Graduate Diploma of Global Project Management

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This course introduces program participants to the nature and importance of concepts that go beyond the twin imperatives of time and (financial) cost. Specific topics include sustainability in terms of social equity, economic efficiency, and environmental performance; project management life cycles; resource management; and change management. Students learn how to assess and evaluate the performance of multiple projects, and how to apply a range of tools and techniques when managing product portfolios, along with the nature of sustainability in project management in terms of how project management processes align with the three fundamentals of sustainable development: social equity, economic efficiency, and environmental performance.

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Procurement and contracts are integral to successful project management. In this course, students learn about planning for purchases and acquisitions, requests for proposal, vendor selection, contract administration, and contract closure.  Students learn how to approach key issues with regard to short and long-term contracts, and small and large contracts. Topics covered include the examination of procurement strategies, responsiveness, and supplier-client relationships. Students will also examine tendering, bidding and order management processes, relevant legal and commercial implications, as well as managing the relationship between buyer and seller, assessing vendor performance, contract change control, and conflict resolution.

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In this course, students implement a project plan and manage progress by applying performance reporting, analysis, and measurement techniques to ensure that activities are executed as planned. This will include responding to risk events and issues; managing scope changes; communicating with team members and stakeholders; acceptance of deliverables, and administrative and financial closure.

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To be effective, project managers must understand relationships between operational factors such as business processes, product design, and revenue and expenditure. Students in this subject learn about these relationships, including the issues involved in planning and evaluating revenue and expenditure. Topics will include project goal attainment, positive operating cash flow, risk mitigation strategy, and operational alignment. Students also explore analysing risks, time and cost estimates, developing an appropriate work breakdown structure (WBS), understanding the importance of managing project change, establishing effective communication systems, and management of operations in an organisational environment. They engage in practical exercises designed to help them develop budget and operational plans based on an organisation’s accounting and financial data, project plans, and goals. Students also examine planning considerations associated with global operations.

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One role of the project manager is to lead teams in complex and diverse organisational settings while concurrently communicating with all stakeholders. In this subject, students examine how to support and motivate team members to perform to the best of their ability, producing quality results within the required time and cost limits, and how individual and group behaviour impacts organisational effectiveness. Students learn ways to design projects to support organisational goals and how to build and engage organisational capital (intellectual, human, physical, financial, and structural). They also assess communications management as a tool to manage internal and external relationships with stakeholders, partners, vendors, and customers.

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The process of creation, from conception through distribution, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. Students in this course are introduced to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to manage projects (including IT projects) successfully throughout a project life cycle, and to the language used by practitioners in conjunction with the terminology recognised by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Students explore the project management knowledge areas and process groups of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide. Students also examine the ways these two dimensions of project management interact in initiating (scoping), planning, executing (launching), monitoring and controlling, and closing a project.

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In this subject, students learn the integrative nature of project management and develop skills to coordinate the various project management processes and activities. Students formulate appropriate project life cycle and apply the PMBOK project management process groups to their selected case study. They update the project management plan and other artefacts impacted by the change management process. Students evaluate environmental factors influencing project outcomes and develop effective management strategies. They apply a range of communication media to manage stakeholder relationships.

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In this subject, students explore the interrelationship between technological change and the strategic role that technology plays in sustaining a successful business. Students will analyse professional, technological and organisational challenges – including ethical issues and risks – that impinge on the management of complex technology projects across small, medium and global business environments. They also examine various approaches to planning and delivering IS/IT projects, including Information System Development Methodologies (ISDM), outsourcing, and custom versus off the shelf products.

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In this subject, students are prepared for the rigours of managing construction projects by allowing them to attain proficiency in managing risk and understanding resource management, health and safety, supply chain logistics and contractual implications. Students examine the process, nature, and market factors that impact contemporary construction projects, and identify the practical and commercial aspects in the project life cycle. Current and recent developments within the sector will be explored and the fundamentals of construction business decisions will be analysed.

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With constant technological advances and shifts toward globalisation, organisations must be able to adapt and function efficiently while working through cultural barriers. Students in this subject focus on the human dimension of business, including individual and group behaviours, and organisational culture. Students explore the basic dimensions of human resource management - issues affecting the organisation, the project and the employee. Taking into account individual styles and leadership traits, they also assess and discuss contemporary thinking about leadership and its importance in today's business world.

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In this subject, students examine how infrastructure projects interact with society and the environment. Complex challenges involved in managing large public infrastructure systems in the 21st century are investigated while subject matters such as financial sustainability, environmental impact factors and management approaches are explored. Students evaluate the role and technical constraints of governmental agencies and other stakeholder groups, and learn how to balance the need for securing vital infrastructure and providing cost effective services for the public.

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In this subject, students explore a variety of business process management theories and systems, including quality control, IT and management theories. Promising technologies for next generation e-business and enterprise systems will be particularly discussed and practical tools used in enterprises, eg. SAP, Oracle applications, will be demonstrated. This subject also emphasises the integration of software techniques and relationship to building an interface that business managers can use.