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Unit outline_

PMGT3857: International Project Management

Semester 2, 2022 [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

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Suhair Alkilani, suhair.alkilani@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Saradhi Motamarri, saradhi.motamarri@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Discussion forum. Screencast presentation.
1. IPM advantages & disadvantages, or 2. Defining emerging markets.
10% Week 04
Due date: 26 Aug 2022 at 23:59
5 minutes.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Multiple choice questions to quiz participants on materials from weeks 1-5.
10% Week 05
Due date: 02 Sep 2022 at 17:00
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO3
Assignment group assignment Response to video essay.
View assigned webinar videos and respond with a written analysis.
25% Week 06
Due date: 09 Sep 2022 at 23:00
2,000 words (+/-10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6
Online task Discussion forum. Mini case study blog post.
Multi-national and an emerging market strategy.
5% Week 08
Due date: 23 Sep 2022 at 23:59
500 words (+/- 10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4 LO3
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Multiple choice questions. Quiz participants on materials from weeks 6-10.
10% Week 10
Due date: 14 Oct 2022 at 17:00
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Case study exploration.
Analyse a real-time international project.
35% Week 12
Due date: 28 Oct 2022 at 23:59
3,000 (+/-10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online task Discussion forum. Twitter summaries.
Distil main UOS points to central themes.
5% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:59
12 tweets (140 characters each).
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

A. Case Study Exploration: Analyse a real-time international project.

B. Response to Video: View assigned webinar videos and respond with a written analysis.

C1. Screencast Presentation: Recorded presentation on 1. IPM advantages & disadvantages, or 2. Defining emerging markets.

C2. Mini Case Study Blog: Multi-national and an emerging market strategy.

C3. Twitter Summaries: Distil main UOS points to central themes.

D1. & D2. Quizzes: Multiple choice questions. Quiz participants on UOS materials.

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.

“Recycling involves submitting (or resubmitting) work that has already been assessed without your teacher’s permission and for which you have already been given feedback. Recycling is a form of academic dishonesty and will be handled in line with the coursework policy.”

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 every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. Example: Consider an assignment's maximum awardable mark is 10; the assignment is submitted 2 days late; and the assignment is marked as 7/10. After applying the penalty, marks will be: 7 - (0.5 x 2) = 6/10. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work. Refer to section 7A of Assessment procedures policy available at: http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/267&RendNum=0

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 Independent study guided by the online content and workshops (Week 1-13). You are expected to undertake 8-10 hours per week of independent study in addition to the workshops. Independent study (96 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 01 UOS introduction: Orientation, set up, structure, and assessments Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Defining international projects: Requirements, and stakeholders; including advantages & disadvantages, and successes & failures. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Global project work: Traditional, distributed, and virtual, organisational change and organisational theory, and management principles in a globalised world. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6
Week 04 Global Project Management Framework: Overview and application. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Global drivers, emerging trends, and a changing global ecosystem: Globalization, international trading system, and emerging markets. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 International project environment: Political, legal, and bureaucratic limitations, SDGs, and technology. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 07 Cross-cultural collaboration: Cultural dimensions and the impact of culture on multiple project aspects. Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Managing global teams: Leadership, building trust and conflict resolution, and discrimination. Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Contextualising communication: Techniques & tools, and negotiation. Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Managing outsourcing and vendors: Integrations, across cultures, time zones, and technological settings. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Global finance: International finance, currency, and wealth distribution & inequality. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 12 Risk management in international projects: Identification, probability, and impact. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 New impacts under an IPM lens: Labour market, emerging technology, and climate action. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance is encouraged for all workshop sessions. Absenteeism may affect in class, individual, and team performance and assessments. Special considerations applications must be made in advance for approvals. Any absenteeism and appeals must be supported by a valid reason evidenced through official documents e.g. medical certificate or company documentation.

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. Understand the international project ecosystem
  • LO2. Assess potential reasons for international project success or failure
  • LO3. Develop individual cross-cultural integrity and professionalism
  • LO4. Interact with a team and stakeholders in a professional, respectful, and culturally aware manner
  • LO5. Consider cultural factors when managing an international project
  • LO6. Work effectively in virtual and remote settings

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 mega trends such as public health, globalization, emerging technology, labour market changes, and inequality where applicable. Assessment tasks are intended to facilitate student ownership and empowerment for their own learning, and for students to exercise critical thinking in how they view international project management. This is through the development of opportunities to link theory with real-life practice using global project-based case studies. Assessment tasks are varied to instill interest, authenticity, and originality of authorship.

Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours per week of independent study per 2-hour workshop session. Preparation before class is key to the successful peer-to-peer engagement and learning in this unit. This unit of study has an interactive and participative hands-on workshop approach based on the concepts of flipped (preparing beforehand, self-directed learning) and blended learning (using online resources, technology, and live learning in class). The principles of flipped learning and online interactions and online resources would apply to students in both in-person and online environments. Discussions and collaborative sessions can be conducted in both online and in-person modes. The International Project Management team urges students to take leadership and ownership of their own learnings, come prepared to discuss, engage, and learn in an interactive environment.

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.