IT Project and Change Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

200 hours

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For the purposes of considering request 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 Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Aims

This subject covers management of information technology projects and leading project teams and associated change management roles, tasks and processes. Topics include the project life cycle, project tasks and deliverables, project scheduling, critical path analysis, resource levelling, risk management, quality assurance and project delivery including post implementation reviews. The limits of projects as change agents will also be covered.

Indicative Content

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

On completion of this subject the student is expected to:

1. Identification of requirements, functional and non-functional, for a project
2. Development of detailed project plans, schedules, and budgets, estimate project resources, allocate/coordinate resources, and describe interface with management
3. Application of tools and techniques of project planning and management, possibly including the use of project management software
4. Identification, and evaluation of risks associated with projects
5. Description of the human and organizational implications of change and explanation of the organizational change process and the limitations of projects as change agents
6. Description of ways of overcoming resistance and handling politics

• One 5,000 word planning report, completed in groups of three or four, due in Week 7, requiring approximately 48-52 hours per student (35%). Addresses Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 2, 3 & 4.
• One 1,300 word individual report critically analysing a project case scenario in Week 11, requiring approximately 32-37 hours per student (25%). Addresses ILOs 3, 4, 5 & 6.
• A 2-hour written, closed book examination, during the Examination period (40%). Addresses ILOs 1, 3, 4, 5, & 6.

Hurdle requirement: To pass the subject students must obtain at least:

• 50% of the marks available for the non-examnation based assessment
• 50% of the marks available for the examination

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• Have in-depth knowledge of a specialist area through exposure and study of project management areas of knowledge
• Reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities problem-solving and communication through the writing of project analyses
• Team-work, through working on a group project
• Report-writing skills
• Presentation skills

Learning And Teaching Methods
The subject is delivered in 3 hour classes, with each class containing: a lecture presentation, collaborative discussion and activities, and self-study of research related articles.

Indicative Key Learning Resources
Students will have access to lecture slides and tutorial worksheets. The following textbooks has been prescribed:

• Meredith, Jack R. and Mantel, Samuel J. Project management : a managerial approach / Jack R. Meredith, Samuel J. Mantel, Jr Wiley, New York : 2008
• Marchewka, Jack T. Information technology project management. Wiley, 2009.

Careers/Industry Links
This subject is relevant to students pursuing project management roles in industry as well as IT professionals in general. Students will be discussing challenges in the practice of management projects. Real world cases of organizations attempting to manage their projects will form the background of some lectures. Industry practitioners will be invited to present their experiences to students.