Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

It is imperative that project managers have a comprehensive understanding of all of the critical elements within the procurement process. They also need to possess the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to avoid disputes and minimize the risks of unsuccessful contract outcomes. This unit will cover these essential elements of project management.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to help you examine and understand the development of strategies for the procurement and delivery of projects. It uses a problem-solving approach that considers project objectives, different procurement solutions, a variety of procurement decision models, along with implementation of different procurement strategies mindful of the role of procurement in organisations.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:

1. Identify and analyse project and client requirements and objectives;
2. Identify and evaluate procurement solution options for project works of varying complexity, discussing their comparative strengths and weaknesses, and the consideration of the particular risks associated with procurement choices;
3. Identify, analyse and take into account any requirements for specialist works before finally selecting a particular procurement strategy;
4. Anticipate the problems that may commonly arise during the procurement process and take appropriate steps to avoid or deal with them; and,
5. Prepare an acquisition plan for the procurement of a complex project.

Content

This unit covers the following:

• Role of procurement in organisations and as a service function within the organisation;


• Stakeholders and negotiation in the supply chain;


• Relationship types, development and management;


• Business ethics and corporate citizenship in procurement;


• Make-or-Buy decision;


• Buying in the context of market structures and the dynamics of pricing rivalry;


• Project governance and documentation including nature of the exchange relationship;


• Project definition and relevant procurement strategies (including management contracting; single-point responsibility; design and build; partnering; alliancing; public-private partnerships and innovation in procurement);


• Project performance measures;


• Tendering arrangements and bid evaluation; and


• Contract management / administration general principles


• Arrangements at end of contract

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit objectives will be pursued through an amalgamation of lectures, interactive class discussions, case studies, readings and submissions. As a postgraduate student, you will be expected to offer a high level of participation and self-determination in regard to learning outcomes. Lectures will take the form of facilitation rather than a one-way delivery of information.

Project Managers are required to work both individually and as prime team members. In line with contemporary postgraduate education, team-based assessment will take a high priority in this unit. Teams for the assignments will consist of five or six members from different professional and personal backgrounds and will be nominated in week three.

Assessment

Assessment items for this unit will be made up of a combination of individual and group assignments and grades will be issued in accordance with Section C/5.1 of the QUT Manual of Policies and Procedures (MOPP). Group assignments will require the practice of operational skills in developing both a short procurement analysis and a detailed procurement plan. Criterion Referenced Assessment (CRA) will be issued for each assessment item of the unit.Formative feedback will be offered on assessment items work at key times as detailed in assignment briefs and will primarily be through annotated CRAs and through discussion in class settings.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: Report
This assessment will involve you writing about a generic procurement scenario and also involves critiquing any weaknesses in the processes and suggesting improvements (minimum 1,000 words, maximum 1,500 words)
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: This assessment will involve you writing an essay and analysis on procuring one package for a complex project using a model of procurement selected by you based on what you have learned in the first seven (7) lectures (minimum 3000 words, maximum 3,500 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Report
Description: This assessment will involve you working in a larger-group setting (group size of 5/6 maximum) and preparing a strategic procurement and delivery planning report based on the case study introduced in Assessment Item No. 2 (Minimum 4,500 words, maximum 6,000 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

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 (should be purchased):

1. Bailey, P., Farmer, D., Crocker, B., Jessop, D. And Jones. D. (2008), Procurement Principles and Management, 10th Edition, Financial Times/Prentice Hall, London, UK.
ISBN: 9780273713791

2. Lendrum, T. (2004), The Strategic Partnering Pocketbook, McGraw-Hill, Sydney, Australia.
ISBN: 9780074714034.

Recommended reading (not required to be purchased):

1. Walker, D.H.T. and Rowlinson, S. (2008), Procurement Systems: A Cross-industry Project Management Perspective, Taylor and Francis, London, UK.
ISBN: 9780415416061

2. Lendrum, T. (2003), The Strategic Partnering Handbook: The Practitioners' Guide to Partnerships and Alliances, McGraw-Hill, Sydney, Australia.
ISBN: 9780074708798

Other Resources:

You are also required to use the following:

The UDN594 website on QUT's Blackboard
- You can access QUT Library Databases online at QUT Library Databases
- You can access QUT cite/write online at QUT Cite|Write as well as via QV and QUT Blackboard Announcements module.


Other items selected by the unit coordinator will also be made available online to you for your use throughout the unit, or will be distributed at lectures as it pertains to the requirements of the daily programme. Relevant readings and other resources will be uploaded onto the unit Blackboard website either under the Course Materials Database (CMD) or under Learning Resources.

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures, tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres at QUT Gardens Point Campus. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues or risks associated with any components of the unit.

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: 23-May-2012