Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Program and Portfolio Management

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BUSM4334	City Campus	Undergraduate	325H Property, Construction & Project Management	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Guinevere Gilbert

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3452

Course Coordinator Email: guinevere.gilbert@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 08.08.007

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 You should have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite courses:

•  BUSM3134 Advanced Project Management

before you commence this course.
 

Course Description

This course will develop your knowledge about how groups of projects (programs) are undertaken, and how these projects are developed within a portfolio. You will learn how to distinguish between the contexts of a project, a program and a portfolio, and develop and apply your knowledge of the role of strategic planning and management in project management. You will also further develop and apply your knowledge of the role of governance in the management of projects, programs and portfolios. This course will develop your ability to formulate a project rationale and to analyse and apply governance processes and principles to the conceptualisation and evaluation of a portfolio of projects. You will also build your knowledge of the role Project Management Offices (PMO’s) play in the management and governance of programs and portfolios. You will also examine and critically reflect on accredited international program and portfolio professional standards and the impact of these on program and portfolio management  practice. Further, you will also develop your research skills through your investigation,  analysis and critique of the literature relating to program and portfolio management. 

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. (This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information.)
 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

PLO1: Determine and apply knowledge of complex project management theory to your professional practice and/or further study

PLO2: Professionally communicate to a range of audiences, demonstrating in depth knowledge of the discipline and of the needs of diverse project management stakeholder.

PLO3: Apply logical, critical and creative thinking to analyse, synthesise and apply theoretical knowledge, and technical skills, to formulate evidenced based solutions to industry problems or issues

PLO5: Collaborate effectively with others and demonstrate intellectual independence and autonomy to solve problems and/or address industry issues and imperatives

PLO6: Critically examine and reflect on the profession, in local and/or global contexts, and question accepted interpretations and decision making

 

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

CLO1: Analyse how industry and organisational strategy shapes the development of a portfolio of projects

CLO2: Evaluate and reflect on the role and function of Project Management Offices (PMO’s) and accreditated international standards in  the governance of programs and portfolios

CLO3: Analyse and apply portfolio selection and evaluation techniques and principles to formulate and evaluate a portfolio of projects

CLO4: Adopt a strategic approach to project management through the conceptualisation and evaluation of a project portfolio

CLO5: Source and critically analyse published  program and portfolio management literature to determine effective management of programs and portfolios

Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning in this course will be developed through lectures and tutorials. You will engage in a range of learning activities including class discussions, critical case study analysis and analysis and discussion of readings.
 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Three assessment tasks will be undertaken during the semester as described below:

Task 1 – Program Business Case, Roadmap and Charter (30%) – Individual – Due: end of week 05:

This individual assessment task requires you to develop Program Business Case, Roadmap and Charter for a real-world program. To develop Program documents, you pretend to be a Program Manager of the selected organisation from given case studies in the assessment resources section.

CLO2, CLO5

Task 2 – Portfolio Case Study Analysis (30%) – Individual – Due: end of week 09:

This individual assessment requires you to analyse the portfolio management practices of a real-world case study. You are provided with a scenario involving portfolio of projects and programs across in the assessment resources section. You are required to evaluate the portfolio's strategic alignment, resource allocation, risk management, and optimisation strategies. Through this assessment, you will demonstrate your understanding of portfolio management principles and your ability to apply them to a real-world case.

CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4, CLO5

Task 3 – Group project: Portfolio and Program Management Analysis (40%) – Group – Due: end of week 12:

In this group assessment, you and your team will undertake an in-depth analysis of a real-world case, focusing on the principles of program and portfolio management. You will critically evaluate how industry and organisational strategy shape the development of company’s portfolio of projects, assess the role and function of company’s Project Management Office (PMO) in governance, and analyse the application of portfolio selection and evaluation techniques.

Furthermore, you will adopt a strategic approach to project management, conceptualizing and evaluating company’s project portfolio in alignment with the company's mission and goals. Your analysis will draw upon published program and portfolio management literature to support your findings and recommendations.

CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4, CLO5

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

Equitable Learning Services 

Equitable Learning Services (ELS) provide support and equal opportunities for students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition and primary carers of individuals with a disability. You can contact the ELS if you would like to find out more: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services. You can also contact the course coordinator or the program coordinator if you would like to find out more. 

An assessment charter (http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf) summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teaching staff. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ln1kd66y87rc.