ENGGEN 735 Project Management Case Studies - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Examination of examples from industry to show how theoretical concepts relate to the success or failure of projects. Students will study a range of projects from across the world that highlight critical success factors.

Course Overview

This course develops the student’s project management competencies by drawing on lessons learned from a range of case studies of real world projects and helps students learn from the failure of others. It will highlight particular project concepts / critical success factors and show how these impact upon outcomes in real world examples. On successful completion of the course, students will have developed competencies in the following:

The successful application of project management concepts, tools and techniques in practical situations;
The common project management pitfalls to be avoided;
How to incorporate Māori values and thinking into projects via case studies of projects in Aotearoa;
The moral and ethical principles that govern professional behaviour with reference to the Treaty of Waitangi;
The way project management concepts are applied around the world and how this impacts project success;
Trends in the use of tools and techniques in various industries;
Reporting and presentation skills.

The philosophy adopted is one of critical examination of case studies and development of evidenced based approaches to manage projects drawing lessons learned from a range of projects. The course will be delivered via a series of inter-active workshops and weekly tutorial sessions. The topics covered are as follows (note that the order in which topics are delivered may change):

The course will have a total of 12 weekly workshops. The weekly topics covered are as follows:

Week 1 Course introduction and Issues that influence the outcome workshop.

Week 2 Project objectives tutorial

Week 3 Change Management tutorial

Week 4 Project definition tutorial

Week 5 Client participation tutorial

Week 6 Team presentation and report on project to panel

Week 7 Organisation / Leadership / Planning

Week 8 Contract structure / Source of Equipment

Week 9 Project influenced by application of Maori values

Week 10 Workshop and feedback on presenting lessons learned from final project analysis

Week 11 Individual feedback and training on presentation skills

Week 12 Individual presentations and reports

Key components comprise of the following:

1. Examination of critical success factors for a project to achieve its agreed objectives

2. Mini case studies (in this workshop module we will analyse a number of short case studies via weekly tutorials on critical issues and practice presentation of findings)

3. Issues of project success regarding moral and ethical considerations, Māori values and thinking, emerging trends (major workshop)

4. Extended case study (in this module we will explore an extended case study with multiple facets in a complex scenario, covered in weekly tutorials)

5. Development of critical analysis and thinking skills (in this module we will extend some of the critical thinking approaches to apply to a case study)

6. Development of organisation and leadership structures to achieve the agreed objectives

7. Project Review methods (in this module we will explore models of project reviews such as peer reviews, and project health checks)

8. An individual case study to further develop reporting and presentation capability

9. Group case study (in this module we will work in groups with extensive information sources, analyse performance and present findings and recommendations back to a panel of experts)

The course delivery adopts a Socratic approach to learning in which students are expects to engage in developing critiques, debate, challenge and defence of views and opinions. A pro-active learning approach in engagement in the workshops is therefore expected. Students are required to prepare for the workshops and failure to do so will diminish the value of the learning experience. Note that one of the major assignments is team-based and as such students are expected to make time to meet with their team members.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Critically evaluate projects for factors of success and failure (Capability 1 and 2)
Develop advanced critical thinking skills and apply such skills to project case studies (Capability 1 and 2)
Demonstrate robust communication skills including competencies in developing critiques, engaging in debate, providing challenge and defence of views and opinions, and presentation of analysis and conclusions (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
Identify lessons learned and synthesize such lessons learned from a range of projects into a set of strategies that improve success factors for delivery of projects (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Understand the importance and value add of applying Maori values in the execution of projects (Capability 1, 4, 5 and 6)
Learn and apply critical intermediate milestones and reviews in a project lifecycle to confirm that the project has a high probability of achieving its agreed ultimate objectives (Capability 1, 3, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Assignment (Case study 1)	5%	Individual Coursework
Assignment (Case study 2)	5%	Individual Coursework
Assignment (Case study 3)	5%	Individual Coursework
Assignment (Case study 4)	5%	Individual Coursework
Assignment (team)	30%	Group Coursework
Assignment (Individual)	50%	Individual Coursework
6 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Assignment (Case study 1)
Assignment (Case study 2)
Assignment (Case study 3)
Assignment (Case study 4)
Assignment (team)
Assignment (Individual)

Both of the assignments (team and individual) comprise of written (report) and oral (presentation) components. Students are encouraged to practice oral debate and presentations during the weekly workshops.

The team assignment requires that students work in small-medium sized teams on a major assignment. Participation in the team assignment is required (there is no alternative assignment option for students who prefer not to work in teams). The expectation is that the team a self-managing autonomous unit, and is used as a learning environment on the basis that projects are typically delivered in teams in the workplace.

A group mark will be given for the team assignment deliverables. Each team member will also be required to complete a peer assessment of the work attitudes and contributions of all other members of their team The individual student’s mark will then be determined based on the group mark, adjusted up or down within a range of about about + or - 15%, in accordance with the results of the peer assessment by all other members of the team. Note also that your team assignment mark may be reduced substantially more if there is evidence that you have not contributed to the team assignment, and zero participation in the team assignment will result in a zero mark of the project.

A provisional schedule of deadlines is as follows (subject to confirmation in week 1):

• Assignment (Case studies 1 to 4): weeks 2 to 5

• Assignment 5 (Team): week 6

• Assignment 6 (Individual): week 12

Penalties will apply to late submissions as follows:

Time After the Due Date Penalty

<=24 hours (1 day) -10%

>24 hours but <=48 hours (2 days) -20%

>48 hours but <=72 hours (3 days) -30%

>72 hours but <=96 hours (4 days) -40%

>96 hours but <=168 hours (7 days) -50%

>168 hours (7 days) -100%

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2-3 hour workshop, 1 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 6-7 hours of work on assignments. For the team assignment you can expect to meet with your team members for 1 hour per week as part of your work commitment to the assignment.

Learning Resources

There are no prescribed texts. Students may find a number of texts that cover the course material well, and should refer to several where possible. The following texts are suggested:

PMI, A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (BMBoK Guide), 6th Edition (2017) (available as free electronic resource for student members of PMI)
Kerzner, H. (2017) Project Management Case Studies, 5th Edition, John Wiley and Sons (available online)

Other Information

• Restricted to postgraduate students only

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

ENGGEN 735 : Project Management Case Studies

Engineering

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)