Units
Project Administration
Unit code: UDB420
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit provides an introduction into project administration in the building construction industry. It will prepare you for the administrative and contractual interactions that occur between the Contractors and Sub-contractors during a project.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- UD40
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Subcontracting has become firmly established within the building and construction industry. Through this process the main contractor can control and coordinate the work which they release to the subcontractors. To administer the subcontract process, you need to be familiar with the administrative procedures between contractor and subcontractors from the early tendering stage to final completion of the building project. This unit is undertaken as part of the compulsory applications minor in Construction Management due to the increasing importance of subcontracting administration. It will normally be completed in Year 3, Semester 2.
Aims
The unit aims to develop your professional skills and capabilities in pre-contract and post-contract administration from the main contractor's perspective. It will also introduce you to: project cost control systems relative to project cost controlling, managing changes and variations, and forecasting final cost reporting.
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following discipline specific capabilities at a professional level:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts associated with the administrative issues of compiling a tender submission for a building construction project from a contractor's perspective
2. Use analytical thinking and problem solving skills to establish a trade budget, develop a procurement program and prepare project cashflow.
3. Develop and implement the procedures required to successfully select the right subcontractor including the creation of the correct documentation, processes and best practice approaches.
4. Analyse and manage the financial control and reporting of projects through a cost control system which embraces the four fundamental steps of management control: setting performance standards, performance measurement, performance evaluation and taking corrective action.
5. Analyse and report on-site administration problems and issues that may arise during the planning and construction of a project and determine strategies to successfully overcome these.
Content
Effective contract administration helps to clearly identify the relationships and obligations between the various parties, and minimise misunderstandings and litigation, reducing the potential for conflict and costly errors. This allows the main contractor to manage operations such as supervision, quality control, project co-ordination and timelines, and general site services.
Drawing from the aims and learning outcomes, this Unit specifically targets the development of skills in the following four stages of a project:
Familiarisation Stage:
- submitting tender estimates to client
- administering tender submission reviews
- establishing preliminary items, i.e. the direct costs of a building construction project
- managing trade budgets and the related cost controlling centres, i.e. cost coding
Planning Stage:
- procurement programs or off-site schedules
- project cash inflow and outflow projections derived from the project construction program
Subcontract Tendering Stage:
- pre-subcontract management processes relating to selection of tenderers
- tender documentation
- tendering procedures
- tender evaluation and those activities required prior to awarding the subcontract
Post Subcontract Tendering Stage:
- administration activities relating to both main contract and subcontract
- changes and variations
- controlling project cost
- forecasting final project cost and reporting
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Lectures: 2 hours
Tutorial: 1 hour
Teaching and learning strategies are designed to encourage you to fulfil the aims and objectives of the unit as outlined above. The strategies are as follows:
- The delivery of this unit is based around 13 x 2 hour interactive lectures and 13 x 1 hour tutorials. These will include group discussions and the analysis of real world case-studies drawn from the building construction industry. Where applicable student's prior knowledge of the construction industry will be drawn upon to facilitate informed class discussion.
- Lectures will provide the framework to develop the understandings and skills of the unit. These will introduce new material each week including problem-based learning activities involving class participation. Lectures will also use case-studies and problems from real building construction projects to illustrate key ideas. Topic notes placed on the UDB420 Blackboard site WILL NOT include specific details covered in lectures, but rather provide supplementary materials and outlines of the lectures.
- Tutorials will be designed to give you additional opportunities to develop understanding of the key concepts provided in lectures. They will provide both revision of the lecture material from the previous week and support students with their preparation for assignments and examinations.
Assessment
The assessment in this unit will support your understanding of the learning outcomes for both Discipline Knowledge and Graduate Capabilities. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to receive ongoing feedback on your learning as you progress towards the demonstration the unit's learning outcomes.This unit incorporates combined formative/summative assessment through submission of three assignments, which will be marked using criterion referenced assessment (CRA) and returned with feedback to enable you to understand how you are progressing and how your work can be improved. You will be able to discuss your progression with your lecturer during the semester. Written feedback will be provided on assessments.
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
You will research a real-world project which involved significant on-site project management and administration problems relating to cost and/or time overruns. In your report you will present an analysis of the issues which contributed to these problems.
Length: 1500 - 2000 words
Relates to objectives:
4 & 5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
The examination consists of multiple choice and short answer questions. The examination will cover all aspects of the Unit covered in Week 1 to Week 13 inclusive.
Relates to objectives:
1 to 5
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Central 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:
1. Standards Australia - General conditions of contract (AS2124-1992)
2. Standards Australia - Subcontract conditions (AS2545-1993)
3. Standards Australia - Code of tendering (AS4120-1994)
Recommended Reading:
1. Harris, Frank and McCaffer, Rondald 2006 Modern Construction Management 6th ed. Blackwell Publishing
Other Resources:
There is a Unit website on Blackboard and students are required to check this regularly for lecture and tutorial notes, additional references and materials.
Additional Costs:
There are no extraordinary costs associated with this unit. You should allow for costs involved in downloading materials from the Blackboard and copying resources (where appropriate).
Risk assessment statement
Students in this Unit will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace, health and safety issues associated with these components of the Unit. You will undertake a Health & Safety Induction which is completed on-line.
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: 02-May-2012
