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Unit outline_

ENGG1865: Project Time, Cost and Resources

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Project management requires complex planning decisions with regards to schedules, budgets and resources in both traditional and agile environments. This unit of study introduces students to tools, methods and approaches such as the work breakdown structure, milestone planning, precedence diagram, Gantt charts and critical pathways. These tools and techniques help project managers balance time, cost and resources; and understand the impact on the schedule, budget and resource allocation associated with potential risks.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Project Management
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CIVL3805
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Fatima Afzal, fatima.afzal@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Marzena Baker, marzena.baker@sydney.edu.au
Fatima Afzal, fatima.afzal@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation group assignment Class/online participation
These marks will be awarded based on active participation during class
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Quizzes
Students will do 2 online quizzes. Quiz 1- week 5 Quiz 2- week12
30% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Individual assignment
Students will write an essay on a given topic
30% Week 05 4 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment group assignment Group assignment
Students will develop project plans for a given case study in groups of 5.
30% Week 12 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Class/ Online Participation(worth 10%): Class participation includes regular attendance in classes, regular participation in the problem-solving sessions scheduled within the workshop, and contribution in online discussions on canvas.

Individual assignment(worth 30%): Students will write short easy on a given topic based on academic research.

Group assignment(worth 30%): Students will work in groups of 5 to plan various activities of a case study project and submit a written report and present it in class.

Class Quizzes(worth 30%): Students will be given 2 in-class quizzes.

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

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

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
Week 01 Introduction Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Introduction Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 CPM Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
CPM Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 Overlapping networks Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Overlapping networks Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 04 PERT Workshop (2 hr) LO4
PERT Independent study (8 hr) LO4
Week 05 Class Test Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Class test Independent study (10 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Resource planning Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5
Resource planning Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 07 Resources leveling Workshop (2 hr) LO5
Resource levelling Independent study (8 hr) LO5
Week 08 Procurement planning Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO8
Procurement planning Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO5 LO8
Week 09 Estimating project cost Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Estimating project cost Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 10 Earned value management Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Earned value management Independent study (8 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Controlling project time cost and resources Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Controlling project time cost and resources Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO7
Week 12 Class Test Workshop (1 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Class test Independent study (10 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment: 

This unit of study is comprised of online learning and workshops. The workshops participation forms a significant component of the course and will demonstrate specific techniques discussed at a theoretical level in online learning. Workshop participation will include case study reviews, discussions, and some problem-solving exercises carried out individually or in groups. These sessions will also introduce students to the team based nature of projects, and provide opportunities for small group problem solving and discussion, based around case studies and model problems arising from realistic technical and business scenarios.

Attendance requirement

Students who fail to attend more than 3 workshops without prior approval will fail the unit.

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (6th Edition). PMI, 2017.
  • Project Management Step by Step: How to Plan and Manage a Highly Successful Project.

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. explain how existing organisational functions and processes may influence planning decisions about schedule, budget, and resources
  • LO2. compare implications associated with planning time, cost, and resources in different contexts (contrasting traditional and agile environments)
  • LO3. compare and contrast alternative formats of schedule, including milestone plan, precedence diagram, and Gantt chart
  • LO4. develop a precedence network from a given work breakdown structure, including durations, and determine the critical path
  • LO5. Determine the work effort of activities; develop strategic resource plan to deliver the project, and balance resources using schedule
  • LO6. estimate project costs and calculate a project budget
  • LO7. develop a risk analysis and management plan focusing on effect of risks on time, costs, and resources; calculate impact on the schedule, budget, and resource allocation associated with potential risks
  • LO8. relate time cost and evaluation to selection of suppliers and partners.

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 content has been changed since this unit was last offered, based on student experience.

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.