Units
Project Management Practice
Unit code: INB123
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
In your information technology career it is very likely that you will work on and lead project teams to achieve business outcomes. You will achieve more effective outcomes by employing a project management method. The aim of this course is to familiarise you with the PRINCE2® method so that you could successfully work within and lead project teams. At the conclusion of this unit you will may be eligible to sit the externally provided PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner accreditation examinations.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2012 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
In your information technology career it is very likely that you will work on and lead project teams to achieve business outcomes. You will achieve more effective outcomes by employing a project management method.
Aims
The aim of this course is to familiarise you with the PRINCE2® method so that you could successfully work within and lead project teams. At the conclusion of this unit you may be eligible to sit the externally provided PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner accreditation examinations.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to organise and lead a project. This includes theoretical knowledge of the project processes and the interwoven project elements that require continual oversight (GC1);
- Demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking in the reduction of business goals to project activities using a project management method (GC2);
- Exhibit a professional and systematic approach to the identification of organisational needs through the writing of project plans and conduct of project lifecycle activities (GC2, GC3);
- Demonstrate the ability to work as an effective project team member taking leadership responsibility (driving or monitoring activities) in certain tasks when required (GC7, GC5);
Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change
Content
A detailed investigation of the PRINCE2® Project Management Method including:
- Strategic and Operational Environment of Projects
- Developing a Business Case
- Risk Management Strategy
- Communication Strategy
- Product-Based Planning
- Progress Monitoring on Projects
- Project Quality Control
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Your learning opportunities within this unit are enhanced by its learning environment. You will come to appreciate the breadth of project management principles, processes, themes and techniques used in industry. You will experience the teaching approach for PRINCE2® as set out by the global organisation (APMG) that accredits PRINCE2® project managers at the Foundation and Practitioner levels.
Lectures will provide detailed guidance on the principles, processes, components and techniques. Application of these processes, components and techniques in workshops will enhance your understanding. You will also experience activities that will prepare you for the accreditation examinations.
NOTE: A PRINCE2® Accreditation is on offer to Internal Students only. The Accredited Training Organisation that accredits the QUT unit does not have a licence to offer the qualification to external students. Mandatory face-to-face attendance is required to gain the PRINCE2® Accreditation.
Assessment
There will be three assessment items that form part of this course:
Note: The APMG PRINCE2® accreditation examination is a separate assessment process conducted by a 3rd party PRINCE2® Authorised Training Organisation (ATO). QUT partners with the PRINCE2® ATO, Yellowhouse, who provide these examinations. This unit prepares students for the 'Foundation' and 'Practitioner' level accreditation examinations. A 1 hour Foundation accreditation examination is run during Week 13. A Practitioner exam is normally run after the exam block. Students may opt to pay the accreditation examination fees and sit these exams. For those not sitting the 'Foundation' accreditation exam they may sit a practice exam run at the same time.You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Practical Exercises - In workshops, you will solve project management problems of limited scope using appropriate rules or techniques. You will reflect on these problems with your peers.
Relates to objectives:
1 - 4
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group with Individual Component
Due date:
Throughout semester
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
Assignments - You will prepare PRINCE2® project management reports based on prepared case studies.
Relates to objectives:
1 - 4
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Throughout semester
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
You will answer multiple choice questions under examination conditions.
Relates to objectives:
1 and 2
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Required Text:
Great Britain, Office of Government Commerce, Managing successful projects with PRINCE2®, 2009 Edition. London : Stationery Office (2009)
Students are strongly advised to purchase the textbook for this unit. Use of this reference textbook is a central component in the classroom discussions and usually required for successfully completing workshop assignment tasks. Please note there are significant changes to this 2009 edition from the 2005 edition. The 2005 edition is not recommended.
The final examination for this subject is an open book examination. The only resource you can take into the examination is this book (2009 edition). Printed copies of electronic versions of this book or photocopies of this book are not permitted in open-book examinations.
Risk assessment statement
There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit.
PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries. The PRINCE2® 2009 accreditation is offered through partnership with an Accredited Training Organisation, Yellowhouse Pty Ltd.
The PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner accreditation is offered as an optional extra for QUT students enrolled in INB123. QUT is under no obligation to offer this accreditation to students. The option to obtain the PRINCE2® Foundation or Practitioner accreditation can be withdrawn at anytime.
Students who nominate to sit the PRINCE2® Foundation or Practitioner exam(s) enter into a contract with the APMG Accredited Training Organisation, Yellowhouse Pty Ltd and are subject to the terms of this contract.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 07-Jun-2012
