IT Project Management Techniques

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2025/05

Institute / School :

Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability

Unit Title:

IT Project Management Techniques

Unit ID:

ITECH2250

Credit Points:

15.00

Prerequisite(s):

(COOPC1024 or COOPI1001 or ITECH1001) (At least 105 credit points from ITECH subject-area at any level)

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

(ITECH3213 and ITECH5213)

ASCED:

029999

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

Through contemporary project management methodologies, you will be learning about project life cycles and key concepts in Project Management. You will be acquiring skills on how to run IT projects using project management tools and techniques. Contemporary issues in IT project management are discussed, and IT related project management skills are developed throughout the unit. This unit helps to provide a broad understanding of the IT industry, its research foundations and its place in servicing society.

Grade Scheme:

Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)

Work Experience Indicator:

No work experience

Placement Component:

Supplementary Assessment:Yes

Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment

Course Level:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

K1.	Compare traditional and agile approaches and lifecycles for managing information technology projects;

K2.	Select and adapt project management methodologies, based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge;

K3.	Establish a theoretical knowledge of the concepts key to Agile and Predictive Project Management in IT;

K4.	Create project management documentation/artifacts based on the context of a situation;

K5.	Analyse various complexities and diversity between information technology projects and how this impacts on the life cycle of a project

Skills:

S1.	Select appropriate methodologies to manage information technology projects of various complexities and scales;

S2.	Analyse real world information technology problems and apply project management principles and techniques to address these problems;

S3.	Apply a systems thinking approach to identify critical roles and categorize stakeholders in information technology projects;

S4.	Utilise a range of organisational and self-management skills, emulating real world practice of information technology project managers;

S5.	Evaluate industry standards relating to IT Project Management and how these present guiding values and practices for contemporary IT professionals

Application of knowledge and skills:

A1.	Adopt a project management framework to develop project management artifacts for a simulated real world information technology project;

A2.	Select and justify project management approaches to solve unpredictable and complex Information Technology problems;

A3.	Demonstrate competence in using various software systems to support Project Management

Unit Content:

Topics may include:

1. Traditional and agile approaches and lifecycles;

2. Project phases and product lifecycles;

3. Planning, estimating and tracking status of project tasks

4. Project stakeholder analysis

5. Project management methodologies and standards e.g. PMBOK;

6. Core functions of project management e.g. integration, scope, cost, time and quality management;

7. Facilitating functions of project management e.g. communication, human resources, risk, procurement and stakeholder management;

8. Software and systems to support project management

9. Tailoring methodologies in IT project management;

10.Industry practices in IT Project Management related to ACS's CBOK, SFIA and becoming an IT professional

Graduate Attributes:

Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptor		Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
FED TASK and descriptor		Level
FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal	Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 2 Leadership	Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative	N/A - Not Applicable
FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity	Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving.	Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy	Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 5 Sustainable and Ethical Mindset	Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.	N/A - Not Applicable

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting
1.	K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, A3	Engage in individual and group activities and exercises to build skills and knowledge	Journal or portfolio of tasks	15%-50%
2.	K4, K5, S1, S2, S5, A1, A2	Develop project management related artifacts for a real world IT project	Individual project/s and report/presentation	30%-60%
3.	K1, K3, S1, S2, S3	Review and demonstration of skills and knowledge	Quizzes during semester	0%-30%

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency

Australian Computer Society - Core Body of Knowledge: 2023 accreditation

Attribute			Assessed	Level
Core ICT Knowledge
	ICT Fundamentals
		Systems thinking: components and interactions between them, structure and function, emergent properties and functions, systems layers	Yes	Introductory
		History of computing and ICT, drivers of technology evolution and trends for the future	Yes	Introductory
	ICT Projects
		Nature and types of projects: exploratory, prototype, agile, maintenance, construction and acquisition, etc	Yes	Intermediate
		Project initiation: stakeholders, benefits specification, scope and requirements, quality and acceptance criteria, cost/benefit, risk and time budgets	Yes	Intermediate
		Project management: team management, estimation techniques, project scheduling, quality assurance, configuration management, project management tools, progress analysis, reporting and presentation techniques	Yes	Intermediate
		Installation and change management, benefits realisation and impact assessment	Yes	Intermediate
	ICT Management and Governance
		Fundamental governance principles (strategy development, establishment and monitoring systems for management and policy)	Yes	Introductory
Professionalism as it applied in ICT
	Professional ICT Ethics
		Professional ethics issues: general professional issues such as conflict of interest, confidentiality	Yes	Introductory
	Working Individually and in ICT development teams
		Team organisation, development and management, especially of multi-disciplinary, diverse ICT teams; collaboration, group dynamics, leadership styles, conflict resolution, groupware and virtual teams	Yes	Intermediate
		Individual time management, workflow and information management	Yes	Intermediate
		Working effectively within an organisational context	Yes	Introductory
	Professional Communication
		Communication with different audiences (technical, managerial, users and non-digitally orientated audiences) in different forums (meetings, presentations, networking)	Yes	Intermediate
		Forms and styles of documentation - technical reports and specifications, progress reports	Yes	Intermediate
	The Professional ICT Practitioner
		Continuing professional development, career upskilling, networking	Yes	Intermediate

Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA): Version 8

Attribute			Assessed	Level
Strategy and architecture
	Governance, risk and compliance
		BURM Risk management (Levels 3 - 7) Planning and implementing organisation-wide processes and procedures for the management of risk to the success or integrity of the enterprise.	Yes	2
Change and transformation
	Change implementation
		PRMG Project management (Levels 4 - 7) Delivering agreed outcomes from projects using appropriate management techniques, collaboration, leadership and governance.	Yes	4
	Change analysis
		REQM Requirements definition and management (Levels 2 - 6) Managing requirements through the entire delivery and operational life cycle.	Yes	3
Delivery and operation
	Service management
		CHMG Change control (Levels 2 - 6) Assessing risks associated with proposed changes and ensuring changes to products, services or systems are controlled and coordinated.	Yes	3
Relationships and engagement
	Stakeholder management
		SORC Sourcing (Levels 2 - 7) Managing, or providing advice on, the procurement or commissioning of products and services.	Yes	2
		RLMT Stakeholder relationship management (Levels 4 - 7) Influencing stakeholder attitudes, decisions, and actions for mutual benefit.	Yes	3
		ADMN Business administration (Levels 1 - 6) Managing and performing administrative services and tasks to enable individuals, teams and organisations to succeed in their objectives.	Yes	3