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Unit outline_

PMGT5895: Contracts Management

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote

The aim of this unit is the understanding of fundamental contracts as it relates to project management. The aim is that students are able to understand various contracts that are available and have the ability to select the right contract for a project. The unit aims to give an understanding of contract terms and conditions that may give rise to potential issues and methods to mitigate this. Given contracts are pivotal in a project manager's role the overall aim is for students to understand contracts better and have the confidence to use contracts in their day to day activities to avoid potential risks and conflicts. In addition it will assist students to have the ability to solve complex issues by being able to think critically and analyse issues. Outcomes: Understanding the basis of contract management-including traditional and contemporary theories; Being able to identify contract terms that expose the project manager to risk; Gain confidence to be able to raise contract issues and negotiate terms.

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 Louis Taborda, louis.taborda@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Natalie Perisa, natalie.perisa@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam Take Home Final exam
Short answer style questions will be given to students.
50% Formal exam period 48 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation Participation
Participation in tutorials and Discussion Board
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial quiz Online Quiz
Multiple Choice
15% Week 10 40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Assignment group assignment Assignment
Short to medium answer submission style
25% Week 12 2500 word submission
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

Tutorial/Discussion-You will demonstrate through discussions a developed understanding of how contracts work and items to be aware of and clauses to avoid.

Assignment – Through research you will be able to fully explore different arguments to a situation and then work through past cases and logic to get to a conclusion to back up your theory.

Late Penalty:

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

 

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.

 

Mark Moderation:

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mark Moderation:

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:

This applies to assignments as per Sydney Uni Policy

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
Ongoing Independent study guided by the online contact and lectures. You are expected to undertake 8-10 hours per week on independent study in addition to workshops Independent study (120 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Intention capacity Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 1. Offer; 2. Termination of offers Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 04 1. Acceptance; 2. Postal acceptance rule Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Independent analysis on information relating to acceptance Independent study (1 hr) LO4
Week 05 1. Consideration; 2. Certainty and completeness; 3. Incompleteness; 4. Letters of intent Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 06 1. Terms, conditions, warranty of a contract defined; 2. Express and implied terms; 3. Pre-contractual negotiations; 4. Collateral contracts; 5. Privity of contract Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 07 1. Meaning of terms; 2. Contracts in writing; 3. Signed documents; 4. Unsigned documents; 5. Exclusion clauses; 6. Misrepresentations Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 08 1. Mistake, unilateral mistake; 2. Duress; 3. Undue influence; 4. Unconscionable contracts Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 09 1. Discharge; 2. Illegal contracts Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 10 1. Damages; 2. Liquidated/unliquidated damages; 3. Equitable remedies Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 11 1. Rescission of a contract; 2. Negligence; 3. Duty of care Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 12 1. Dispute resolution clauses in contracts; 2. Insurance and indemnity clauses Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 13 Revision for exam Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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 basis of contract management-including traditional and contemporary theories, and its importance in common commercial dealings
  • LO2. reach a good understanding of the intention of particular clauses when reviewing contracts and determining which clauses should be negotiated
  • LO3. raise contract issues and negotiate terms with confidence.
  • LO4. identify contract terms that expose the project or project manager to risk

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.

No significant changes have been made since this unit was last offered

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.