Skip to main content
Unit outline_

PMGT6871: Project Planning and Governance

Semester 1, 2021 [Block mode] - Remote

Drawing upon prior experience in the planning and control of projects this unit of study provides practitioners from a wide range of project application areas with the opportunity to review, develop and critique their understanding, skills and practice relative to a range of recognised standards and approaches for the governance, planning and control of projects. While providing an overview of the breadth of responsibility for the management of an individual project the focus in this unit of study will be on planning, monitoring and control of scope, time, and cost, with some coverage of quality management and procurement. Structures and requirements for governance of projects, including accounting and reporting lines, and the need for alignment to the business case are addressed. Reference is made to trends in the management of projects and to the need for variation in approach relative to project type and context.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Project Management
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PMGT5871
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Julien Pollack, julien.pollack@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Group assignment
Business case based assignment for a case study project
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 15 Jun 2021 at 09:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO9
Participation Participation in discussion
Contribution to workshop focus questions
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Individual assignment
Analysis of the structure, process, and success of two projects
30% Week 06
Due date: 12 Apr 2021 at 09:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10
Presentation group assignment Project based presentation
Paper and presentation on a topical issue in project management
20% Week 12
Due date: 25 May 2021 at 19:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

In this unit you will need to complete some assessments. These are:

  1. Participation in the framing questions in the workshops;
  2. Individual analysis of two projects;
  3. Individual reflection on a simulated or case study project;
  4. Group presentation and paper exploring a topical project management issue; and
  5. Group preparation of an analysis of an issue related to business case development project.

More 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.

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 Revision and work on assignments Independent study (100 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 01 1. Introduction to project governance; 2. Projects, programmes, and portfolios Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 1. Organizational and project structures; 2. The project lifecycle Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 1. Project success and failure; 2. Business case development (including the engagement process - bids, tenders, feasibility studies, business cases) Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 04 1. Introduction to project governance; 2. Projects, programmes, and portfolios 3. Organizational and project structures; 4. The project lifecycle 5. Project success and failure; 6. Business case development (including the engagement process - bids, tenders, feasibility studies, business cases) 7. Project life cycle processes; 8. Integration management (project management and delivery as a life cycle process) Block teaching (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8 LO9
1. Project life cycle processes; 2. Integration management (project management and delivery as a life cycle process) Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8
Week 05 1. Managing stakeholders, project governance and leadership; 2. Managing project scope (including requirements development and change control) Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 1. Managing project time Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO8 LO10
Week 07 1. Managing cost (including both budgeting and earned value management) Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO7 LO10
Week 08 1. Managing stakeholders, project governance and leadership; 2. Managing project scope (including requirements development and change control) 3. Managing project time 4. Managing project quality 5. Managing Risk Workshop (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10
1. Managing Risk Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6 LO8
Week 09 1. Managing project quality Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO7 LO10
Week 10 1. HR and Communications Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO10
Week 11 1. Managing procurement; 2. Project completion and handover/commissioning Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO7 LO10
Week 12 1. Managing transition and change; 2. Project complexity; 3. A complex systems approach to project management Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO7 LO10

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas. However, you may want to have a look at the following, which provides a good overview of project management.

  • Jeffrey K. Pinto, Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage (3rd edition). Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012. 9780132664158.

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. participate in informed discussion of project management
  • LO2. understand the nature and purpose of project management in the context of economic enterprise
  • LO3. determine project goals and performance requirements in consultation with stakeholders
  • LO4. assess project initiatives in terms of feasibility and contribution to business purpose and strategy
  • LO5. evaluate alternative strategies for satisfactorily achieving agreed stakeholder requirements
  • LO6. identify different project types and contexts and select project management approaches, practices, tools and techniques appropriate for their effective governance and management
  • LO7. develop knowledge of various models and frameworks for the practical application of project management
  • LO8. demonstrate understanding of a range of different project procurement methods and their implications
  • LO9. develop a project business case and major sections of a project management plan ideas with emphasis on scope, time and cost
  • LO10. demonstrate understanding of the primary project management processes and underpinning knowledge involved in management of projects.

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.

Student feedback has been taken into consideration when preparing this unit.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

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.