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Unit outline_

PMGT5889: Project Controls

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Project Controls are considered the lifeline of a project. This Unit of study will equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills required to monitor and control aspects of the project throughout the project life cycle. Students will develop technical skills to develop an integrated baseline for control of project scope, schedules, and cost. They will also learn principles and techniques for reporting of project performance and process improvement. 

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

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kate Anichenko, ekaterina.anichenko@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Amela Peric, amela.peric@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Marianna Cheklin, marianna.cheklin@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1: Start-up assignment
Group assignment focusing on project charter, WBS and estimating techniques
10% Week 06
Due date: 04 Sep 2023 at 23:59
4-8 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO2 LO1
Small test Online test
Online quiz focusing on topics covered in the first 7 weeks
20% Week 09 50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2: detailed application
Group assignment focusing on project planning (scope, cost, time, EVA).
30% Week 12
Due date: 23 Oct 2023 at 23:59
20-30 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Group Presentation
Group presentation in class or via video
5% Week 12 15 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Assignment 3
Individual assignment covering knowledge application and reflection.
35% Week 13
Due date: 30 Oct 2023 at 23:59
6-12 pages
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 Unit introduction. Scope, time and cost - integrated baseline - introduction. Workshop (2 hr) LO2
Week 02 Scope management, requirements collection, WBS, scope statement. Workshop (2 hr) LO2
Week 03 Time management, activity sequencing, critical path. Estimation methods. Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Budget creation, forecasting. Workshop (2 hr) LO1
Week 05 Financial and managment accounting and project. Effective financial communication. Workshop (2 hr) LO1
Week 06 Project planning end-to-end process. From objectives to plan - exercise. Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 07 Earned value analysis. Effective project communication. Project variance management. Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 08 Group project checkpoint Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Knowledge test Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Integrated scope, cost and schedule control. Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 11 Group revision exercise. Final grop assignment check-point. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Group presentations Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Group presentations Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class 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.

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. Recognize the context for project control in terms of requirements and governanace framework
  • LO2. Develop project monitoring and control system by establishing processes
  • LO3. Implement control framework ensuring information quality using the agreed reporting structure
  • LO4. Monitor and control progress against performance expectations and make any necessary adjustments
  • LO5. Analyze a project situation that involves time and cost management issues and recomend preventive and corrective solutions

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.

Changes made from block to weekly mode

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.