CIVL3805: Semester 1, 2020

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Units CIVL3805 Semester 1 2020 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

CIVL3805: Project Scope, Time and Cost Management

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

The general aim of this unit of study is to offer the student the opportunity to develop an understanding of the scope, time and cost management in project environments. Students will engage with some of the key concepts and various activities which underpin project scope, time and cost management. At the end of this unit, students will be able to: develop Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), develop network diagrams, and undertake Critical Path Analysis (CPA) and Earned Value Analysis (EVA) using the given project information; explain in depth why scope, time and cost management are important to project management; analyse a project situation that involves scope, time and cost management issues; and explain how the components of scope, time and cost management interrelate in project environments. The syllabus comprises the project planning cycle, working with the project sponsor, scope initiation and definition, project scope definition tools, WBS, network scheduling techniques, CPA, Just-in-Time philosophy, estimating and budgeting, cash flow management, EVA and application of project management software.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ENGG1865 OR QBUS2350
Assumed knowledge ?	CIVL2810 or CIVL1810
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Faham Tahmasebinia, faham.tahmasebinia@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Faham Tahmasebinia, faham.tahmasebinia@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final assignment Final report submission	70%	Week 13	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Online Presentation Online presentation on week 14	30%	Week 14 (STUVAC)	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Online quizzes: 12 multiple-choice quizzes to be completed on Blackboard eLearning site each Monday during Semester (except for week 10).
Mid-semester exam and final exam: Both exams are based on short answer questions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Course introduction; 2. Introduction to project managment; 3. Project management trade-offs	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Scope definition; 2. Project scope definition tools	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Scope definition. Session on group work	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	1. Work breakdown structure (WBS); 2. Scope change control system	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	WBS work. Session on group work	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Network scheduling techniques	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Develop AON networks	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Microsoft Project demonstration	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Develop AON networks using lags. Scheduling work session on group work	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	1. Critical path analysis (CPA); 2. Resources scheduling; 3. MS Project application and demonstration	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Conduct CPA, calculate crashing costs	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Estimating and budgeting	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Guest Speaker	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Estimating project times and costs	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	1. Time and cost monitoring and control; 2. Earned value analysis (EVA)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Conduct EVA, estimating/EVA, session on group work	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	1. Trade-off analysis; 2. MS project EVA application and demonstration	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Conduct trade-off analysis, trade-off analysis, session on group work	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Critical chain project management	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Conduct critical chain analysis	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Presentation of group work (1) and (2)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Presentation of group work (1) and (2)	Tutorial (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. undertake WBS exercises, CPA and EVA using the given project information
LO2. analyse a project situation that involves scope, time and cost management issues
LO3. explain how the components of scope, time and cost management interrelate.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Students will be given updated information during the first lecture.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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