Note: This unit version has not been officially published yet and is subject to change!

ENGG1863: Effective Project Communication (2019 - Semester 1)

Download UoS Outline | Back to Bachelor of Project Management- Built Environment Major (Table A) (2020)

Unit: ENGG1863: Effective Project Communication (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Junior
Faculty/School: Project Management
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Chung, Kenneth
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: Projects are constructed and progressed through communication. Effective communication can save a poor project just as much as poor communication can undermine a successful project. This Unit of Study covers the essential skills of effective project communication and sets students up to exercise influence through interpersonal skills. Students will also be taught to construct patterns of communication suitable for the demands of different projects. This unit will help students develop critical thinking, referencing, and the way they use information in their decision making. Students will focus on personal integrity and reliability as well as self awareness.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Anichenko, Kate
Tutor/s: Carolina Veloz
Timetable: ENGG1863 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture/Workshop 2.00 1 13
2 Independent Study 8.00 1 12

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Students will understands and apply, as directed, the formal requirements of a communication plan, under well-defined practice scenarios. Including scope, time, scheduling, budget, resources, roles and responsibilities, procurement, quality and risk. Technical Expertise (Level 1)
Students will develop basic interpersonal skills and practices including attentiveness and engagement, empathy, clear expression, group facilitation and team leadership by participating in group work and in a number of presentations throughout the semester. Students will learn the theoretical underpinnings of influence and effective communication. People, Roles and Relationships (Level 1)
Students will develops basic business context knowledge and analytical concepts from a communications perspective. Students will defines and explains key concepts including project objectives, benefits and success criteria through group work and workshop activities. Strategic Perspective (Level 1)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Project Management Learning Progression Table 2019.

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.

People, Roles and Relationships (Level 1)
1. Develop a communication plan including emphasis on risk and quality, adapting communication to the needs of the audience
2. Construct and nurture networks and alliances
3. Provide clear and structured information to others and verify their understanding
4. Facilitate and promote open communication, demonstrate empathy and listen effectively (GQ9.2)
5. Promote project vision and goals to gain engagement and commitment
6. Communicate effectively with virtual teams
7. Consciously develop a personal brand (GQ8.5)
8. Exercise influence through personal skills (GQ9.1)
Technical Expertise (Level 1)
9. Analyse infrastructure, processes and systems for document management and information flow - introduce configuration management
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Individual Assignment No 30.00 Week 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
2 Individual Participation No 10.00 Multiple Weeks (During your timetabled class) 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8,
3 Group Assignment Yes 20.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
4 Online Quizzes No 15.00 Multiple Weeks (During your timetabled class) 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9,
5 Individual Video Presentation Yes 25.00 Week 11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9,
Assessment Description: 1) Individual Essay - Students will use the guide provided in the lecture/workshop to write a comprehensive essay on a topic related to communication and/or project management.

2) Individual Participation - Students will be assessed on their participation in lectures/workshops.

3) Group Assignment - Developing a project communication plan – Student groups (5-6 members in each group) will develop a communication plan for a project of their choice.

4) Online Quizzes - Students will be quizzed on preliminary readings for lectures/workshops from week 3 to week 10. All quizzes will be in a multiple choice format, delivered in-class.

5) Individual Video Presentation - Students will create, record, and edit a video presentation of themselves in front of a small group (eight or more people). The presentations will be assessed based on the student`s ability to use the material taught in lectures/workshops.
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.
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.

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 Communication in Projects
Week 2 Communication Theory and Project Management
Week 3 The Fundamentals of Written Communication
Week 4 Influencing Others
Week 5 Nonverbal Communication & Presentation Skills
Week 6 Creating a Project Communication Plan
Week 7 The Importance of Empathy and Active Listening
Assessment Due: Individual Assignment
Week 8 Facilitating Open Communication & Leadership Skills
Week 9 Building a Personal Brand
Week 10 Informal and Formal Communication in Projects (Social Network Analysis)
Week 11 Effective Communication in Project Teams (Virtual, Cross-Functional, and Multicultural)
Assessment Due: Individual Video Presentation
Week 12 Communication Barriers: Managing Internal and External Conflict
Week 13 Your Communication Style
Assessment Due: Group Assignment

Course Relations

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

Course Year(s) Offered
Aeronautical/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Biomedical/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Chemical & Biomolecular/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Civil/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Electrical/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Mechanical/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Mechatronic/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Software/ Project Management 2019, 2020
Bachelor of Project Management- Built Environment Major (Table A) 2019, 2020
Bachelor of Project Management- Construction Major (Table A) 2019, 2020
Bachelor of Project Management- Table S Major 2019, 2020

Course Goals

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

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Strategic Perspective (Level 1) Yes 0%
People, Roles and Relationships (Level 1) Yes 86.5%
Technical Expertise (Level 1) Yes 13.5%

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.