Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 4 2013

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

Rationale

In Australia and worldwide there are increasingly large-scale, complex projects being developed as government and organisations take advantage of new technologies and replace aging infrastructure, but do so in a context of increasing public concern over the potential negative fiscal, social and environmental impacts of such projects.

Identification of challenging issues, followed by data collection, analysis and synthesis into a plan of action is critical to the success of complex project managers.

In this unit participants will work with the Project Complexity Manager to identify a challenging issue. The student will then prepare a Proposal for how to address the issue. After implementing the Proposal the student will write a report use these findings to write a report and present their recommendations to the Project Manager. They will then reflect and report their leanings to QUT faculty.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide managers with the opportunity to integrate and apply the perspectives, knowledge, skills, and capabilities gained in the EMCPM program.

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
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Develop and apply methods to address problems/opportunities in complex projects
2. Develop, implement and evaluate the proposed methodology
3. Synthesize information from the EMCPM/EMBSP course to analyse the data
4. Develop specific strategies and make recommendations relevant to the problems/opportunities found in the project
5. Conduct a strategic conversation with the workplace owner and make recommendations in oral and written formats.
6. Reflect on the learning experience in this unit and the EMCPM/EMBSP

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

• Complexity challenges in the workplace


• Investigating project challenges


• Developing your project strategy and plan


• Writing a proposal

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

• 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.


• Students are expected to source relevant written material before each meeting


• Students are expected to bring a real-life team problem from their workplace to form the basis of their individual assessment assignment


• A variety of resources are available online. Not least of these resources are members of the GSZ524 class, and the lecturers, all of whom are available via e-mail.

Assessment name: Project proposal
Description: Students are to write a short but convincing proposal for the Project Complexity Manager for whom they are conducting the investigation. This will be a proposal for a study to address a problem/opportunity relevant to the program. This proposal will lay the foundation for Assessment 2. As a Capstone unit, the proposal may address any aspect covered in the EMCPM/EMBSP program and identified as a need by the Project Complexity Manager.

Length: 750 words
Relates to objectives: Unit Objectives 1, 6
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 29 Oct 2012

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Written report, Feedback from Manager, Oral Presentation

In this assessment task, students are required to report on the Project Consultation including a thorough description of the methods used, the data gathered, the analysis of the data and the recommendations proposed. You will also develop strategies to address the problem/opportunity identified. The workplace manager will also provide feedback on usefulness of project investigation and recommendations and students will also present their results to the cohort and academic coordinator.

3000 word report/15 minute presentation

Report 50%; Manager feedback 20%; Presentation 30%
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Weight: 100%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 14 Dec 2012

Assessment name: Report to DMO
Description: You are required to provide the CEO of the DMO with a one page written brief of your project and your findings. While this task does not count towards the assessment mark for the unit it is a compulsory requirement of the DMO that a brief be provided. Please send the brief to Ms Fiona Beckmann the DMO Executive Officer.
Relates to objectives: N/A
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Jan 2013

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

GSZ524 Learning Guide
Blackboard site

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: 04-Mar-2013