UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit introduces students to relevant aspects of project management and engineering practice that they need to successfully transition from formal education to professional practice. As the industry becomes increasingly 'project focused', employers are seeking engineers who possess strong project management knowledge, skills and capabilities in line with sustainable principles and ethical standards, to be applied to 'real world projects'. The unit focuses on real world engineering projects and benefits the students significantly by enhancing their capabilities and employability skills. In the unit, students learn to (1) research and analyse a real world engineering project to which key concepts and theories of sustainable and ethical project management are applied—implement a rigorous approach to analysing the project by applying a globally recognised project life cycle framework; (2) identify and analyse the problems encountered in each stage of the project and establish relevant inferences; (3) provide prioritised recommendations based on the benefits and consequences deriving from them; and (4) analyse project stakeholders' input and influence and manage them accordingly. Students enhance their interpersonal skills as they are required to take an active part in group meetings, share group coordination and leadership and learn how to negotiate and solve conflict. Students also liaise with key industry representatives, giving them the opportunity to establish professional relationships.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) evaluate sustainable project management theories while applying them to 'real world projects'; (2) evaluate problems relating to initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling projects while choosing appropriate theories to solve them; (3) understand how to align projects with organisational goals, while recognising the strategic significance of successful project portfolio selection; (4) identify key project stakeholders, while proposing effective response strategies to manage stakeholder pressure; (5) formulate effective communication strategies to correspond successfully with a wide range of project stakeholders; (6) recommend how to manage a team effectively throughout the various phases of a project, while proposing strategies to actively solve conflict among team members; (7) evaluate the main normative ethical theories, while applying them to specific 'real world projects'; and (8) assess, project risks, while formulating effective strategies to prevent potential risk impact.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) group written project report; (2) group presentation (assessed individually); and (3) a final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Cosimo Faiello

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

62550 Master of Professional Engineering

or Enrolment in

62530 Master of Data Science

or Enrolment in

62510 Master of Information Technology

or Enrolment in

62540 Master of Ocean Leadership

or Enrolment in

62560 Master of Renewable and Future Energy

or Enrolment in 62570 Master of Offshore and Coastal Engineering
or
Enrolment in

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree and a WAM of at least 50

and Successful completion of

120 points

Contact hours

lectures: 26 hours
practical classes: 13 hours

Text

Hartley, S. Project Management: Principles, Processes and Practice, 2nd edn: Pearson Education Australia 2009