Project Management in Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 Hours

Admission into one of the following courses:

MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
MC-ARCH2Y Master of Architecture (200 points)
MC-ARCH3Y Master of Architecture (300 points)
MC-CM Master of Construction Management
MC-CONMG2Y Master of Construction Management (200 points)
MC-CONMG3Y Master of Construction Management (300 points)
MC-LARCH Master of Landscape Architecture
MC-LARCH2Y Master of Landscape Architecture (200 points)
MC-LARCH3Y Master of Landscape Architecture (300 points)
MC-PROP Master of Property
MC-PROP2Y Master of Property (200 points)
MC-PROP3Y Master of Property (300 points)
MC-URBDES Master of Urban Design
MC-DESURBD Master of Design (Urban Design)
MC-URPL Master of Urban Planning
234AA Master of Design
234AH Master of Design (Heritage)
373AA Graduate Diploma in Planning and Design


Or approval from the subject coordinator.

ABPL90025 Project Scope, Time and Cost

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

The aim of this subject is to understand and apply project management knowledge areas through the life cycle of project. Subject content includes tools and techniques used to set up, monitor, control, and measure various aspects of projects. Particular emphasis will be made on scope, time, and cost.

A complex project will be used as a case study and will be considered both from the client and contractor’s perspectives. The case study will be a direct and detailed correlation of material studied in lectures, and will follow the project life cycle. Assignments will consolidate all aspects of the content covered.

The 3 hour weekly sessions will include lectures, guest lectures, class participation, and discussion. Students will be able to synthesise from class sessions, readings, private research, and working in groups.

On the completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Understand project management knowledge areas;
• Understand how the knowledge areas relate to each other;
• Understand and apply the knowledge areas through a life cycle, both from a client and contractor’s perspective;
• Understand project management trade-offs on balancing the triple constraint: scope, time and cost;
• Understand scope monitoring and change control processes;
• Understand cost monitoring and control processes;
• Understand schedule control processes;
• Construct a work breakdown structure (WBS) using given project information;
• Produce network diagrams and bar charts for project scheduling;
• Apply critical path analysis (CPA) in network scheduling;
• Estimate broadly project cost and duration; and
• Research current project management practices and uses.

• Individual report equivalent to 1500 words focusing on the initiation and development phases of a project, submitted Week 5 (30%)
• Group assignment (2-3 students per group) equivalent to 1500 words per group member to create a project management plan (or equivalent) for another project covering the entire life cycle of the project, submitted Week 20 (30%)
• 2 hour examination equivalent to 2000 words, covering all the course content, scheduled in the examnation period (40%)

Hurdle requirement: A minimum mark of 40% has to be achieved in the examination in order to pass this subject.

1. Course materials.
2. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 4th ed, Project Management Institute, 2008.
3. J.R. Turner, The Handbook of Project-Based Management, McGraw-Hill, 1998.
4. J.R. Meredith & S.J. Mantel, Project Management: A Managerial Approach, Wiley, 2005.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• An appreciation of the integrated project control processes and dimensions of professional roles;

• The ability to function effectively as either a team leader or member within multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;

• A commitment to, and fundamental appreciation of, the concept of successful teamwork and the ability to communicate effectively, clearly and concisely as a team leader or member of the group;

• An ability to communicate ideas, concepts and solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences effectively, clearly and concisely;

• An ability to carry out research and apply fundamental theoretical knowledge to problem solving in relevant disciplines.

Computer Requirements: A PC with Windows operating system; 56k Modem for dial-up access, and a webcam.

Resources provided to distance students: Internet based IT framework (Learning Management System) with secured access facilitating interactions with other students and the subject coordinator/tutor and completion of academic exercises.