FIT3086 is core in BCS, BSE, BCS/BA, BCS/LLB, and BSc/BCS, and is a core in a computer science major in BSc. It was introduced as part of the 2006 Faculty restructure and will be part of the revised degree roll out of level 3 units for 2008.

This unit has been updated as part of a 2009 review and comparison of data with current Handbook, Syllabus + and Callista data.

07/12/2017 - Unit disestablished at FEC 5/17 Item 7.3.

This unit is a third year common core unit. It is a level three version of the second year common core unit FIT2002 Project Management. The range of topics in FIT3086 is the same as for FIT2002; however, some topics are covered in more depth. Its key objectives are to prepare students so that they will: have fundamental knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in the successful completion of a variety of projects in the IT industry; understand the theory and practice of project initiation and planning; and understand the theory and practice of monitoring and controlling a large-scale project through to completion

All students need to have exposure to Project Management as so much of the IT industry has become project rather than function oriented and hence Project Management is recognised by the relevant professional society as an essential part of IT education.

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

• describe the characteristics and phases of a project and its life cycle and explain the role played by the project manager;
• explain the need for and develop specific goals, detailed plans and control strategies in large scale projects and relate this to the major reasons for the failure of IT projects;
• explain and use standard project management techniques including Project Networks, Critical Path Analysis and Management, Gantt Charts and Time-Phased Budgets for high and low level project planning;
• discuss the communication, people handling and team management skills required of a project manager and explain some of the techniques that may be employed;
• explain the processes involved in selecting and initiating a project and prepare various critical documents required for these processes, including financial justification;
• explain the importance of resource availability on project plans and develop and manage resource constrained project plans;
• describe the need for Quality Management in projects and explain, compare and use various techniques currently employed by professional project managers;
• describe the impact of risk on a project managers decision process, explain how that risk may be managed and/or mitigated and develop an appropriate risk management plan;
• develop relevant, achievable and measurable project goals;
• identify and critically discuss the impact on a project of external influences, including organisational structure, and stakeholders;
• monitor the progress of a project, determine performance against the plan, develop strategies to manage any variation and discuss formal change control processes;
• produce useful, informative progress reports for various project stakeholders and conduct stage and post project reviews.

080315

The unit provides both a theoretical and practical overview of processes involved in managing large projects, with particular emphasis on projects common to the information technology industry. Topics include the project life cycle, problem definition, project evaluation, high and low level planning, team building and people management, monitoring and control, reporting and communication, termination and assessment.

On-campus

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk

Studio room required where available

FIT

A web server with technical support including system administration.

Completion of at least 24 points of IT study.

Chung-Hsing Yeh (Clayton), Thomas O'Daniel (Malaysia)