The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to practical project management techniques applicable to business projects in the private and public sectors. Concepts and techniques covered may include project specification, work breakdown structures, scheduling, network analysis, resource management and budgeting, cost analysis, reporting tools such as Gantt and PERT network charts, contractual issues, and project termination.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. explain and illustrate the organisational context and environment within which project management operates;
2. define, explain and illustrate the project management framework and common tools;
3. explain and illustrate the linkages and interrelationships of strategic deployment and project management from a strategic perspective;
4. examine, reflect and comment upon contemporary issues in project management both nationally and internationally; and,
5. communicate effectively in oral and written forms about business project management using appropriate concepts, logic and rhetorical conventions

Research-Led Teaching

This course will facilitate the synthesis of theory and practice on a broad range of project management tools and techniques. In particular, students will review readings and evaluate selected case studies to develop a catalogue of tools and techniques that can be applied to inform and enhance a career in managing projects. Students are expected to work in teams to compile deliverables as well as participate in class discussions and activities. Additionally, students are required to research specific topics to gain a deeper understanding of the selection of tools and techniques, and their introduction into service.

Field Trips

There are no field trips in this course

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs

Examination Material or equipment

Not applicable

Required Resources

Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2018). Project management: The managerial process. 7th Edition (Available from ANU Library: HD69.P75 L37 2018 ). A copy of the textbook will be held in the reserve & short loan collection.

Print text: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=5493846&pq-origsite=primo

Online text: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=5493846&pq-origsite=primo

Recommended Resources

The following resources are available online, via loan from the ANU library, online or will be provided on Wattle:

• PMI (2013) Project Management Body of Knowledge
• Meredith, J. R & Mantel, S. J., (2008) Project Management: A Managerial Approach 7th Edition, Wiley
• Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J. (2013). A general framework for gauging the performance of initiatives to enhance organizational value. British Journal of Management, 23, S6-S22.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 1: Course Introduction, Criteria for effective Project Management Tools and Techniques.
2	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 2: Project Planning Overview and Project Scope Management Tools and Techniques
3	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 3: Project time management Tools and Techniques
4	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 4: Project Cost Management Tools and Techniques	Assessment 1 due
5	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 5: Project integration and Governance Tools and Techniques	Presentation
6	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 6: Project Quality & Benefits Management Tools and Techniques	Assessment 2 due
7	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 7: Project Human Resource Management, Organization and Culture Tools and Techniques
8	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 8: Project Stakeholder Management & Communication Tools and Techniques
9	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 9: Project Performance & Reporting Tools and Techniques
10	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 10: Project Procurement Management & Project Risk Management Tools and Techniques	Assessment 3 due
11	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 11: Projects as Change Management	Presentation
12	Lecture/In-class Exercises - Week 12: Aligning tools and techniques with methodologies. Course Summary & activity
13	Exam week	Assessments 4 & 5 due

Tutorial Registration

n/a

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Deliverable 1: Selection and Introduction of a Project for critical analysis (Practice-oriented; Group work) (15%)	15 %	15/03/2024	22/03/2024	1,2,5
Deliverable 2: Strengths and weaknesses of a Project Management Tool or Technique (Research-oriented; Individual work) (25%)	25 %	29/03/2024	05/04/2024	1,2,3,4,5
Deliverable 3: Development of a Catalogue of Project Management Tools and Techniques (Practice-oriented; Group work) (25%)	25 %	10/05/2024	17/05/2024	1,2,3,4,5
Deliverable 4: Reflective report (Practice-oriented; Individual work) (25%)	25 %	29/05/2024	27/06/2024	1,2,3,4,5
Deliverable 5: In-class contribution (Practice-oriented; Individual work) (10%)	10 %	31/05/2024	27/06/2024	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation is expected in all course activities and assessments. Seminars will be Echo recorded and consultations will be available via face-to-face and Zoom.

Attendance at seminars, lectures, and tutorials, while not compulsory, is expected in line with "Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning," Clause 2 paragraph (b). Where students will not be able to attend a seminar, lecture and tutorial, they should advise the Convenor and discuss how to address the learning materials instead.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations.

Assessment Task 1

Deliverable 1: Selection and Introduction of a Project for critical analysis (Practice-oriented; Group work) (15%)

Details of task and presentation requirements:

Select a project for critical analysis and describe the following initial elements of a Project Plan:

• Objective
• Background
• Scope
• Deliverables
• Key stakeholders

Materials: All information required to complete the tasks will be provided on Wattle no less than 2 weeks before the due date.

Presentation requirements: according to templates covered in class and no more than 800 words (excluding table of content and references). Any portion in excess of the word limit will not be read and marked. More information about assessment task will be provided on the Wattle course site.

Submission date: 5:00 pm Friday of Week 4 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site. A summary is to be presented in class at week 5.

Return of assessment: One week after submission.

Feedback: Exercises will be discussed in class the week following submission. Papers will be marked and feedback provided.

Marking Criteria: Provided on Wattle no later than 2 weeks prior to submission.

Groups will be formed by self-selection in Weeks 1 and 2 in groups of 3-4 students based on topics of shared interest.

Students who do not form into a team by the middle of week 2 will be allocated into a team by the lecturer.

The same groups will operate throughout the semester. 

Assessment Task 2

Deliverable 2: Strengths and weaknesses of a Project Management Tool or Technique (Research-oriented; Individual work) (25%)

Details of task and presentation requirements:

Select and research a Project Management Tool or Technique that would be appropriate for the project selected for your group.

Develop a methodology and critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Tool or Technique and discuss why it is appropriate for the project selected for your group.

The selected Tool or Technique is not to be in the same PMBoK Knowledge Area of the assignments of your project team members.

Materials: All information required to complete the tasks will be provided on Wattle no less than 2 weeks before the due date.

Presentation requirements: according to templates covered in class and no more than 2500 words (excluding table of content and references). Any portion in excess of the word limit will not be read and marked. More information about assessment task will be provided on the Wattle course site.

Submission date: 5:00 pm Friday of Week 6 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Return of assessment: One week after submission.

Feedback: Exercises will be discussed in class the week following submission. Papers will be marked and feedback provided. 

Marking Criteria: Provided on Wattle no later than 2 weeks prior to submission.

Assessment Task 3

Deliverable 3: Development of a Catalogue of Project Management Tools and Techniques (Practice-oriented; Group work) (25%)

Details of task and presentation requirements:

Aggregate the selected Project Management Tools or Techniques that your team members selected in assignment 2 and supplement to describe the complete suite of Tools and Techniques you would employ to manage your selected project.

Briefly justify your selection.

Materials: All information required to complete the tasks will be provided on Wattle no less than 2 weeks before the due date.

Presentation requirements: according to templates covered in class of around 2500 words (excluding table of content and references). Any portion in excess of the word limit will not be read and marked. More information about assessment task will be provided on the Wattle course site.

Submission date: 5:00 pm Friday of Week 10 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site. A summary is to be presented in class at week 11.

Return of assessment: One week after submission.

Feedback: Exercises will be discussed in class the week following submission. Papers will be marked and feedback provided. 

Marking Criteria: Provided on Wattle no later than 2 weeks prior to submission.

Assessment Task 4

Deliverable 4: Reflective report (Practice-oriented; Individual work) (25%)

Details of task and requirements:

Reflect and comment upon one contemporary issue in project management and how that relates to a particular industry, region or situation.

Identify the cause, impact and how the use of a specific tool and technique may contribute to addressing that issue.

Describe how that tool or technique could be effectively deployed into an organisation using ab appropriate change management approach.

Note that the use of unreferenced AI such as ChatGPT to generate an essay or report is not allowed an will be considered to be plagiarism. Students are required to demonstrate achievement of critical, analytical and synthesis skills in high quality works.

Materials: All information required to complete the tasks will be provided on Wattle no less than 2 weeks before the due date.

Presentation requirements: according to templates covered in class and no more than 3000 words (excluding table of content and references). Any portion in excess of the word limit will not be read and marked. More information about assessment task will be provided on the Wattle course site.

Submission date: 5:00 pm Wednesday of Week 13 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Return of assessment: After the release of final grades.

Marking Criteria: Provided on Wattle no later than 2 weeks prior to submission.

Assessment Task 5

Deliverable 5: In-class contribution (Practice-oriented; Individual work) (10%)

Details of task and requirements:

You are expected to attend seminars and contribute to in-class activities and discussions. This mark will be awarded based your contributions to in-class discussions and your participation in team activities and across the cohort. Written submissions may be required as part of evidence of participation.

Marking Criteria:

Higher marks will be awarded to students who raise and answer substantive issues and questions, share relevant ideas, observations and personal experiences, and point out relationships to related topics and discussions. The quality of participation is valued over quantity and inputs must add significant intellectual value to discussions and demonstrate competency to:

• explain and illustrate the organisational context and environment within which project management operates;
• define, explain and illustrate the project management framework and common tools;
• explain and illustrate the linkages and interrelationships of deployment and project management from a strategic perspective;
• examine, reflect and comment upon contemporary issues in project management both nationally and internationally

Materials: All information required to complete the tasks will be provided on Wattle by Week 2.

Submission dates: Assessment is ongoing up to Week 12.

Return of assessment: After the release of final grades.

Marking Criteria: Provided on Wattle no later than Week 2.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted through the CBE extension request portal: CBE Assessment Extension Request Form. Further information on this process can be found at https://rsm.anu.edu.au/study/students/extension-application-procedure

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Please see relevant assessment task details.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assessment requirements, re-submissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students