations, business cases  
5 10th Mar 2014 Initiating projects - completion of project charter & business case TASK 1 - Project Initiation Documents due
6 17th Mar 2014 Planning projects - team members roles, training needs, team contracts, stakeholder management plans  
7 24th Mar 2014 Planning projects - planning project scope, time, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk & procurement TASK 1 - Project Team Documents due
8 31st Mar 2014 Planning projects - completion of project management plan
Class work on project database & mock-ups
TASK 1 - Project Planning Documents due
9 7th Apr 2014 Executing projects - monitoring & control: managing tasks, scope changes, quality, risks, team work & issues  
10 14th Apr 2014 Executing projects - project status reports.
Class work on project. Prototype demonstrations (bookstore)
 
  Mid-Semester Easter Break - Fri 18th April to Fri 25th April, 2014 inclusive 
11 28th Apr 2014 Closing projects - post-project reviews, signoff, maintenance & support, disaster recovery.
Class work on project execution, testing & documentation
TASK 1 - Project Execution Documents due
12 5th May 2014 Closing projects - finalisation reports.
Class work on project. Revision for assessment
 
13 12 May 2014 Concept Review conducted
Class work on project execution, testing & documentation
TASK 2 - Concept Review
14 19th May 2014 Final work on project testing & documentation TASK 1 - Project Closure Documents due
15 26th May 2014 Course & assessment feedback.  
 16 2nd  June 2014 Re-submission of assessments  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

This edition is difficult to obtain in hard copy form, but is available in Kindle format (eg. using Kindle for PC). It is probably the most suitable of all available texts, as it follows the stages or phases of PM. It is also of some use as a source of PM document templates.

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. Your teacher will explain how to use e-books such as this one. This text is useful for basic PM concepts and also covers project closure.

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 very expensive. However older editions are available in the RMIT Library. This text is far more detailed than the texts listed above, but is of some use as a source of PM document templates. 


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 CAG (Competency Achieved) 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.  
     
  • 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.


Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w

Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf


Resubmissions (VET Programs):

If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.


Adjustments to Assessment


In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:

More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31


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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