University of Technology Sydney

15115 Advances in 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: School of the Built Environment
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): ((15312 Project Communication, HR and Stakeholders AND 15319 Project Risk, Procurement and Quality Management AND 15316 Project Scope, Time and Cost Management AND 15310 Project Integration Management) OR 15315 Project Management Principles )
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject is designed to enhance the research awareness and capability of the students. It focuses on new developments stemming from research in the project management discipline. The subject enables students to understand how research is done in the discipline, covers the main trends, and provides fresh insights from some of the leading thinkers in the discipline. Students also develop skills to support the initiation of research investigations in the discipline.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1. Define and develop a project management research proposal
2. Design a research strategy and effectively apply a methodological approach
3. Propose and evaluate new approaches to solve project management problems
4. Understand the ways that project management research advances the discipline

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

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

  • Communicate effectively through written communication in projects at a professional level (Written Communication) (C.2)
  • Think systemically and incorporate systems thinking approaches into project management (Systems Thinking) (I.3)
  • Apply methods and tools to analyse data and information for managing projects (Information Analysis) (P.4)
  • Actively reflect on, and improve, project practice (Practice Improvement) (P.5)
  • Define, initiate, and conduct research projects (Research) (R.2)

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

This subject is offered online in fortnightly workshops and incorporates a range of teaching and learning strategies:

Strategy 1 - Preparation for Learning: Online references and resource materials are provided prior to the block workshop to familiarise students with the subject content. Learning from pre-workshop readings will be assessed through a pre-workshop assignment, which is to be submitted prior to the block workshop. Students will be prepared for problem-based learning through engagement with the pre-workshop readings and assignment.

Strategy 2 - Lectures: Lecturers and guest lecturers are some of the leading researchers in the discipline, and will share their latest research findings. Students are welcome and indeed encouraged to ask questions during lectures. Several real and hypothetical examples are used to contextualise learning and practice applications of the advances in project management. Lectures are a key learning resource in this subject and the presentation slides are available for student review via Canvas prior to the workshop.

Strategy 3 - Collaborative Problem Solving: During lectures, students will work together and learn collaboratively in small groups solving problems that are directly related to the subject content covered during the lectures. This approach will assist students in applying and demonstrating their learning through cases involving hypothetical and actual scenarios. Student presentations on their group solutions will provide a great opportunity for learning from peers.

Strategy 4 - Online learning: Canvas is where students access material for self-directed learning and engage in student-led discussion on key topics. Presentation slides are available for review on Canvas. Students can share their questions and ideas on the open discussion forum, with prompt guidance and feedback from the subject coordinator.

Strategy 5 - Ongoing Feedback: Structured feedback is provided individually. There will be opportunities to receive immediate feedback during the workshop. Detailed guidance as to the assessment criteria and the provision of timely feedback will form an important part of the learning process. It is the student's responsibility to record any feedback supplied during meetings or sessions. Summative feedback is published along with indicative grades online at Canvas. Summative feedback focuses on assessment outcomes. It is used to indicate how successfully a student has performed in terms of specific assessment criteria.

Strategy 6 - Embedding English Language (EEL) program: An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills to succeed at university and in the workplace. During the course of this subject, you will complete a milestone assessment task that will, in addition to assessing your subject-specific learning objectives, assess your English language proficiency.

Content (topics)

The topics in this subject follow two main themes.

The first theme aims to develop a good understanding and basic skills in the design of empirical research for answering project management research questions. This theme includes introductory sessions on research topics such as the selection of an appropriate research topic, conducting a literature review, and research methodology options.

The second theme aims to inform students about the new developments in the project management discipline. Leading researchers are invited to share their latest research findings. Students are given fresh insights and thinking as well as the opportunity to examine how the research tools and techniques covered in the introductory sessions are adopted in the project management research.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Pre-workshop Assignment: Problem Statement

Intent:

The intent of this assignment is to familiarise students with the concept of problem identification. Students are requested to undertake prescribed readings and use the information gleaned from the readings in order to critically analyse a past project to identify a project management problem for further investigation.

This assignment includes a milestone assessment component that evaluates English language proficiency. You will be guided to further language support after the completion of this subject if your results in this milestone task indicate you need more help with your language skills.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1

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.):

C.2 and P.5

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 20%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to effectively use written communication in projects at a professional level (Written Communication) 20 1 C.2
Ability to actively reflect on, and improve, project practice (Practice Improvement) 80 1 P.5
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: In-workshop Assignment: Research Question Development

Intent:

The in-workshop assignment will include two parts. The intent of Part A is to allow students to get acquainted with the literature available on a particular project management topic. Students are requested to conduct an annotated bibliography to summarise and evaluate the content of each relevant source. The intent of Part B is to allow students to establish a research question and identify the research aim and objectives. Students are requested to revisit their problem statement and annotated bibliography, synthesise multiple literature sources into a cohesive argument, and propose the research question, aim, and objectives for a project management research study.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2 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.):

C.2, P.4 and R.2

Type: Annotated bibliography
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to effectively use written communication in projects at a professional level (Written Communication) 20 4 C.2
Ability to apply methods and tools to analyse data and information for managing projects (Information Analysis) 40 4 P.4
Ability to define, initiate, and conduct research projects (Research) 40 2 R.2
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Post-workshop Assignment: Research Proposal

Intent:

The intent of the post-workshop assignment is to take students full circle in the learning process by having them reflect on previous assignments, suggested readings, and materials covered in class. Students are requested to continue the research from in-workshop assessment to enhance the literature review, and to propose a research project to address a project management problem.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2 and 3

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.):

C.2, I.3 and R.2

Type: Essay
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to effectively use written communication in projects at a professional level (Written Communication) 20 3 C.2
Ability to define, initiate, and conduct research projects (Research) 40 2 R.2
Ability to think systemically and incorporate systems thinking approaches into project management (Systems Thinking) 40 3 I.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Project Management students are required to attend 80% of all classes for all enrolled subjects. Achievement of the subject’s aims is difficult if classes are not attended. Where assessment tasks are to be presented personally in class, attendance is mandatory. Pursuant to UTS rule 3.8.2 students who do not satisfy attendance requirements may be refused permission by the Responsible Academic Officer to be considered for assessment for this subject.

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

UTS Library Guide on Research: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/services/services-for-researchers

Recommended texts

Pasian, B. (2015). Designs, Methods and Practices for Research of Project Management. England: Gower.