Skip to main content
Unit outline_

ENGG1863: Effective Project Communication

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Project management is a rapidly growing profession applied across all industries. This subject provides an overview of project management and its relationship to program and portfolio management and the broader business context. The Unit introduces students to variations in project management as interpreted and applied in different industries. It will cover the nature of the project management profession, project career paths and the graduate qualities sought by employers. It introduces the primary professional standards and project management terminology. Projects are constructed and progressed through communication. Effective communication can save a poor project just as much as poor communication can undermine previously successful implementation. This Unit of Study covers the essential skills of effective project communication and sets students up to exercise influence through interpersonal skills and construct patterns of communication suitable to the demands of different projects. This unit will help students develop critical thinking and source and use information in their decision making. Students will focus on personal integrity and reliability as well as self awareness.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Project Management
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mahshid Tootoonchy, mahshid.tootoonchy@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Kate Anichenko, ekaterina.anichenko@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Presentation (in pairs)
Presentations will be delivered in pairs in the second half of the semester
25% Multiple weeks 10-12 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9
Tutorial quiz Online quiz 1 (week 7)
MC quiz (15 questions) based on material covered in weeks 1-6.
10% Week 07
Due date: 04 Apr 2022 at 18:30
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment Individual essay (Topic - building high-performing teams)
Students will write a critical literature review on a set topic.
25% Week 08 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Tutorial quiz Online quiz 2 (Week 12)
MC quiz (15 questions) based on material covered in weeks 7-11.
10% Week 12
Due date: 16 May 2022 at 18:30
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO9 LO8 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Group presentation
Students will create a video presentation based on their group project.
30% Week 13 20-25 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual essay: Students will use the guide provided in the lecture/workshop to write a comprehensive essay on the following topic: building high-performing project teams.
  • Group assignment: Student groups (4-5 members in each group) will develop a communication plan for a project of their choice; and will create a presentation for it. 
  • Online quizzes (2): Students will be quizzed on preparatory readings/videos and in-class lectures twice. First quiz will take place in Week 7, second quiz will take place in week 12. The quizzes will be in a multiple-choice format, delivered on-line.
  • Presentation: In pairs (groups of two) students will create an engaging presentation. The delivery of this assignment will depend on how the classes run this semester (on-line or face-to-face). Consult the lecturer or take a look at the canvas website (under assignments) in Week 1. The presentations will be assessed based on the student’s ability to use the material taught in lectures/workshops.

*Please note: Detailed information for each assessment will be provided in Canvas (Week 1). Small modifications may be made to the assignments. If this happens you will be informed by the lecturer. These changes will also be documented in Canvas under Assignments.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

For all assignments: 5% per each day late.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks There is a minimum expectation of 8-10 hours of student effort per week for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 104-130 hours of student effort in total. Independent study (130 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 01 Introduction to communication in projects Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO8
Week 02 Project communication & stages of leadership development Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO8
Week 03 The fundamentals of written communication Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 04 Informal and formal project communication Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Week 05 Emotional intelligence, empathy and active listening Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 06 Creating a project communication plan Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO9
Week 07 Nonverbal communication and presentation skills Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 08 Influencing others Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 09 Influencing others 2: Communication in virtual, cross-functional and multi-cultural teams Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 10 Facilitating open communication & Leadership Skills Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 11 Communication barriers: managing internal and external conflicts Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 12 Group work session Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 13 Revision session Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

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 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.

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

  • LO1. develop a communication plan including emphasis on risk and quality, adapting communication to the needs of the audience
  • LO2. construct and nurture networks and alliances
  • LO3. provide clear and structured information to others and verify their understanding
  • LO4. facilitate and promote open communication, demonstrate empathy and listen effectively
  • LO5. promote project vision and goals to gain engagement and commitment
  • LO6. communicate effectively with virtual teams
  • LO7. consciously develop a personal brand
  • LO8. exercise influence through personal skills
  • LO9. analyse infrastructure, processes and systems for document management and information flow - introduce configuration management.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Some changes have been made since this unit was last offered to increase the assessment rigour.

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.