Project risk & issues management explores the management of the risks and issues that arise before and during a projects execution.  This involves:  development of a conceptual framework, analysis of the way in which risks and issues influence project decisions, and examination of processes to manage risks and issues throughout the life of a project.

PRIM does not align with any particular methodology in risk and issue management.  Armed with the theoretical principles and techniques that we will explore, students will be able to evaluate the appropriateness and gauge the limitations of the approaches used within their own organisations.  AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 (a case in point), is found to be a special instance of the general risk framework covered in PRIM.

The objective of PRIM is to equip students with essential skills that will enable them to participate meaningfully in the management of project risk and issues.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe the unique characteristics and challenges in creating and maintaining a governance framework which supports (and documents) transparent decision-making;
2. Explain with examples and illustrate the limitations of risk management tools and techniques;
3. Critically discuss the nature of risk and its impact on the project environment;
4. Develop a strong knowledge of the interdependencies of the cyclical risk management process (identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring);
5. Analyse the quality of a project risk management framework in real-life scenarios; and,
6. Create a project risk management plan for the delivery of projects of scaleable sizes.

Research-Led Teaching

This course is taught in seminar format comprising of lecture and in-class tutorial/discussion/exercises. Lectures may be recorded and made available on Echo360/Wattle. The lecture content is driven by research in the field of project management. Students are encouraged to engage in a range of research activities. In addition, other data, research and concepts will be presented during the lectures that may not be in the text book. The lectures will contain a central presentation followed by classroom activities during the tutorial in the application of learned material and participation in case studies.

Additional Course Costs

No additional class costs

Examination Material or equipment

See Assessment Task 1. More information on quiz will be made available on Wattle at least a week before the quiz. Additional examination information will be available on https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/ .

Required Resources

The required resources for the course include lecture slides and reading materials that are uploaded onto Wattle on a weekly basis. 

Recommended Resources

Title: "The Rules of Project Risk Management : Implementation Guidelines for Major Projects"

Authors: Chapman, Robert James

Edition: Second edition, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-367-20932-2(hbk)

ISBN: 978-0-429-28182-2(hbk)

Online textbook: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=5894054

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.

Other Information

The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife/

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1: Introduction to the Course.	The course structure and assessmentsBasic terminologies in the context of risk management
2	Week 2: Why Projects Are Risky?	Risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability definitionsTypes of disruptive eventsKey characteristics contributing to project risk
3	Week 3:Project Risk Management Framework and Processes	ISO31000 risk management principles, framework and, process
4	Week 4: Tools and Techniques for Project Risk Management	Tools and techniques for risk identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation
5	Week 5: In-Class Quiz	The in-class quiz assess the understanding of risk management concepts and techniques discussed within the first four weeks of the course
6	Week 6: A Holistic Lifecycle Approach to Project Risk Management	Risks across the project's life from business case development to realisation of project outcomesPrioritising project risks using Pareto analysis
7	Week 7: Systemic and Cascading Risk	Definition of systemic riskSystem dynamics modelling for risk management
8	Week 8: A Complex Systems Approach to Project Risk Management	Open systems theory and its application in risk managementA critical systems practice approach to risk management
9	Week 9: Project Resilience	Resilience definitionResilience stages Resilience capabilities Due: Major Assignment - Report (by 5pm on Monday)
10	Week 10: Group Presentations and discussions (1)- Major Assignment	In class group presentations and discussions (1)Groups are to email their Major Assignment Presentations (in PowerPoint) to the convener by 5pm on Wednesday Week 10Due: Major Assignment - Presentations
11	Week 11: Group Presentations and discussions (2)- Major Assignment	In class group presentations and discussions (2)- Remaining groups to present, continued from Week 10Remaining groups are to email their Major Assignment Presentations (in PowerPoint) to the convener by 5pm on Wednesday Week 11Due: Major Assignment - Presentations
12	Week 12: Course Review	Review and Conclusion

Tutorial Registration

N/A as this course is taught in seminar mode

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assessment of risk management concepts, principles, and techniques discussed from week 1 to week 4 (Individual Quiz)	20 %	22/08/2024	29/08/2024	1,2,4
Risk Management Plan (Individual Assessment)	30 %	16/09/2024	30/09/2024	3,4,5,6
Major Assignment - Oral Presentation (Group Assessment)	20 %	10/10/2024	28/10/2024	1,2,3,4,5,6
Major Assessment-Report (Group Assessment)	30 %	31/10/2024	28/11/2024	1,2,3,4,5,6

* 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

The course will be delivered on campus (Face-to-Face).

Examination(s)

More information on examination will be made available on Wattle at least 2 weeks before the examination period. Additional examination information will be available on https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/  

Assessment Task 1

Assessment of risk management concepts, principles, and techniques discussed from week 1 to week 4 (Individual Quiz)

The "in-class quiz" will comprehensively assess topics covered in the course spanning from week 1 to week 4, and it will be conducted in person.

Purpose:

To demonstrate your understanding of key risk management concepts, principles, and techniques discussed from week 1 to week 4.

Marking Criteria:

Marking criteria for this assessment will be made available on Wattle

Value:

20%

Assessment Type:

This is a close-book individual quiz.

Time limit:

90 minutes

Due date:

Week 5 (22 August, 2024). 90 minutes time frame to complete this in-class quiz.

Return of Assessment:

Week 6 (29 August, 2024)

Note: Late submission is not allowed for this assessment task

More information on this assessment task will be made available on Wattle in preceding weeks.

Assessment Task 2

Risk Management Plan (Individual Assessment)

Students are required to individually develop a comprehensive Risk Management Plan for a chosen project, identifying and evaluating the top 10 risks involved. Provide detailed commentary on each identified risk and justify the chosen risk treatment strategies.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that students develop a critical understanding of risk and its impact on project environments, gain comprehensive knowledge of the risk management process, analyse the effectiveness of risk management frameworks in real-life scenarios, and acquire the skills to create detailed risk management plans for projects of varying scales (Learning Outcomes 3,4,5,and 6).

Marking criteria:

Marking criteria for this assessment will be made available on Wattle.

Value:

30%

Assessment Type:

Individual

Word limit: 

1500 words.

No more than 1,500 words (Penalties for exceeding the word limit will be applied as follows: 150 - 200 words excess (– 5%) of the grade awarded; 201- 300 words excess (-10%) of the grade awarded; >300 words excess (- 20%) of the grade awarded).

Due Date:

5pm Monday 16 September, 2024

Form of submission:

via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment:

By Monday 30 September, 2024

Note: Late submission of this assessment will be subject to the guidelines outlined in the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure.

Utilising AI tools such as ChatGPT for the generation of this assignment is not allowed, as it is akin to plagiarism. Students are expected to showcase their critical, analytical, and synthesis skills through the production of high-quality works, adhering to academic integrity standards.

Assessment Task 3

Major Assignment - Oral Presentation (Group Assessment)

By the end of week 3, teams will be formed to work on the Major Assignment. The assignment requires research on project risk management (to be allocated to each team by the course convener).The groups will consist of approximately 4-5 students, depending on the overall size of the class. We expect groups to work collaboratively with equal contribution from each member towards the successful completion of the project. Detailed instructions regarding this assignment will be given during the lectures.

The Major Assignment has two parts: This oral presentation of an overview of your research and the initial findings (20% of total marks) and a separate written report (Task 4, 30% of total marks) and.

Purpose:

Group work is a critical skill in project management, thus this major assignment is a very important part of the course, not just for the necessary academic learning but also for the practice of teamwork.

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines and marking criteria will be posted on Wattle in Week 6.

Value:

20%

Assessment Type:

Group

Time limit:

To be confirmed by the Lecturer in week 6.

Due Date:

Groups (presenting on 10 October, 2024) should email their PowerPoint presentations to the convener by 5pm Wednesday 9 October, 2024 (Remaining groups should email their presentation slides by 5pm Wednesday 16 October, 2024). The exact details of which group will present during which week, will be decided by the course convener.

Form of submission:

The presentations will be held in the classes. Details will be confirmed by the Lecturer in week 6.

Oral presentations:

Presentation will be held in class on weeks 10 and 11 (10 and 17 October, 2024)

Return of assessment:

Week 12 (by 27 October, 2024)

Note: Late submission is not allowed for this assessment task.

Presentations will be video recorded, which will enable later validation and verification of assessment if required (in accordance with point 7 in the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy)

More information on this assessment task will be made available on Wattle.

Utilising AI tools such as ChatGPT for the generation of this assignment is not allowed, as it is akin to plagiarism. Students are expected to showcase their critical, analytical, and synthesis skills through the production of high-quality works, adhering to academic integrity standards.

Assessment Task 4

Major Assessment-Report (Group Assessment)

By the end of week 3, teams will be formed to work on the Major Assignment. The assignment requires research on project risk management (to be allocated to each team by the course convener) and will require the development of a substantial report. The groups undertaking this assessment, will have the same membership to the groups that undertook Assessment Task 3. 

Detailed instructions regarding this assignment will be given during the lectures.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assessment is to comprehensively evaluate your understanding and application of critical aspects of project risk management (Learning Outcomes 1 to 6)

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, including the presentation order and marking criteria, will be posted on Wattle in Week 6

Value:

30%

Assessment Type:

Group (More information on group formation and group work will be made available after Week 1 on Wattle and/or in class)

Word limit: 

2000 words report.

No more than 2,000 words (Penalties for exceeding the word limit will be applied as follows: 200 - 250 words excess (– 5%) of the grade awarded; 251- 350 words excess (-10%) of the grade awarded; >350 words excess (- 20%) of the grade awarded).

Due Date:

5pm Thursday 31 October, 2024

Form of submission:

via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment:

Thursday 28 November, 2024

Note: Late submission is not allowed for this assessment task.

Utilising AI tools such as ChatGPT for the generation of this assignment is not allowed, as it is akin to plagiarism. Students are expected to showcase their critical, analytical, and synthesis skills through the production of high-quality works, adhering to academic integrity standards.

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

Note: Late submission is not allowed for assessment tasks 1,3, and 4.

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. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

All assessment extension requests must be submitted via the CBE Assessment Extension Request Form

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 details above

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 assignments requirements, resubmissions 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