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Unit outline_

PMGT3857: International Project Management

Semester 2, 2023 [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 Veronica Lo Presti, veronica.lopresti@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Veronica Lo Presti, veronica.lopresti@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Case study
Written analysis
25% Week 05
Due date: 03 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2,000 words (+/-10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO7
Assignment group assignment Team charter
How the teamwork will be conducted
5% Week 07
Due date: 17 Sep 2023 at 23:59
Fill the form - agreement with members
Outcomes assessed: LO5
Presentation group assignment International Project Management Report: Presentations
All teams submit the slide deck of the presentation on Canvas
20% Week 10
Due date: 12 Oct 2023 at 23:59
10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment International Project Management Report
Analyse an international project.
30% Week 12
Due date: 29 Oct 2023 at 23:59
3,000 (+/-10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Reflection
On the work done with the team and key learnings from the unit
15% Week 13
Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59
1000 (+/-10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Weekly reflections
Distil your main key learnings from the weekly topics
5% Weekly 12 reflections (5-10 sentences each).
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assignment 1: Case study - Essay - Written analysis 

Team charter: Each team fills out a team charter

Assignment 2. International Management Report Presentations: Presentations of the findings of the report on an international project and peer-review.

Assignment 3: International Management Report. Analysis of an international project

Assignment 4: Reflection on key learnings from the unit and group work

Weekly written reflections: Write a paragraph of 5-10 sentences with key learnings from each week topic

 

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

Work of a highly distinctive standard

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of a distinctive standard

Credit

65 - 74

Work of a creditable standard 

Pass

50 - 64

Work of acceptable standard

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

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.

Text-matching software for Assignment Submission:

As part of the assessment process, text-matching software such as Turnitin will be used to identify plagiarism and/or be used for providing feedback.

 

Confidential Peer Evaluation:

As part of the group contribution assessment process, collaborative & self-peer evaluation tools (e.g. SparkPlus, CATME, etc.) may be used, either on a confidential or non-confidential basis, to understand contributions and interactions amongst group members. Marks may be adjusted for an individual team member, following on from the peer evaluation process.

 

Marks Shown in Canvas Not Final:

Canvas will be used in this unit but supplemented by the approved Capstone Administration System (CAS). While key assessments will be submitted via Canvas, it cannot be used to determine/ predict a students final marks in this unit because not all assessments are visible to students and group/team marks can change for each individual team member based on the peer-evaluation conducted at the end of the semester.

 

Recycling Assignments Not Allowed:

Recycling involves submitting (or resubmitting) your own work that has already been assessed without the permission of the lecturer of this unit, 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.

 

Mark Moderation:

There may be statistically defensible moderation when combining the marks from each component to ensure consistency of marking between markers, and alignment of final grades with unit outcomes.

 

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 01 UOS introduction: Orientation, set up, structure, and assessments Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO7
Week 02 Defining international projects: Requirements, advantages & disadvantages, and successes & failures. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 03 International projects: The macroenvironment Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Global Project Management Framework: Overview and Application and Global Strategy Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 05 International projects: Stakeholders and stakeholder management. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Week 06 Culture and cross-culture collaboration Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Leading people and global teams Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Contextualising Communication Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Risk and uncertainty in international projects Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Ethics & Sustainability of/in International Projects Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Technology and Digital Transformation Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7
Week 12 International Projects in response to crises Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Final considerations, key learnings and questions Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance  Requirements:

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90 percent of timetabled activities for a unit of study unless granted exception by the Dean or Head of School most concerned. A student may be determined to fail a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90 percent.  Please see the Resolutions of the Faculty - Faculty of Engineering - The University of Sydney for further details  

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

Available on Canvas and/on through a link to the library website

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 environment
  • LO2. Evaluate the contextual factors of international projects and determine the actions to take in response to issues that arise
  • LO3. Identify stakeholders, the relevance these play in international projects, and develop knowledge of stakeholders management
  • LO4. Appreciate the diversity of international projects
  • LO5. Develop cross-cultural awareness, integrity and professionalism
  • LO6. Lead International Projects:considerations on cross-culture, power, communication, ethics, and sustainability when managing international projects
  • LO7. Assess potential reasons for international project success or failure

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.

Emerging and relevant topics are now included in the unit. Three assignments were changed.

Students are expected to undertake 8-10 hours per week of independent study per 2-hour workshop session. Preparation before class is key to 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 resources apply to all students. Discussions and collaborative sessions are conducted in class and each student is expected to share a weekly reflection on the key learnings online. The International Project Management team urges students to take leadership and ownership of their own learnings and come prepared to discuss, engage, and learn in an interactive environment.

Additional costs

N/A

Site visit guidelines

N/A

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.