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Unit outline_

QBUS3350: Project Planning and Management

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Project management provides organisations with a powerful set of tools to improves their ability to plan, implement, and manage activities to accomplish specific organisational objectives. Project management is more than just a set of tools; it is a results-oriented management style that places a premium on building collaborations among a diverse cast of characteristics. This unit introduces students to the planning and management of projects by focusing on a variety of practical topics including project network, PERT, resource scheduling, learning curves, cost and time management in projects, and the use of project management support systems. It also discusses the organisational, leadership, cultural, technological challenges that project managers might face.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business Analytics
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
QBUS2350
Assumed knowledge
? 

BUSS1020 or DATA1001 or ECMT1010 or ENVX1001 or ENVX1002 or STAT1021 or ((MATH1005 or MATH1015) and MATH1115) or 6 credit points of MATH units which must include MATH1905

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Simon Loria, simon.loria@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Written exam (Type D: Short Release Take Home Exam) submitted in Cadmus
50% Formal exam period 2.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Individual Assignment 1
Short report submitted in Cadmus
15% Week 07
Due date: 16 Sep 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 26 Sep 2022
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Individual assignment 2
Quantitative questions
10% Week 10
Due date: 14 Oct 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 24 Oct 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Group project
A joint written and oral task.
25% Week 13
Due date: 02 Nov 2022 at 11:00

Closing date: 03 Nov 2022
2000 word report + 5 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual assignment 1: The report will contain three sections: a theoretical assessment of project team dynamics; a reflective piece on the theory applied to your own group project team and a peer review element.
  • Individual assignment 2: Complete a series of project management related numerical / graphical tasks in excel.
  • Group project: In groups of 5-6 (subject to the final number of enrolments), student teams will be required complete the project which has three core components: A 2,000 word report, a 5-6 minute presentation/video and a peer review section. For a company of their choosing, each project team will be tasked with creating a project management plan for a new ‘sustainable’ product to be developed by the company. The plan’s structure will be based on content from the first 10 weeks of the course. The choice of company and product will need to be approved by the unit coordinator.  There will be several mid project deliverables.
  • Final exam: This is an open book exam covering all course content.  The exam will be completed using the Cadmus platform. It will consist of quantiative and qualitative questions, ranging from short answer to extended response including a mini case study. 

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

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:

Late penalties of 5 marks per day for the first 10 days late apply to individual assignments. Assignments submitted after the closing date are awarded zero marks. The group project submission dates are drop dead date. Submissions must be made by the dates specified.

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 and organisational context Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Project selection Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Project team and leadership Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Project scope management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Project costing and estimation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 06 Project scheduling 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 07 Project scheduding 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 08 Project risk management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Project monitoring Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Contract management for projects Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Agile & CCPM Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Project closure and course review Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 13 Group Project presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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.

  • Jeffery K. Pinto. Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage. 5th Edition. 2018. Pearson Education Ltd.

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. select appropriate projects to undertake in accordance with organisational strategy
  • LO2. carry out project planning and resolve the issues around resource planning and scheduling
  • LO3. apply business knowledge from various disciplines to enable effective project management
  • LO4. understand how organisational factors and team dynamics affect project management decisions.

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 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.