Experiences in Industry

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

Completion of 100 points of the 200-point Master of Construction Management

OR

Completion of 200 points of the 300-point Master of Construction Management

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, 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 Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject examines the industrial behaviour of a variety of different types of firms active in the construction market through the experiences and reflections of key industry representatives. This will include examination of features related to the feasibility, design, construct, commissioning and operation phases of a construction project.

Organised as a series of structured discussions within a seminar format, the subject will expose students to a variety of industrial pathways, while positioning challenges and achievements of the sample of firms selected within their historical, economic and technological contexts.

Student's work will be to acquire industry information from class and formal research sources then organise, synthesise and determine possible futures of various sectors of the construction industry. This will assist in the student in formulating how future trends, constraints and opportunities may impact on various career opportunities. The student will write a formal career planning document formatively over the semester to articulate possible pathways for them, which will complement their skills, experiences, personalities and individual talents.

• To enable introspective examination of construction industry and markets in Australia, as well as the factors determining firms’ success and survival.
• To help students gain an insider’s view of the construction sector in Australia, which will strengthen their ability to make strategic decisions about their future.
• To connect firms’ dynamics with socio-economic cycles and strategic leadership.
• To help students identify and understand critical success factors in construction-related enterprises.
• To review empirical links between public policies, market demand and entrepreneurial fortunes.

• Professional career planning document equivalent to 5000 words (90%) focussing on future trends and status of industry, as well as students’ potential career path participating in the projected future construction industry. Students will use outside research, class readings and lectures as part of the research into writing this document. The document will be delivered to the lecturer in the following stages and be cumulative and formative in nature:

1. Abstract and Outline (5%) due in week 3.
2. 1000 words (10%) due in week 5 - previous deliverable will be incorporated into this deliverable.
3. 2000 words (15%) due in week 7 - previous deliverable will be incorporated into this deliverable.
4. 3500 words (25%) due in week 9 - previous deliverable will be incorporated into this deliverable.
5. 5000 Words (35%) due in week 11 - previous deliverable will be incorporated into this deliverable.

• Class presentation of 10 minutes (10%) held across weeks 10 to 12, of each student’s industry future trends research and their career pathway.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:

• Ability to read and understand socio-technical circumstances in construction;
• Ability to distinguish between construction sub-sectors in terms of opportunities and constraints;
• Ability to appreciate the importance of technological and market rents in construction;
• Ability to derive theoretical positions from real-life examples;
• Ability to appreciate value and limitations of strategic decisions.