ASSESSMENT BRIEF
Subject Code and Title PROJ6005 Sustainability in Project Portfolio and Program Management
Assessment Assessment 2: Portfolio Management Planning Report
Individual/Group Individual
Length No longer than 2000 words
Learning Outcomes 1. Critically evaluate the strategic value of project management and project portfolio management, paying particular attention to their potential impact on project management life cycles, project offices, change management, resource management and organisational change.
2. Demonstrate understanding and initiative in the application of project portfolio management tools, techniques and processes to achieve improved business practices and performance and integrate sustainable project outcomes.
Submission Final Report - By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday end of Module 4
Weighting Final report - 25%
Total Marks 25 Marks
Context:
Assessment 2 is designed to develop your planning skills and ensure that you become familiar with a range of factors and issues that need to be considered if an organisation embarks upon an initiative to introduce project portfolio management. How an organisation views project portfolio management will depend on its size and project needs and the perceived impact of the initiative in terms of strategic organisational value, resource allocation optimisation and meeting its sustainability goals. Project managers can become an integral part of the design and planning process for the successful introduction of portfolio management into an organisation through their knowledge and utilisation of the different ‘best practice’ tools and techniques for project and program management.
Instructions:
For an organisation of which you are part, or one which with you are familiar, or one sourced from the Internet, you are asked to examine the introduction of a project portfolio management function in order to improve the organisation’s strategic advantage, project success and achieve its sustainability goals. Prior to developing the plan for the introduction of the project portfolio management function, you are asked by Executive Management to consider the way the organisation currently manages its project portfolio and then address the following requirements:
Situational Context and Evaluation
• How the organisation is likely to view the introduction of portfolio management given its size and project needs?
• How the organisation currently manages its projects and is there scope for improvement?
• How the organisation incorporates sustainability criteria into its business decisionmaking process and its operations, including social equity, economic efficiency and environmental performance? Is there scope for improvement and how might this be achieved?
Opportunities and Threats
• The likely successes that the organisation might experience by introducing a project portfolio management process.
• The likely challenges the organisation might face with the adoption of the project portfolio management process and how would these challenges be overcome?
Development of the Plan
• What would be the key elements of a plan to introduce project portfolio management into the organisation and how would it impact the strategic goals?
• What type of project portfolio management model would you propose for the organisation and why?
• How would you plan to implement project portfolio management into the organisation?
Tools and Techniques
• What tools/techniques are available for managing different types of project portfolios and which ones would you propose for the organisation and why?
In considering these requirements, be mindful of the benefits of project portfolio management but draw comparisons and highlight specific cases where any shift by the organisation towards project portfolio management may have both positive and/or negative impacts.
Learning Activities and Output:
Final report to Executive Management – by end of Module 4 (25%)
Assessment Criteria
Final report to Executive Management:
• Knowledge and understanding (10%)
• Analysis and application with synthesis of new knowledge (30%)
• Evaluation of information (30%)
• Correct citation of key resources and evidence (10%)
• Effective communication (20%)
Learning Resources
• Resource on APA writing style:
Learning and Academic Skills Unit. (2016). Academic Writing Guide. APA 6th ed. Sydney, Australia: Laureate Australia.
• Resource on business report writing:
Victoria University of Wellington (2013). How to write a business report. School of
Marketing and Internal Business and Student Learning Support Service, Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs/teaching/publications/VBS-reportwriting-guide-2013-July.pdf
• Refer to the subject planner for learning resources on Modules 1 to 4 to complete Assessment 1.
Learning Rubrics – Final report to Executive Management
Assessment Attributes Fail (0-49) Pass (50-64) Credit (65-74) Distinction (75-84) High Distinction (85-100)
Knowledge and
understanding
(10%) Limited understanding of required
concepts and knowledge
Key components of the assignment are not addressed. Knowledge or understanding of the field or discipline.
Resembles a recall or summary of key ideas.
Often conflates/confuses
assertion of personal opinion with
information
substantiated by
evidence from the research/course materials. Thorough knowledge or understanding of the field or discipline/s. Supports personal opinion and information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials.
Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts. Highly developed understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Well demonstrated capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts. A sophisticated understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Systematically and critically discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Mastery of concepts and application to new situations/further learning.
Correct citation of key resources and evidence
(10%) Demonstrates inconsistent use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.
There are mistakes in using the APA style.
Demonstrates use of credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well developed.
Demonstrates use of high quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.
There are no mistakes in using the APA style. Demonstrates use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within Demonstrates use of highquality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and position statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within and without the
There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
the organisation for sourcing evidence.
There are no mistakes in using the APA style. organisation for sourcing evidence.
There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
Effective communication
(20%) Difficult to understand for audience, no logical/clear structure, poor flow of ideas, argument lacks supporting evidence.
No effort is made to keep audience engaged, audience cannot follow the line of reasoning.
Little use of presentation aids, or the
presentation aids and material used are irrelevant. Information, arguments and evidence are presented in a way that is not always clear and logical.
Attempts are made to keep the audience engaged, but not always successful. Line of reasoning is often difficult to follow.
Presentation aids are used more for effect than relevance. Information, arguments and evidence are well presented, mostly clear flow of ideas and arguments.
The audience is mostly engaged, line of reasoning is easy to follow.
Effective use of presentation aids. Information, arguments and evidence are very well presented, the presentation is logical, clear and well supported by evidence.
Engages the audience.
Carefully and well prepared presentations aids are used. Expertly presented; the presentation is logical, persuasive, and well supported by evidence, demonstrating a clear flow of ideas and arguments.
Engages and sustains audience’s interest in the topic.
Effective use of diverse presentation aids, including graphics and multi-media.
Evaluation of
information
(30%) Limited understanding of key concepts required to support the pitch.
Confuses logic and emotion. Information taken from reliable sources but without a coherent analysis or synthesis. Resembles a recall or summary of key ideas.
Often conflates/confuses assertion of personal opinion with Supports personal opinion and information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials.
Discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course Systematically and critically discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Viewpoints of experts are taken as fact with little questioning.
information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials.
Analysis and evaluation do not reflect expert judgement, intellectual independence, rigor and adaptability.
Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts.
Identify logical flaws.
Questions viewpoints of experts.
materials and extended reading. Well demonstrated capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts. Viewpoint of experts are subject to questioning. Analysis and evaluation reflect
growing
judgement, intellectual independence, rigor and adaptability.
Information is taken from sources with a high level of interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive critical analysis or synthesis.
Identifies gaps in knowledge.
Exhibits intellectual independence, rigor, good
judgement and adaptability.
Analysis and application with synthesis of new knowledge
(30%) Limited synthesis and analysis.
Limited application/recommendations based upon analysis. Demonstrated analysis and synthesis of new knowledge with application.
Shows the ability to interpret relevant information and literature. Well-developed analysis and synthesis
with application of
recommendations
linked to
analysis/synthesis. Thoroughly developed and creative analysis and synthesis with application of pretested models and / or independently developed models and justified
recommendations
linked to analysis/synthesis Highly sophisticated and creative analysis, synthesis of new with existing knowledge.
Strong application by way of pretested models and / or independently developed models. Recommendations are
clearly justified based on the analysis/synthesis. Applying knowledge to new situations/other cases.