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Unit outline_

PMGT3857: International Project Management

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

This unit provides specific guidelines for achieving greater international project success. It addresses the need for modern techniques in project management geared and suited to international projects. It provides opportunity to students to have orientation towards lessons learned from failures and problems in international projects, and suggest alternative solutions for project issues. The critical success factors for managing international projects together with management issues related to vendors and outsourcing across national boundaries are also discussed. It further deals with managing businesses effectively address cross- cultural, social, and political issues.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Project Management
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
30cp of 1000 level units of study
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Petr Matous, petr.matous@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Cory Steinhauer, cory.steinhauer@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Workshop Participation
Online workshop and discussion forum participation
10% Multiple weeks Weeks 1-12
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Presentation group assignment Educational Video Project
Production and submission of an educational video for peer review.
20% Week 05 3-5 minutes.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Covering online lectures week 1-5
10% Week 06 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment International Project Pitch
Projects frequently prepare a “pitch deck” to present their idea to manager
25% Week 08 15-20 slides.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Covering online lectures week 6-10
10% Week 11 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment International Project Plan
Using a provided project plan template, this assessment builds on the pitch
25% Week 12 Set structure. 2,000 -2,500 words.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Students will start working on their pair projects (assessment 1, 2 and 3) from the beginning of the semester.
  • They will develop, within parameters, project topics which will include, for example, case studies of existing international projects or comparative research of international project environments.
  • After completing their videos and slide decks, students will conduct a meta-analysis of common challenges across the examined cases in diverse countries and develop a project plan.
  • Content knowledge will be tested by two individual written quizzes during the semester.

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.

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 UoS introduction, overview of assessment, and context setting Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
UoS introduction; global trends; international project characteristics; and failures / successes Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Readings, additional video content, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Advantages and disadvantages, emerging trends and the changing global ecosystem Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Issues in international project management Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Context analysis dimensions Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Defining international projects; and identifying and analysing stakeholders Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Context analysis and stakeholder identification, mapping and analysis Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
International project organisation and teams Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Develop the project plan; problem tree analysis and theory of change Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Globalisation and glocalisation Lecture (2 hr) LO3
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Budgeting and resourcing Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Currency risk, value and international finance Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Resource allocation and risk management Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Risk management in international projects i.e. political, financial, legal Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Managing outsourcing and vendors Workshop (2 hr) LO3
Communication and negotiation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Monitoring, evaluation and closure of international projects Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Cultural dimensions Lecture (2 hr) LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Cultural practices and cultural intelligence Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Execution: Contextualising communication, negotiation and leadership Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Emerging trends i.e. acceleration of automation and inequality; deceleration of globalisation. Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Discrimination in international project management Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Work planning, implementation and closure Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
New products/services impacts under the international project management lens Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Readings, additional video content, assessments, and participation in discussion forums Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Workshop and discussion forum participation.

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. Project Leadership (Level 3) 1. Practical experience through case analysis and meta-analysis of international projects.
  • LO2. Project Communication (Level 3) 2. Individual and team report writing and oral presentations.
  • LO3. Project Development (Level 3) 3. Understand project globalisation and work across geographical and cultural distance.
  • LO4. Project Methods (Level 3) 4. Understand complex project networks, secondary data gathering and primary data surveys to analyse international project environments.

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.

Unit of Study reflects acceleration and deceleration of global trends such as automation, inequality and globalisation where applicable.

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.