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Unit outline_

PMGT5879: Strategic Portfolio and Program Management

Semester 2, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit specifically addresses the selection and prioritisation of multiple programmes and projects which have been grouped to support an organisation's strategic portfolio. The allocation of programmes of work within a multi-project environment, governing, controlling and supporting the organisation's strategy, are considered. The aim is to formulate and manage the delivery of the portfolio of strategies using programme management. Students will learn and practice the issues to be considered in selecting an effective organisation portfolio and how to implement a Portfolio Management Framework. Also they will encounter the many conflicting issues facing Program Managers as they seek to implement organisation strategy through programs and learn how to balance these to obtain desired outcomes.

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

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Petr Matous, petr.matous@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Discussion forums
contribution to an on-line discussion forum on various topics provided
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1
written report on case study situation
25% Week 06
Due date: 04 Oct 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 04 Oct 2020
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2
written report on case study situation
25% Week 13
Due date: 15 Nov 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 15 Nov 2020
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Reflective Learning Report
written report on learnings and essay on case study
40% Week 13
Due date: 06 Dec 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 06 Dec 2020
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

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 Introduction to the unit, Strategy Independent study (12 hr) LO1
Week 02 Portfolio Management Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Program and Strategic Risk Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Governance and Reporting - Stakeholder and Change Management initial view Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Business cases Independent study (12 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Benefits Realisation Online class (12 hr)  
Week 07 Governance and reporting Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Stakeholder Management Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Quality Management and Assurance Independent study (12 hr) LO4
Week 10 Change Management Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Agile in Portfolio and Program Management Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Review all material Online class (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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

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

  • Michel Thiry, Program Management. Farnham, Surrey, UK, Gower, 2010.
  • Project Management Institute, The Standard for Portfolio Management (Third Edition). Project Management Institute, 2012.
  • Project Management Institute, The Standard for Program Management (Third Edition). Project Management Institute, 2012.
  • Sergio Pellegrinelli, Thinking & Acting like a great programme manager. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

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 how portfolio and program management, together with project management, are used to implement organisation strategy
  • LO2. understand how mature portfolio management can assist organisations to obtain improved business value from their investments in programs and projects, by selecting the best mix of these initiatives
  • LO3. understand how program management assists organisations to coordinate projects to implement strategy, and manage organisation change in order to obtain the proposed benefits
  • LO4. understand how projects are delivery-focused, and enablers, but when combined with business, change can create value for the organisation
  • LO5. understand how to ensure that benefits are realised from investments in programs and projects, and the role of effective governance and reporting in doing so.

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.

additional material has been added to a number of topics including agile and its impact on Portfolio and Program management

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.