Course Title: Manage an engineering project

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: CIVE5624

Course Title: Manage an engineering project

School: 130T Infra, Electrotec & Build Serv

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6066 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Engineering (Structural Design)

Course Contact : Tony Skinner Program Coordinator

Course Contact Phone: (03) 9925 4444

Course Contact Email:tony.skinner@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Program Coordinator:
Mr Tony Skinner
Tel. 9925 4444
Fax. 99254377
Email: tony.skinner@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

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

EDX010 – Communicate and apply standard industry procedures and policies in an engineering designoffice.

Course Description

This unit covers the competency to apply the principles and concepts of project management to the engineering context. It includes typical documentation requirements, and procedures associated with commissioning and finishing a project and to draw up a Critical Path Method network for a project.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	EAX080 Manage an engineering project
Element:	Apply the concepts, specific technical terms and procedures used in project management
Performance Criteria:	1.1The importance of project management can be outlined. 1.2 The project management process can be outlined. 1.3 The project management environment can be outlined. 1.4 The acts and regulations that impinge on project Management can be outlined. 1.5 A specific project can be outlined, identifying the role of each of the major participants in accordance with Standard Engineering practice.
Element:	Demonstrate an understanding of procedures for tracking project progress
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Typical reasons that may cause variations to the project Plan can be identified. 2.2The project review process can be outlined. 2.3 Project quality systems can be outlined. 2.4 The coordination of tasks and management of Contingencies and risk can be discussed. 2.5 Typical resource management procedures can be outlined.
Element:	Demonstrate an understanding of the procedures associated with finishing and commissioning a project.
Performance Criteria:	3.1The procedures associated with finishing and Commissioning a project can be described.
Element:	Demonstrate knowledge of typical project documentation
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Typical documents needed before the start of a project Can be listed and their essential features described. 4.2 typical documents to track and record project process and Costs can be listed and their features described.
Element:	Draw up a network diagram and Gantt Chart and calculate the critical path for a project/process
Performance Criteria:	5.1 The critical paths, early and late finish dates are calculated in accordance with recognised industry Practice
Element:	Use project management software
Performance Criteria:	--

Learning Outcomes

Apply the concepts, specific technical terms and procedures used in project management

Demonstrate an understanding of procedures for tracking project progress

Demonstrate an understanding of the procedures associated with finishing and commissioning a project.

Demonstrate knowledge of typical project documentation

Draw up a network diagram and Gantt Chart and calculate the critical path for a project/process
Use project management software

Details of Learning Activities

Topics
Refer to underpinning knowledge and skills for this unit in the description contained in the relevant course guide.

Teacher directed
1. Explain, using examples typical of the construction industry , the concepts, specific technical terms and procedures used in project management
2. Refer to samples of specifications, bills of quantities and drawings obtained from industry.
3. Illustrate the theory of critical path determination and Gantt chart construction using worked examples
4. Explain the principles of monitoring progress.
5. Outline the responsibilities of the parties when handing over a project
6. Demonstrate the use of software using MS Project

Student directed
1. With reference to sample contract documents, note differences between types of contracts esp. Lump Sum, Schedule of Rates, Cost Plus, etc.
2. Given a small project with cost items, sums and stages of partial completion, calculate weekly/monthly costs and costs to date.
3. Use basic principles to construct a critical path and a Gantt chart for a small construction project
4. Use MS Project to create same

Group based activities
Given a construction project, the group to discuss a selection of management procedures as seen from a superintendent’s and a contractor’s viewpoint. Focus to be on the contrast between the two. Groups to report back and collate ideas.

Teaching Schedule

See Online Learning Hub for details.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Nil

References

Will be given in class.

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

This unit will be assessed in the classroom environment using holistic assessment, based on typical workplace activities.

Assessment will comprise :
1. Two assignments related to the the more practical exercises carried out in class, e.g. Gantt chart, Critical Path and use of project management software.
2. One two-hour end-of-semester examination based upon the more theoretical topics of each element.

Assessment Tasks

These tasks will be outlined in class.

Assessment Matrix

Element Covered	Assessment Task	Proportion of Final Assessment	Submission Date
1-5	Questionnaires + Minor Assignments.	40%	30 May,07
1-5	Major Project.	60%	13 June,07

    
 

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