Note: This unit version is currently under review and is subject to change!

PMGT3855: Project Variance Analysis (2019 - Semester 2)

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Unit: PMGT3855: Project Variance Analysis (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Senior
Faculty/School: School of Project Management
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Uddin, Shahadat
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d471/4262145e449648af67c7129d9cda1900be04.pdf
https://ijms.ut.ac.ir/article_55035_c95303d47b2f005c78712126c3859bae.pdf
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S026378631000116X/1-s2.0-S026378631000116X-main.pdf?_tid=7876ab3e-61ff-11e7-ac4a-00000aab0f01&acdnat=1499313732_e57cf72abc6f1c4243d1fbde970182e1
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258994352_A_novel_earned_value_management_model_using_Z-number
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: ENGG2851.
Brief Handbook Description: Project variance analysis uniquely shows project managers how to effectively integrate technical, schedule, and cost objectives by improving earned value management (EVM) practices. Providing innovative guidelines, methods, examples, and templates consistent with capability models and standards, this UOS approaches EVM from a practical level with understandable techniques that are applicable to the management of any project. It also explains how to incorporate EVM with key systems engineering, software engineering, and project management processes such as establishing the technical or quality baseline, requirements management, using product metrics, and meeting success criteria for technical reviews. Detailed information is included on linking product requirements, project work products, the project plan, and the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), as well as correlating technical performance measures (TPM) with EVM.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Dr Uddin, Shahadat
Timetable: PMGT3855 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 1.00 1 12
3 Independent Study 6.00 1 13

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Project Methods (Level 3)
1. Develop, analyse and refine project time & cost estimates, and work breakdown structure.
2. Manage project progress by monitoring performance, reporting and communicating with clients.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of any corrective actions to project performance.
4. Monitor & reassess project activity and control plans.
Project Communication (Level 3)
5. Release project resources upon completion.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Class Test 1 (Quiz 1) No 15.00 Week 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
2 Class Test 2 (Quiz 2) No 15.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
3 Group assignment Yes 20.00 Week 12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
4 Final Exam* No 50.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: * means this assessment must be repeated or will be replaced with a different assessment if missed due to special consideration.

1. Class Test (CT): CT will be based on all lecture and tutorial materials and will contain different types of questions such as multiple choice, short question and numerical calculations. There will be two tests: one in week7 (based on lecture and tutorial materials from week1 to week6) and another one in week13 (based on lecture and tutorial materials from week7 to week12).

2. Group Assignment (GA): The group assignment is a case study, which will be posted via eLearning in Week4 and is designed to develop students’ skills in actual application requiring the use of different project variance analysis methods in interpreting data for decision-making. In a group, a maximum of 4 members will be allowed to work together. Group members are expected to discuss regularly about the case study and must have equal participation in completing the group work.

3. Final Examination (FA): The final written examination (closed book as well) will be drawn from all aspects of the unit of study. It will test the candidates’ ability to discuss concepts and issues critically and to apply the knowledge learnt during the course to specific contexts. The examination will cover all lectures, tutorials and reading materials covered throughout the entire semester.

Late submissions will incur a penalty of 10% per day for up to 7 days starting directly after the cut off time. This means 10% will be deducted even if submitted on the due day but after the cut-off time. After one week, assessments will no longer be marked receive a 0 mark.

IMPORTANT: There may be statistically defensible moderation when combining the marks from each component to ensure consistency of marking between markers, and alignment of final grades with unit outcomes.
Assessment Feedback: Answers of CT1 will be discussed. Feedback for the group assignment will also be provided. Individual feedback (for all other assessment components except the final examination) will be provided upon request.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Recommended Reference/s: Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
Online Course Content: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d471/4262145e449648af67c7129d9cda1900be04.pdf

https://ijms.ut.ac.ir/article_55035_c95303d47b2f005c78712126c3859bae.pdf

http://ac.els-cdn.com/S026378631000116X/1-s2.0-S026378631000116X-main.pdf?_tid=7876ab3e-61ff-11e7-ac4a-00000aab0f01&acdnat=1499313732_e57cf72abc6f1c4243d1fbde970182e1

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258994352_A_novel_earned_value_management_model_using_Z-number
Note on Resources: Students will also be assumed to have knowledge in differential and integral calculus (MATH1001 and MATH1003); statistics (MATH1005); and basics of project management (ENGG1850)

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction to project variance and Setting project baseline for variance analysis
Week 2 Earned value management system and its key parameters
Week 3 Performance measures of earned value management system and EVA based project status reporting
Week 4 Review of basic statistics for project variance analysis
Week 5 Project network variance
Week 6 Cost analysis and estimation of project completion time using z-score, PERT and CPM
Week 7 Limitation of earned value analysis and Introduction to Fuzzy-based earned value analysis (Part-I)
Assessment Due: Class Test 1 (Quiz 1)
Week 8 Fuzzy-based earned value analysis (Part-II)
Week 9 Variance and Fuzzy logic for Project risk analysis
Week 10 WBS cost estimation for reducing project variance
Week 11 EVM based forecasting
Week 12 Time-centric forecasting and accuracy analysis
Assessment Due: Group assignment
Week 13 Revision of all materials and discussion
Assessment Due: Class Test 2 (Quiz 2)
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam*

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Civil / Project Management 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Electrical / Project Management 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Software / Project Management 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project Delivery (Level 3) No 0%
Project Methods (Level 3) No 81%
Project Communication (Level 3) No 19%
Professional Practice (Level 3) No 0%

These goals are selected from Project Management Learning Progression Table 2019 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Project Management Learning Progression Table 2019 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.