32601 Advanced 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 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 32541 Project Management OR 49002 Managing Projects OR 48260 Engineering Project Management
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Recommended studies:
this subject assumes that students have prior knowledge of project management principles and some level of relevant practical experience
Description
This subject covers advanced content for project professional practice with emphasis on contemporary issues in the delivery of complex solutions to business. It considers human and organisational aspects of project management, the importance of project governance, the changing nature of project management and the role of the project manager in the global business environment.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Analyse and evaluate highly complex projects to recommend improvements to identified problems. (B.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Communicate complex project findings to wide expert and non-expert audience. (E.1) |
| 3. | Synthesise research literature on current project management area to articulate current knowledge and insights. (C.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering should note that this subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies:
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 1.5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
- 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
Teaching and learning strategies
There are a mix of learning modes in this subject:
- Flipped learning is provided in class sessions comprising delivered content, activities and student discussions;
- Students have the opportunity to collaborate and engage with one another beyond group assessments. They can reference material, relevant content and use student discussion boards (available on UTS Canvas);
- Students work in diverse teams to undertake critical analysis of a student-selected group project;
- Students are tasked to choose an individual research project, to adopt a point of view and to justify their position;
Content (topics)
The major topic areas are:
- Project management concepts;
- Topics relevant to organisational project management such as:
- Project context and culture
- Ethical behaviour
- Managing complex and global projects
- Organisation structures
- Enterprise finance for project managers
- Non-verbal communication
- Managing organisational change
- Program and portfolio Management
- Contemporary project management – project management presented by industry speakers (when available).
Students engage in a group investigation of a real-life project. During this time they are given the opportunity to clarify/question and better understand using the online discussion boards/forum.
Graduate attributes are embedded in the assessment task descriptions.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Executive-level Project Critique Report with Video Presentation
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1 and E.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 3,500 to 4,500 words for the report body (i.e. excluding title page, exec summary, table of contents, appendices, etc.). Video presentation of 10 to 12 minutes (PowerPoint with voiceover narration is acceptable). |
Assessment task 2: Research Report
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1 and E.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | 3,500 to 4,500 words of body (i.e. not including title page, exec summary, table of contents, appendices, etc.) |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
There is no mandatory text; however, it is expected that students will source for themselves any one of a number of good project management references commonly available.
Recommended texts
- Marchewka, J. (2015). Information Technology Project Management. 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
- Larson, E., & Gray C. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process. 8th ed. McGraw Hill, New York.
- Ivancevich, J.M., Konopaske, R., & Matteson, M.T. (2014). Organisational Behaviour & Management.10th ed. McGraw
Hill Irwin, New York. - Christoph Schneider, Mark A. Fuller, Joseph S. Valacich, Joey F. George (2020). Information Systems Project
Management: A Process Approach, ed. 2, Red Shelf. - PMI (2021), A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition and The Standard for Project Management: UTS Library Link
Other resources
Soft copies of subject materials may be found on UTS Canvas for 32601. Canvas is a web-based learning tool being used in a pilot program with some UTS subjects. It can be accessed from inside and outside UTS using most web-browsers.
This subject makes use of Canvas as a source for your learning materials, your resources, where your discussions take place, and evaluations such as quizzes. It is also the means of communication between teaching staff and students. You should be registered automatically if you have enrolled correctly.
You should make sure you set your preferred notification settings once you are enrolled into Canvas, you can do this by clicking on ‘account’ and then ‘notifications’. It is essential that you do NOT turn off your Canvas email notifications, as this is an essential way to communicate important notifications to you about assessments, class-time or other subject requisites. Announcements will be made using Canvas. Students are expected to regularly check the Canvas ‘Announcements’ page for more information.
Students need to familiarise themselves with Canvas and complete the ‘Welcome and get started’ module before attending class.
Having problems logging on? Canvas help desk is the first point of contact for staff, students, and the general community in relation to Canvas enquiries. You can find useful Canvas help links on the ‘Using Canvas’ page in your Canvas course.