GSB 724 Project Management
The main objectives in this unit are to develop and encourage:
- systematic thinking;
- improved planning capabilities—both detailed and holistic;
- astute management of scarce resources; and
- astute management of triple constraints of time, cost and performance.
The basis of the unit is to develop both concepts and skills to enhance your workplace performance, as well as effectively manage projects in your personal life. The emphasis is on frameworks and concepts rather than mathematics.
It is hoped that the unit will: encourage students to think about projects in a systematic manner; and encourage improved planning capabilities and ready adjustment to external change. Additionally, you will appreciate the astute management required of seemingly conflicting constraints such as time, labour, money and performance or specification.
The unit resource material consists of course notes, a textbook and additional copied readings that may be of interest.
Most students who have done the unit enjoy the fact that they can take away something tangible which they can apply to both work and their everyday lives. Many students enjoy the systematic and considered approach developed in the unit and find this of use to them, even if they are not directly involved in project management professionally.
From past experiences most students initially seem troubled with the amount of reading, but once they learn to be selective this is not a difficulty. A consistent approach is recommended throughout the unit. If you fall behind it will delay the completion of assessment projects.