complex project management

complex project management

PPMP20014 Written Assessment T3 2017.pdf
PPMP 20014 Complex Project Management Term 3 , 2017

Task Description

Task

Your task is to consider the following learning outcomes of the unit:

 Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.

 Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.

 Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.

Then you need to write an essay (not a report) describing how you consider the points above are related

to:-

 projects with lots of parts and interconnections;

 projects that contain a great deal of uncertainty;

 projects that are heavily time-constrained.

You should use examples from case studies that you are familiar with (PPMP20011, PPMP20012, PPMP

20013) and examples discussed during the unit to identify projects with the above characteristics. You

should illustrate your points by identifying what are the causes, pertinent theories, tools and techniques that

might be relevant to complex projects.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to be able to define your thinking and allow

you to identify, classify and apply theories, tools and techniques related to complex project management.

The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis, critical

thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of argument development and essay

writing.

Structure

Your essay should be a properly constructed academic essay of 5,000 words. It should contain an effective

introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should introduce the essay and include your argument.

The body should present the evidence you have collected to support your argument, and the conclusion

should restate your argument, summarise the evidence and make a conclusion regarding your argument.

The essay should contain a coherent, but necessarily restricted review of the academic literature on the

topics in question. The literature review should be integrated into the body of the essay, and not as a

separate section. Do not include an executive summary or an abstract. A reference list formatted in the

prescribed Harvard style is compulsory. Do not include a bibliography.

There is a paper called How to complete academic assignments through critical thinking and writing

v01a.pdf included in the beginning of the Moodle web site that contains a further explanation of the essay

format. An accompanying YouTube video also explains the same information.

Assessment Criteria

This is an individual assignment with minimum mark requirements of 50% in order to pass the unit.

Your assignment will be assessed on the extent and quality to which it meets each of the following criteria.

PPMP 20014 Complex Project Management Term 3 , 2017  1. A description of the theories and ideas specific to complex project management? (15%)

 2. An explanation of the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects? (15%)

 3. A discussion of the tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects? (15%)

 4. Incorporation of project cases as illustration and arguments supporting the above? (10%)

 5. Appropriate, well structured, concise and clear expression in response to the assessment task? (10%)

 6. A clear flow of thought throughout the paper with a clear purpose described in the introduction and a

comprehensive conclusion? (10%)

 7. A critical review and integration of relevant academic and professional literature (cited at least twenty

(20) times from six (6) separate reference sources)? (10%)

 8. Clarity of expression, grammar and spelling? (5%)

 9. Strict conformity to CQUniversity Australia Harvard Referencing Guide? (5%)

 10. Appropriate presentation format and presented within (±10%) of the word limit: 5,000 words? (5%)

Referencing Style

 Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

 Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.

 Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.

 Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.

Graduate Attributes

 Knowledge

 Communication

 Cognitive, technical and creative skills

 Research

 Self-management

http://www.cqu.edu.au/?a=179954
PPMP 20014 Complex Project Management Term 3 , 2017

Guidance to prepare for the Written assessment

Ideas for the structure of the PPMP20014 Written Assignment As with all written assignments there are many possible approaches to writing this assignment. It is also

the intention to test how well you (the students) are at tackling the writing problem. So, we don’t want to

stifle originality. However, you are encouraged to follow the standard essay approach and not a report

format.

There are three topics that you need to cover (also see the Unit Profile): –

1. The causes, environments, and properties of complex projects 2. The tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects 3. The degree and nature of the projects cases discussed in the unit in the context of the theories and

ideas related to complex projects

The types of projects that should be used to enable the three topics above to be explained should consist of:

–

1. projects with lots of parts and interconnections; 2. projects that contain a great deal of uncertainty; 3. project that are heavily time-constrained.

Therefore, there are three topics with three types of evidence and examples that are to be used to explore

those topics. You should use examples from case studies that you are familiar with (from PPMP20011,

PPMP20012, PPMP 20013) and examples discussed during the unit to identify projects with the above

characteristics. You should illustrate your points by identifying what are the causes, pertinent theories,

tools and techniques that might be relevant to complex projects.

A way of tackling the essay based on a word limit of 5,000 words is therefore to do the following

(suggested word count in brackets): –

1. Introduction and summary of findings/learnings (500 words) 2. Body: –

a. The causes, environments, and properties of complex projects (1,000 words) i. Introduction and summary

ii. Evidence and examples iii. Conclusion

b. The tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects (1,000 words)

i. Introduction and summary ii. Evidence

iii. Conclusion c. The degree and nature of the projects cases discussed in the unit in the context of the

theories and ideas related to complex projects (1,000 words)

i. Introduction and summary ii. Evidence

iii. Conclusion 3. Overall Discussion (1,000 words) 4. Conclusion (500 words) 5. References 6. Appendix if necessary.

PPMP 20014 Complex Project Management Term 3 , 2017 There is a paper called How to complete academic assignments through critical thinking and writing

v01a.pdf included in the beginning of the Moodle web site that contains a further explanation of the essay

format. An accompanying YouTube video also explains the same information.