University of Technology Sydney

11502 Practice: Finance and Project Management

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (( 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10413 Bachelor of Design Architecture Master of Architecture ) OR 132 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM91202 168cp Core subjects (Landscape UG) BLArch(Hons) )
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject introduces students to financial, legal and project management issues and processes arising out of architectural and landscape architectural practice. The course outlines the professional skills, responsibilities and practice of the Architect and Landscape architect, with particular focus on National Standard of Competency for Architects and Landscape Architects and pathways to professional registration.

Through a series of weekly lectures and tutorial discussion this subject address the regulatory and technical aspects of professional practice as well as the social and ethical context of the profession. Topics include the design, documentation, project delivery and practice management aspects of the profession, addressing areas such as financial management of projects, fee proposals, documentation standards, building contracts, construction administration, the legal context of practice, insurances, time management, site supervisory roles, project staging, budgetary controls and so on. New forms of procurement and contracting methods are considered, alongside developing an appreciation of role of clients, contractors, consultants, trades, and other professions in the delivery of architecture and landscape architecture projects.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of project management and financial management and apply this knowledge to architectural practice locally and internationally.
2. Realise architectural ambitions and carry design decisions through the processes of contractual engagement and project construction.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the complex and challenging social, ethical, environmental, political and regulatory contexts within which architectural practice is carried out.
4. Develop competencies in professional practice that address registration requirements, including knowledge of contractual and legal responsibilities.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Establish and develop an informed and ethical position towards social, technical and environmental issues and practices (A.1)
  • Recognise and appreciate local and global cultural diversities and values (A.2)
  • Communicate ideas professionally and effectively through a variety of mediums: oral, written, visual, physical and digital (C.2)
  • Understand and challenge disciplinary conventions through an engagement with emergent forms of architectural practice, technologies and modes of production (P.1)
  • Thoughtfully apply disciplinary learning in work, with a continuing commitment to personal professional development (P.2)
  • Position work within an extended and critically reasoned context through the identification, evaluation and application of relevant academic references and architectural case studies (R.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).

Teaching and learning strategies

Weekly 3-hour formal learning sessions comprising of lectures (2 hours) and tutorials (1 hour). Students are expected to attend and participate in all lecture and tutorial sessions. The content delivered in the lectures is supported by readings, case studies and exercises within the tutorials that follow.

LEARNING MODES

Subject will be delivered on-campus face-to-face.

Students are expected to actively contribute to group discussions and tutorial sessions. Students will be assessed on their contributions within the criteria set out for both assessment 1, 2 & 3. Gradings will depend on students actively contributing to tutorials.

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

UTS believes that collaborative peer learning enhances learning. You will be provided feedback on your ability to engage in dynamic group discussions and teamwork throughout the tutorials, however you will be individually assessed. Understanding of course material will be assessed through a series of student-generated letters, and a comparative essay, in direct response to specific project-based scenarios. These scenarios demand careful and reasoned knowledge gained in the lectures and ensuing tutorial conversations. Students will also take a weekly online quiz and a final summative open book exam.

ONLINE LEARNING

Face-to-face subject delivery will be supported by online content provided via Canvas. Students are expected to review canvas regularly.

All assignment submissions will be via the Canvas portal. Special online arrangements will be made for students who are not presently in Sydney, or with documented medical exemptions.

FEEDBACK

The subject provides a range of feedback strategies.

1. All assessments will be graded in ReView, and/or Canvas, offering ongoing summative feedback.

2. The subject is designed around substantive and interactive weekly lectures and tutorial discussions, active participation in both elements is essential to track progress and receive feedback.

Content (topics)

Subject areas include:

  • Architects/Landscape Architects Registration Requirements and Processes
  • Contracts and Legal Requirements for Practice
  • Project and Financial Management of Design Planning and Construction Process
  • Understanding and Management of Risk
  • Negotiation Skills

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Project Establishment

Intent:

To assess understanding of concepts pertaining to architectural practice in Australia through responses to hypothetical practice scenarios reflecting the management and delivery of an architectural project.

Scenario deliverables are calibrated to address the AACA competencies identified in the criteria section below and noted in the detailed assignment briefing on Canvas.

Assignment 1 is subdivided into three tasks and will focus on project establishment and initial development.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, C.2, P.1 and P.2

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Criteria:

This task will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated ability to communicate in a professionally appropriate written form
  • Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments in response to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios
  • Demonstrated ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge and examples from multiple sources relative to project specfiic scenarios.
  • Awareness of the architect and landscape architects ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice.

This task addresses the following Performance Criteria contained within the AACA National Standard for Competency of Architects (2021): PC1, PC5, PC6, PC7, PC19, PC23

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to communicate in a professionally appropriate written form 20 1 C.2
Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments in response to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios 30 4 P.2
Demonstrated ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge and examples from multiple sources relative to project specfiic scenarios. 30 1 P.1
Awareness of the architect's ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice. 20 1 A.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Project Delivery

Intent:

To assess understanding of concepts pertaining to architectural practice in Australia through responses to hypothetical practice scenarios reflecting the management and delivery of an architectural project.

Scenario deliverables are calibrated to address the AACA competencies identified in the criteria section below and noted in the detailed assignment briefing on Canvas.

Assignment Task 2 is subdivided into four tasks and will focus on project procurement and delivery.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, C.2, P.1 and P.2

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Criteria:

This task will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated ability to communicate in a professionally appropriate written form
  • Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments in response to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios
  • Demonstrated ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge and examples from multiple sources relative to project specfiic scenarios.
  • Awareness of the architect and landscape architects ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice.

This task addresses the following Performance Criteria contained within the AACA National Standard for Competency of Architects (2021): PC7, PC9, PC13, PC46, PC48, PC51, PC56, PC57, PC58

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments in response to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios 25 1 C.2
Ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge to make considered responses to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios. 25 4 P.2
Awareness of the architect's ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice. 25 3 P.1
Develop competencies in Professional practice that address registration requirements, including knowledge of contractual and legal responsibilities 25 3 A.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Final Exam

Intent:

To assess understanding of concepts pertaining to architectural practice in Australia through summative testing of student knowledge and understanding of topics covered in this subject.

Exam questions are calibrated to address the AACA competencies identified in the criteria section below and noted in the detailed exam briefing on Canvas.

The questions selected for Assignment 3 may be drawn from the full breadth of content presented to students in the subject.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.2, C.2, P.2 and R.1

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Criteria:

This task will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments in response to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios
  • Demonstrated ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge and examples from multiple sources relative to project specfiic scenarios.
  • Awareness of the architect's ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice.

This task addresses the following Performance Criteria contained within the AACA National Standard for Competency of Architects (2021): PC1, PC2, PC12, PC16, PC54, PC55,

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Application of core professional knowledge to make appropriate judgments 30 1 P.2
Ability to source, synthesise and apply appropriate knowledge to make considered responses to common professional, contractual and construction scenarios. 25 2 R.1
Awareness of the architect and landscape architect's ethical, moral, legal and professional roles and responsibilities that govern practice 25 3 A.2
Develop competencies in Professional practice that address registration requirements, including knowledge of contractual and legal responsibilities 20 4 C.2
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

Required texts

Landscape Architecture Student Resources:

AILA Practice Notes for Professional Practice:

http://www.aila.org.au/iMIS_Prod/AILAWeb/What_s_On/CPD/Practice_Notes/AILAWeb/Practice_Notes.aspx?hkey=ead42ee8-2ba0-45ed-bb27-716762535c08

AS 4122-2010: General Conditions of Contract For Consultant: https://www.scribd.com/document/346972798/AS-4122-2010-Australian-Standard-General-Conditions-of-Contract-for-Consultants-pdf

Architecture Student Resources

ACUMEN:AIA Practice Services (requires UTS ID and password to access)

http://find.lib.uts.edu.au/search.do?R=OPAC_b2554153 or copy paste following link: http://acumen.architecture.com.au.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/apps/content/welcome%20to%20acumen/

National Standard of Competency for Architects, http://competencystandardforarchitects.aaca.org.au/about

NSW Architects Registration Board, https://www.architects.nsw.gov.au/

Recommended texts

Bennet, J. & Pearce, S. 2006, Partnering in the Construction Industry: a code of practice for strategic collaborative working, Butterworth Heinemann.Beaton, R. Biggers C. & Paisley 2001. The Architect and The Law, 3rd ed, RAIA Practice Services

Chappell, D. & Willis J. A. 2005, The architect in practice, Blackwell Science, 9th edition.

Cooke, J. 1991, Building and the Law, NSW University Press

Cooke, J. 1989, Architects, Engineers and the Law: Commentary and Materials, The Law Book Company

Creswell, H.B. 1929, The Honeywood File: An Adventure in Building

De Graaf, R. 2017, Four Walls and Roof: The Complex Nature of a Simple Profession, Harvard University Press.

Fischer, T. 2010, Ethics for Architects: 50 Dilemmas of Professional Practice, Princeton Architectural Press, NY

Fletcher, G. 2015, Landscape Architecture Professional Practice Guide

Marshall, Lane, 1981, Landscape Architecture: Guidelines to Professional Practice

Pive P & Perkins B, The Architect's Essentials of Starting, Assessing & Transitioning a Design Firm, American Insititute of Architects

Pressman, A 2006, Architectural Practice 101: Business Strategies and Case Studies in Architecture, John Wiley, 2006.

Rogers, Walter, 2010, The Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture: A Complete Guide to Starting and Running Your Own Firm

Stephen P. & Smith H., 2006, Management of Complex Projects, Blackwell.

Standen, D. Construction Industry Terminology, RAIA Practice Services