Advanced Cost Management

Subject ABPL90129 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

On campus

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 hours of lectures per week.
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: The following subject is a pre-requisite:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: None specified
Recommended Background Knowledge: None specified
Non Allowed Subjects: None specified
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Ajibade Aibinu

Contact

Environments and Design Student Centre
T: +61 3 8344 6417/9862
F: +61 3 8344 5532
Email: msd-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

Successful project development would depend on pro-active cost management from feasibility through to design, tender and construction, to the completion and useful life of the project. This subject examines applications of economics, management, law and statistical techniques that are applied to construction cost economics and management. Topics include:

  • advanced cost modeling; and cost forecast;
  • building cost index - principles, build up and uses;
  • professional practice;
  • the role of quantity surveyor during construction as it affects valuations preliminaries, fluctuations, change orders and accounts, provisional sums and prime cost sums;
  • valuation for interim certificates, change management; completion, defects and final accounts in practice;
  • interpretation of contract conditions;
  • claims and dispute resolution (attribution and expert witness/evidence);
  • principles of professional conduct and ethics;
  • investment appraisal;
  • value management;
  • cost - in use studies and life cycle costing (LCC);
  • feasibility studies;
  • tax depreciation;
  • technical due diligence;
  • emerging construction procurement techniques such as PFI/PPP.
Objectives:

Upon completion of this subject students should:

  • understand the roles and responsibilities of quality surveyors in the construction industry (including emerging roles);
  • understand the role of cost management as a means of managing a project through its life cycle in order to achieve value for the client;
  • understand construction processes used in non-residential construction;
  • critically evaluate alternative cost management practices;
  • broadly, understand the mandatory contractual procedures for administering project scope, quality, cost and time.
Assessment:
  • 2 written assignments each worth 20% (total 40%);
  • 3 hour exam (60%).

Students are required to achieve a mark of at least 40% in the exam in order to pass the subject.

Prescribed Texts: None specified
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:
  • prepare project cost estimates;
  • decision making and analytical skills as it applied to cost management i.e. economic analysis of project and project components and procurement advice;
  • effective participation as a team member and communication;
  • technical and financial reporting;
  • project evaluation, monitoring and cost reporting;
  • knowledge of how to apply cost management to complex buildings from design to project completion.
Related Course(s): Master of Construction Management
Master of Construction Management

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