Teaching staff:

Term 3 Online indra.gunawan@adelaide.edu.au

Phone: +61 (8) 8313 3255

Monday 10th July to Sunday 17th September 2017

On the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	Identify different types of projects in project management and explain how management styles can vary depending on the type of a project employed.
2	Analyze real life complex project management case studies from multiple domains and illustrate practical application of research methods and toolsets.
3	Examine the latest interdisciplinary research in complex project management and apply lessons learned and best practices to the development of potential solutions to contemporary global challenges.
4	Compare and employ different levels of interpersonal skills as appropriate for effective teamwork and leadership in complex project management.
5	Demonstrate the importance of developing broader awareness and maintaining high ethical and socio-cultural standards to successful complex project management.

Peter Allen, Steve Maguire, Bill McKelvey (2011), The SAGE Handbook of Complexity and Management, 1st edition, SAGE Publications, ISBN-10 184787696, USBN-13 9781847875693

Library Resources
The University of Adelaide’s Barr Smith Library provides a range of learning resources including texts, journals, periodicals, magazines, and access to online databases and information services. It also offers a virtual library which is accessible via the University’s website. Access to the Library's electronic resources.

LEARN is the University of Adelaide’s platform for dedicated online delivery. LEARN is a customised version of Moodle, and houses all course requirements including the course profile, announcements, additional course materials (beyond the prescribed text), assessment items, discussion forums, grading, feedback, links to various university and course resources, an internal website email system, a technical assistance facility, etc. LEARN is only accessible once the URL and a password have been provided to the student on enrolment. Students are given access to the course prior to the start date to familiarise themselves with the operational aspects and functionality of the website. 

This course is offered in online mode

As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours.

This is a draft schedule and session dates are a guide only. The timetable may be changed during the course delivery if necessary.

Schedule

Week 1	Introduction to Complex Project Management
Week 2	Modern History of System of Systems Engineering
Week 3	SoSE Case Studies
Week 4	Types of Uncertainties and Emergence
Week 5	Risk Management of Complex Systems
Week 6	Key Aspect of Complex Systems
Week 7	Systems Thinking and Soft Systems Methodology
Week 8	Systems Thinking and Soft Systems Methodology
Week 9	Modeling and Simulation of Complex Systems
Week 10	Sense Making and Tiny Initiating Events

An overview of the course assessment appears in the following Table. Details appear in the following section:

#	Assessment Task	Task Type	Length	Weight	Due Date/Week	Learning Outcomes
1a	Assignment	Individual	1500 words	20%	Day 7, Week 5	1-3
1b	Assignment	Individual	1500 words	20%	Day 7, Week 7	4-5
2	Final Report	Group	4 people 15000 words	40%	Day 7, Week 10	1-5
3	Discussion/Participation	Individual		20%	Weeks 1-10	1-5
	Total			100%

Students must check all discussion forums weekly and to actively participate in and contribute to any ongoing online discussion threads.

Students must complete all course assessment requirements.

Course results are subject to moderation by the ECIC Board of Examiners.

Appropriate use of the Internet in assignments

The purpose of this document is to assist students with appropriate use of the material they have accessed on the Internet in assignments. The Internet is a wonderful source of information and sometimes students are not aware of how to use it properly. For example, a recent case had over 70% of words copied from over 20 other sources. Furthermore, many students think this is the appropriate use of the Internet.

IT IS NOT.

2015 was a bad year for students infringing University’s Academic Dishonesty Requirements with over 10 students infringing within the Master of Applied Project Management.

There is a hierarchy of penalties, the lowest of which is the loss of some assignment marks and the student’s name being placed on the Faculty’s Academic Dishonesty Register for six months. This only occurs if I believe this occurred through error. The second level penalty is more significant which is loss of all marks for the assignment and being placed on the University’s Academic Dishonesty Register for the remainder of their time at the University. Even higher penalties can involve the University deciding the student should not graduate. This has occurred in the Master of Project Management.

Appropriate use of the Internet is to include all directly copying of sections of other reports in ‘inverted commas’, as a quotation, and note the source of the quote. To include a group of words without use of inverted commas and without noting where the words came from is an example of academic dishonesty.

Students may not be aware that the University has use of an international database called Turnitin in which all direct use of other material can be traced.

On a more positive note students need to understand the points made in any paper they access on the Internet and integrate these thoughts into their argument rather than just copying large passages. Of course this takes more work but this is what tertiary education requires and, in the end, make students into better thinkers and more able to express their ideas in their assignments.

Assignment 1 (Individual):
Assignment one is broken up into 2 parts each worth 20%.

Question 1a: Why are some projects complex? How do they differ from complicated projects? Provide some examples of complexprojects. Why have traditional project management models failed to provide adequate structural support for complex projects?

Due Day 7, Week 5, 20%

This application assignment will assess your understanding of the course topics. The objective of these questions is for you to consider the theoretical material supplied and apply it to a real project example, or experience. Therefore, evidence of having read and understood the material is important. Arguments and assertions should be based on the research articles listed in the references, the important ones of which are encompassed in the notes.

Given the word limit on these questions, assessment will reward content included and quality of response. There will be penalties for exceeding the word limit. Quotations do not count in the total word count. Submit the Microsoft Word document to the dropbox located below on Day 7.

Length and Presentation:
Complete a 1500 word response to the prompt below. This activity is worth 20% of your final grade.

Late work will receive a deduction of 20 marks out of 100 for time in the first week late. Beyond the first week, a zero mark will be awarded.

In completing these assignments, higher marks will be awarded for evidence of reading notes, text and papers, and integration of these theories and concepts into your answers. Direct referencing of external material in your answers is preferred.


Question 1b: Explain the effects of complexity on the management of a project and discuss whether some of the many facets of
complex systems can be used to assist project management.

Due Day 7, Week 7, 20%

This application assignment will assess your understanding of the course topics. The objective of these questions is for you to consider the theoretical material supplied and apply it to a real project example, or experience. Therefore, evidence of having read and understood the material is important. Arguments and assertions should be based on the research articles listed in the references, the important ones of which are encompassed in the notes.

Given the word limit on these questions, assessment will reward content included and quality of response. There will be penalties for exceeding the word limit. Quotations do not count in the total word count. Submit the Microsoft Word document to the dropbox located below on Day 7.

Length and Presentation:
Complete a 1500 word response to the prompt below. This activity is worth 20% of your final grade.

Late work will receive a deduction of 20 marks out of 100 for time in the first week late. Beyond the first week, a zero mark will be awarded.

In completing these assignments, higher marks will be awarded for evidence of reading notes, text and papers, and integration of these theories and concepts into your answers. Direct referencing of external material in your answers is preferred.


Assignment 2: Final report (Group):
Weighting: 40%
Due Dates: Day 7 Week 10

Submission Details: Online
Send one copy for the group ensuring all group member names are clear. Preferably any documents created under Excel or
Microsoft Project should be included in the Word version of the electronic copy.

Task:
Create a case study report for an approved project as instructed below, implementing the theoretical material you have
covered. Groups should be of four people. To add additional team members, you need to seek special approval stating reasons. This assignment is intended to be the application of theory so I do not want theory reproduced, but the application of theory to a project.

As you may be using material in this report which was developed by others, it is important to state what was your contribution and what was the contribution of others. The paper should have the following headings with the following specifications:

Abstract
• 200 words or less

Introduction
• Briefly describe the SoS under consideration
• What problem is this SoS addressing for what organization, program, or activity
• Define the perceived System of Systems Engineering process, situation or problem presented in the case

Background Information
• Context for SoS and your case
• Definitions that apply to the process, situation or problem: advanced terminology or jargon, explain what each word
means in your study, concisely and clearly.
• Relevant theories/research and prior development regarding SoS and your case: What has other research or studies
found to be true in SoS and your specific case.

System of Systems Description
• History and Development
• High-Level Diagram or Layout
• Sponsors/Customers, Industry Sector, Companies Involved, Country, Budget
• Mission/Purpose/Goals/Objectives
• Principles/Characteristics
• Settings/Structure/Boundaries
• External Factors and Constrains
• Constituent Systems (new/legacy, scope) System of

Systems Engineering Analysis
• Analysis and Analytical Findings
• Activities/Problems/Conflicts
• Timeframe/Sequence of events
• Methods and tools used
• Lessons Learned
• Best Practices
• Steps and conditions for replicating the SoS elsewhere

Conclusion
• Summary of the case and your findings/recommendations

Questions for Discussion
• Please provide 2-5 questions that are based on this case and could be used for a discussion in a classroom environment.

References
Please ensure you add page numbers to your
assignment and it is advisable to add each team member’s last name in the
footer or header.

Scope:
The SoS Case Study Paper is expected to reflect the following:
1. Describes multiple integrated complex systems working together to achieve one common objective;
2. Present a real life process, situation or problem;
3. Offer adequate and detailed information to assess the process, situation or problem by the case reader;
4. Present an objective view of the process situation or problem;
5. Offers relevant questions for further discussion;
6. Be cogent;
7. Satisfactorily explain the basis for its conclusions;

Length and Presentation:
Minimum length: 4 people – 15,000 words.
Note: additional marks are awarded for more comprehensive reports.

The paper should follow the style guide of the IEEE (see Template for Transactions Section at http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/authors/authors_journals.html)

Criteria by which your assignment will be graded:
In completing this assignment, higher graded will be awarded for evidence of reading notes, text and papers, use of concepts
from Systems Fundamentals, and integration of this theory into your answers. Direct referencing of external material in your answers is preferred.

Assignment 3 (Individual):
Participation in the weekly discussions is expected (week 1-10).

All text based assignments must be submitted via Drop Box in LEARN

There are a few points to note about the submission of assignments:

• Assignment Submission: Assignments should be lodged via Drop Box in the LEARN system. Please refer to individual assignment tasks for specific submission details relevant to each task. Note that assignments may be processed via TURNITIN, which is an online plagiarism prevention tool.
• Cover Sheet: As part of your assignment, please add the completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet to your assignment, providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work. Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration. Where applicable, also include the word count excluding title pages and references.
• Backup Copy of Assignments: You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing. Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.
• Extensions of Time: Any request for an extension of time for the submission of an assignment should be made well before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer. Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date. Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine extenuating circumstances and proof, such as a doctor’s certificate, may be required.
• Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade. Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above). Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.

Resubmission & Remarking
Resubmission of an assignment for remarking after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted.  Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds.