INFOSYS 757 : Project Management and Outsourcing
Business and Economics
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The course offers an advanced focus on project management, focusing on projects that involve sourcing of digital technologies and IT-enabled business services. It is expected that the student understands mechanical elements such as how to construct GANTT charts, PERT charts, allocate resources, the 80 hour rule, risk management etc. This course is about exploring the softer side of project management assuming the role of the project manager (not the sub-function leader or project administrator). The project manager does not sit and crunch numbers. The project manager receives information and uses that information to make decisions. The course will cover decisions related to managing competing demands; managing project team and facilitating teamwork; selecting and managing suppliers/service providers. Furthermore, you will learn how to (i) make sourcing decisions and engage in outsourcing initiatives, and (ii) manage outsourcing projects to achieve superior performance.
This course is delivered as a seminar type, which requires students to read and prepare in advance, to attend all sessions and to actively participate in group and individual work. Please DO NOT enrol if you are not able to commit to this type of learning.
(This is a new course, that integrates materials from two courses that were offered in the past – OPSMGT 757 Project Management and INFOSYS 701 – Global Outsourcing). Therefore, students should expect about half of the materials to focus on core Project Management topics, and another half to emphasise the Outsourcing angle).
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| 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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop instincts about what to do under various project scenarios (Capability 1, 3 and 4.1)
- Be able to write a convincing business project proposal (Capability 1, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
- Be able to identify and evaluate what parts of the project work should be completed in-house and what should be outsourced, (Capability 1, 3, 4.2, 5.1 and 6)
- Be able to devise a suitable sourcing configuration, choice of a supplier and mechanisms to manage outsourced work. (Capability 1, 2, 4.2, 5.2 and 6)
- Develop hands-on experience in managing an outsourcing project, from inception to completion. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 55% | Individual Coursework |
| Case Studies | 15% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Real-life Outsourcing Project | 30% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Case Studies | ||||||||||
| Real-life Outsourcing Project | ||||||||||
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 36 hours of lectures and tutorials, 54 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required for all sessions (weeks 1-12, 3 hour sessions) to receive credit for components of the course.
Most of the content is delivered in an interactive way thus recordings would not be available for this course. Attendance on campus is required, students should come to sessions prepared (readings and case analysis done IN ADVANCE). Students should also be prepared to stand up in front of the class and present their work (prepared in advance or spontaneous, based on the work in the class). Therefore it is recommended that students should enrol only if they are ready to commit to the regular workload and active participation.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable (3 hour sessions that include interactive sessions and work in the classroom).
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.
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.
In the past students said that they find it difficult to cope with deadlines that are set for the last week of the semester. Therefore some deadlines would be moved to mid-term, to spread load better.
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.