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.

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

Restriction: ENGGEN 741

Learning Outcomes

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

Critically evaluate projects for factors of success and failure (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
Develop advanced critical thinking skills and apply such skills to project case studies (Capability 2.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
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 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
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 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
Understand the importance and value add of applying Maori values in the execution of projects (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)
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 2.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Individual Assignments	70%	Individual Coursework
Group Assignment	30%	Group Coursework
2 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Individual Assignments
Group Assignment

The assignments are spread progressively through the course.

The team assignment is an opportunity to develop important communication and organization skills .

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. The team assessment will include a peer review worth 5 marks.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including tutorials/lectures, to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including tutorials, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning 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.

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 (PMBoK Guide), 6th Edition (2017) (available as free electronic resource for student members of PMI)
PMI, Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK Guide), Seventh Edition (2021) (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)

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy. Health and Safety is an integral part of the analysis of the case histories addressing Safety in Design, Construction and Operations.

Health and Safety while participating in the course is no different from the normal University practices.

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.

This course has been revived after two years and will make a fresh start with updated course material, and delivery style, taking into consideration the latest project case studies.

Other Information

Restricted to postgraduate students only

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 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.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 2:	Sustainability
Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 5:	Solution Seeking
Capability 6:	Communication

ENGGEN 735 : Project Management Case Studies

Engineering

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)