Project Management in Science

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

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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 for 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/

Projects drive most modern science organisations. Learn how to plan and manage projects, and to relate to a client, team members, and to other stakeholders. The subject covers the processes and tools / techniques in project management as well as the ‘soft side’ of managing people in projects. The subject uses the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) covering the competencies in project management including scope, time, cost, quality, resource, risk, communication and integration management.

Students should be able to:

• plan a science consulting project;
• list and describe the stages of the project life cycle, and the tasks and deliverables for each stage;
• describe and apply key processes in project management including risk management;
• apply various techniques in project execution and monitoring including diagramming techniques such as PERT charts, the critical path method and resource levelling;
• describe and apply leadership and management capabilities required for managing projects.

A 2000-word planning report due at the end of week 6 - 40%

Two critiques of planning reports due at the end of week 8 each of 600 words - 10%

A two day ‘take home’ impact and replanning task during week 11 with a 1000 word report on proposed actions - 20%

Open Book 3-hour final exam - 30%

None. Readings will provided on-line.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students should have honed generic skills such as clear thinking, improved reading and writing, enhanced ability to work in a team of people, and presentation skills.