Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 7 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The business of complex global projects is dominated by concerns of jurisdiction, security, and trust. Within this operating context, the judicious attention to the social as well as technical aspects of project management becomes a core competency. This unit focuses attention on developing, maintaining and securing the contractual relationships within and between project partners. It pays particular theoretical and pragmatic attention to identifying and building strategic relationships and embedding trust as a core social relation in contracts. The management and measurement of trust as a key indicator within relationships is a further emphasis of the unit.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to understand the importance and usefulness of relational contracting, trust and governance in managing contractual relationships.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Corporate Programs)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Program Goal 1: Understand Self and Lead Others in an International Environment (ULO)

1.1 Develop the personal attributes of action and outcome orientation, ability to influence and self-knowledge that distinguish the manager of complex projects.
1.2 Develop and demonstrate the leadership and communication skills to manage the staff involved in complex projects
1.3 Work effectively in managing people and a wide range of stakeholders through understanding of culture cognition, personality and human lifecycle.

Program Goal 2: Lead Strategic Planning, Design and Implementation (SPDI)

2.1 Understand the context of complex projects and the design and implementation of appropriate project strategy and systems to match emergent requirements
2.2 Demonstrate the capacity to design, establish and manage the organisational architecture for complex projects
2.3 Develop the understanding and skill to deliver probity and governance requirements for complex projects
2.4 Develop the capacity to design and implement innovative business planning, reporting and performance measurement systems.

Program Goal 3: Think Holistically: Innovate and Creatively Problem Solve (TH)

3.1 Develop the insights to manage people and systems subject to on-going change and constantly adapt to emergent conditions
3.2 Demonstrate the capacity to envision novel, critical and creative responses to complex and emerging problems

Program Goal 4: Develop the understanding of and skill to design, manage and lead strategic procurement practices that respond to the challenges of the complex organisational and project management environment. (SP)

4.1 Develop, plan and implement a comprehensive and effective acquisition strategy to deliver complex strategic capabilities.
4.2 Assess and implement the contractual requirements of a complex acquisition taking into account the implications of international law and conventions, intellectual property rights, and ensuring the appropriate allocation and mitigation of contractual risks.
4.3 Develop, plan and implement strategic sourcing arrangements covering the capability life-cycle.

Unit Objectives
At the completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1. Differentiate between relational contracting and traditional contracting and the role that trust plays in contracting
2. Analyse the issues and risks arising from adversarial type of contracting compared with relational contracting
3. Identify how corporate culture can impact on relational contracting and evaluate the governance arrangements for relational contracting
4. Evaluate non-traditional KPIs that may be used in a range of contract situations and identify performance measures in standard contracting for contract delivery, including no blame and alternative dispute resolution standards.
5. Manage key issues in contractual relationships, including planning, controlling, leading and trust.

Content

1. Governance
2. Governance requirements
3. Governance contracting
4. Relational contracting
5. Alliance contracting
6. Traditional contracts
7. Trust
8. Negotiation
9. Performance measurement
10. Measuring trust
11. No blame issues resolution

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A blended learning approach is taken with this unit. Students will engage with the material through a blend of:

• Guided instruction, learning activities, readings and cases presented in a comprehensive study guide. Students are expected to engage with the readings and learning activities in the study guide prior to the face to face session.


• A comprehensive set of readings, cases, workplace documents and other authentic materials that will be provided in advance with the study guide. Set texts for units will be provided in advance to students.


• Intensive face-to-face sessions for each of the modules of the unit, where students will actively engage in exploring the concepts, issues and cases provided in the study guide. A focus on facilitated group learning and collaboration is a feature of the face-to-face sessions rather than content input by the lecturer.


• A Blackboard learning site where additional materials, and computer simulations can be shared through the life of the unit. Collaboration tools for students such as blogs, wikis, discussion forums, and group tools will be a feature of the Blackboard site.


• There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered, and students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Students will write an essay exploring the differences between relational contracting and traditional contracting (which tends to be more adversarial). Students will argue how these differences influence the types of structures adopted by contracting parties and the likely outcomes achieved by them.

How students will be assessed: Students will be assessed against criteria detailed in the criterion referenced assessment schedule.

Length: 1500 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 4, 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 3

Assessment name: Case Analysis
Description: Students will analyse a given case study and make recommendations about the most effective means of pursuing the proposed relationship described in the case. Students will support their analysis with evidence drawn from the literature to justify their recommendations to develop, maintain and secure contractual relationships between the project partners described in the case.

How students will be assessed: Students will be assessed against criteria detailed in the criterion referenced assessment schedule.
Relates to objectives: Links to unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

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

GSZ521 Study Guide and Readings
GSZ521 Blackboard unit site
Set text

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

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: 15-Oct-2012