Diploma of Project Management Student Assessment Guide · Diploma of Project Management Student Assessment Guide ... Diploma of Project Management Student ... Marks Basic Competency

Diploma of Project Management Student Assessment Guide

Overview

The assessment for the Diploma of Project Management comprises –

Component Description Mark

Individual Assignment Submission of a detailed Portfolio of Evidence with multiple examples for each element of competency, these need to draw upon work related, personal or volunteer projects

65%

Unit Quiz Based on PMBOK 4 th Edition and the Learning Program content. This is a revision of multiple choice questions from Certificate IV in Project Management. An exemption can be awarded if the same Quizzes were completed as a part of Certificate IV of Project Management

5% or exemption

Unit Knowledge Tests Based on the PMBOK 4 th Edition and Learning Program content. Increases to 25% in the event of an exemption being awarded for the Unit Quizzes as above

20-25%

Forum participation Participation in discussion topics by leaving messages in the Forums area. Note: some Forums are mandatory and must be completed satisfactorily to be competent for that unit

10%

Team Work Must be completed to pass all units. Third party references to be provided to verify the ability to work in a team in the workplace. An exemption can be awarded if a detailed team assignment was submitted as part of a previous Certificate IV of Project Management and found to be competent.

N/A - Mandatory

Grading

Grading Code: 42 – Competency (Ungraded) A nominal mark can be calculated for each assessment and for the overall level of achievement. Competency requires a grade of 65% or higher in all units.


The questions are primarily drawn from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) as found in the following recommended text - Project Management Institute Standards Committee, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge 4th edition, Project Management Institute, 2008. ISBN: 9781930699458 and Learning Program Content. All tests are timed to take 30 to 45 minutes and be conducted as an open book revision exercise. It should be undertaken as an individual assessment with no student interaction or teacher interaction. Once the time limit is exceeded, the Quiz will save and submit your answers – you need to be careful to complete the quiz in the time given. You will be allowed two attempts at the Quiz – the highest mark from the two submissions will be used to calculate your mark. Feedback: Immediately except the Introduction Quiz which requires two short answers. This will be marked within one week by your facilitator. Unit Knowledge Tests The Unit Knowledge Tests assess deeper knowledge and understanding of the PMBOK. There is one Knowledge Test for each unit, all tests are short written answers with no time limit – one attempt only. They are completed online and are open book. It is strongly recommended, as these answers can be lengthy, that you type your answers into Word and then paste these into the Test. If you leave SAKAI half way through a test it will time out or the connection could be lost and you will lose your work. This is a common problem mentioned by students.

Feedback: from facilitator within one week.

Forums

Forum participation is mandatory where indicated in the Forum. You will not be able to complete the course without being competent for each of the mandatory forums.

Some of the Forums ask questions in relation to your Projects – these are the projects selected for the Individual Assignment (see below).

You will receive an indicative Forum mark throughout the course. This will not be a final mark until the end of the course. The mandatory forums must completed satisfactorily to be assessed as competent for that unit. Your participation on the Forums is assessed based on the following:


It is important that you show you can work in a team. Two referees need to provide a third party report on your team work skills. You can also be awarded an exemption if you have previously completed a team assignment as a part of the Certificate IV in Project Management. Use the Third Party Report provided as an attachment to this PDF. The attachments can be viewed via the paperclip symbol. If you do not have the paperclip symbol then put your mouse on the lower half of the screen and an Adobe box should appear with a triangle - select the triangle.

Submitting Third Party Reports

These can be emailed to your Facilitator.

Individual Assignment Marking Guide:

Students must compile and submit a Portfolio of Evidence with a minimum of two sets of examples for each of the 9 units (subjects). These can be drawn from two or more projects that are work related, personal or volunteer projects. Students can submit documents for several review and coaching sessions during the preparation of their Portfolio of Evidence, this ensures that all documents will be ready/competent by the course completion date. It is suggested you complete/are competent for one example for all nine units prior to commencing the second example. The Portfolios can be organized in one of two ways:

Sections for each of the 9 knowledge areas OR Workplace documents that are mapped to the assignment criteria. A mapping document is available for you to map from your workplace documents to the assignment criteria – this shows your understanding of requirements. Use the Mapping document provided as an attachment to this PDF. The attachments can be viewed via the paperclip symbol. If you do not have the paperclip symbol then put your mouse on the lower half of the screen and an Adobe box should appear with a triangle - select the triangle.

This would be used where you have already produced project plans in your workplace and you wish to use these as part of your evidence. Any gaps that are identified then need to be filled with Appendices.

The marks for the two sets of examples for each unit are averaged to give the total mark for


All questions in this assignment must be applied to your projects (unless otherwise stated) and specific answers are required to show you can apply what you have learnt to your project – even if you do not currently undertake all aspects in your workplace. You will need to confirm with your Facilitator that your Project choice conforms to the course requirements prior to starting work on the Project. Assignment Submission Assignments will be submitted by upload to the Assignment box on the Course Site. Emailed assignments will not be accepted.

Only one file type for each unit may be uploaded e.g.: do not upload 10 individual Word documents. Accepted file types are: MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, MS Project, MS Publisher and PDF. Versions accepted are 2003 onwards. Do not zip the files.

Feedback You will receive your feedback within two weeks - you will be notified by email by your facilitator when results are available.

Environmental Sustainability

You may wish to consider including environmental sustainability principles in the following areas of your project plans:

Scope: including specific sustainability objectives and practices in your project objectives and scope statement.

Cost: costing the environmental impacts of the project and including these in the project budget.

Quality: following quality standards or requirements that include environmental sustainability. Risk: including an environmental risk category and assessing project risks in this category. Communications: including reporting of project environmental impacts – positive and

negative. Procurement: requirements and seller selection based on environmental considerations.

Environmental sustainability could include:

Avoid or reducing the use of a resource including water, electricity, transport etc Reuse and recycling of a resource

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Manage Project Integrative Processes

Individual Assignment Components

Marks Basic Competency Higher Competency

Project Charter includes – Project purpose or

justification Project objectives and

success criteria High-level requirements High-level risks Summary milestone

schedule Summary budget Project approval

requirements Project manager, sponsor

and other authority

20 Project purpose or justification High level objectives, linked to

organisations objectives. Brief high level project and product

requirements Top 6 overall project risks are

summarized and overall risk rating estimated

High level preferences for completion dates of the overall project and major phases

Basic definition of phases and milestones shown

High level project budget based on Project Sponsor’s preference

High level rationale for overall cost High level project team structure

showing governing bodies

Detailed success criteria with time, cost, scope and quality as well as other performance criteria specified by Project Sponsor

More than 10 top risks stated, at least one for each major category that is defined

High level rationale for overall cost including best case, likely and worst case

Reference to any project management standards or methodology that will be followed

Project plan integration (can only be assessed once all sections of the project plan below are completed)

25 Project management plan is integrated across all areas (scope, time, cost quality etc). This is demonstrated by consistency across these areas where the information from one area is used as a basis for another. Eg: timeframes provide part of the basis of budget estimates.

Project management plan is approved or details of how approval would be obtained.

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Project Performance Reports 10 Multiple project status reports tracking of project objectives of time, cost and scope

Multiple project status reports showing changes to time and cost due to approved changes

Post Implementation Review 10 Basic post implementation review

conducted, performance measured against objectives and success criteria and report produced

Sophisticated post implementation review conducted, performance measured against objectives and success criteria, lessons learned analysed and report produced

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Scope

Individual Assignment

Components Marks Basic Competency Higher Competency

Project Scope Definition 15 Objectives stated Deliverables listed States what is IN scope and what is

OUT of scope

Objectives stated in measurable terms using SMART

Work Breakdown Structure documented

Constraints, Assumptions and Dependencies

10 Project constraints are listed in terms of timeframe and budget

Assumptions are listed Dependencies are identified if they

exist

Outstanding issues are listed for resolution by the Project Sponsor

Impacts of invalid assumptions is analysed

Project Success Criteria 5 Success criteria stated in terms of

scope, time, cost and quality

Additional success criteria stated Success criteria stated in measurable

terms using SMART Implementation of scope 5 How you gained a shared

understanding of scope with relevant stakeholders

Scope Management Process (Change Control)

15 Basic scope management process documented

Sophisticated scope management process documented

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Basic Change Control form provided

Sophisticated Change Control form provided

Change Requests 15 Multiple change request forms including analysis of the impacts on the overall project objectives – scope, time, cost, quality and resources

Evidence of approval or rejection of the change requests

Evidence of implementation of approved change requests – rebaselined schedule and budget

Change Request Log

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Time



Schedule 30 Activities, duration and effort included

Phases broken down into detailed activities with appropriate indentation

Some interdependencies are indicated

Detailed Gantt chart Interdependencies on all activities Baselined Report showing critical path

Tracking schedule showing actuals versus planned timeframes (during project execution)

15 Tracking schedule with actuals showing variance with original plans

Tracking Gantt with actuals showing variance with original plans

Replanning (during project execution)

10 Evidence of replanning to bring project back to original timeframe including the reason replanning is needed and the options available to bring the project back on schedule as well as the option selected

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Project close – time management lessons learnt

10 Evaluation of the effectiveness of time management tools and techniques

Lessons learnt log – time management issues and recommendations for improvements for future projects

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Costs



Detailed Project Budget 20 Project budget prepared including resource requirements.

Costs are in categories Less common indirect costs are also

considered Contingency included

Budget assumptions 5 Basic budgetary assumptions are documented and contribute to the finalisation of the project budget e.g. labour rates

Advanced budgetary assumptions are documented e.g. exchange rates, GST etc

Project Cost management procedures

10 Approval processes Financial authorisations and

delegated authority Communication and reporting

processes

Invoice procedures

Project Budget Performance Reports

10 Detailed budget performance reports showing variances against baseline budget

Advanced budget performance reports including concepts such as earned value and forecast to complete

Replanning (during project execution)

10 Evidence of replanning to bring project back to original budget including the reason replanning is needed and the options available to bring the project back on budget as well as the option selected

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Project close - financial completion and lessons learnt

10 Activities to financially complete the project undertaken.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of cost management tools and techniques

Lessons learnt log - cost management issues and recommendations for improvements for future projects

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Risk



Risk Register 25 Risk register covering major categories of project risk

Risk ratings for likelihood and consequences

Basic scales for likelihood and consequences (3 possible ratings)

Combined impacts of likelihood and consequences

Summarised mitigation strategies

Concept of residual risk rating applied More comprehensive coverage of risk

categories Detailed scales for likelihood and

consequences (5 possible ratings) Quantification of impacts for each

rating

Risk Action Plans 10 Detailed risk action plans provided for 5 highest priority risks, including assignment of responsibility for plan execution

More comprehensive risk action plans including scope, cost and time impacts of undertaking the mitigation strategies

Risk monitoring and reporting procedures

10 Risk monitoring and reporting procedures defined including communication with stakeholders,

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escalation and approval mechanisms

Risk response (during project execution)

10 Evidence of maintaining the risk log during project execution

Assessment of risk in change requests

Project close - risk lessons learnt

10 Lessons learnt log – risk management issues with regard to risk management processes and procedures. Recommendations for improvements for future projects.

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Quality



Quality Requirements 20 Quality objectives for the project defined (overall quality required by stakeholders including any trade offs with time, cost and performance)

Measureable quality criteria defined for all major deliverables

List of all standards, regulations, methodologies, policies and procedures that must be followed

Quality objectives also specified for project management deliverables

Cost of quality assurance and management activities defined

Quality Management Processes

20 Detailed quality assurance and control activities including authorisations and responsibilities

Processes for rectification of quality issues including review, sign off and acceptance

Methods for effective recording of quality outcomes

Continuous improvements processes

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Quality Performance 15 Results of quality assurance and control activities

Evidence of identification and resolution of quality management issues and defects

Specific status reporting on the completion and outcomes of quality assurance activities, including %age complete and Defect Logs

Project close - quality lessons learnt

10 Evaluation of the effectiveness of quality management tools and techniques

Lessons learnt log – quality management issues and recommendations for improvements for future projects.

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Communication



Stakeholder Identification and Analysis

20 Power and Interest Grid with basic rationale for stakeholder placement

Stakeholder Analysis Matrix detailing major stakeholders

One stakeholder management strategy per stakeholder

Power and Interest Grid with detailed rationale for stakeholder placement

Stakeholder Analysis Matrix detailing extensive internal and external stakeholders

Several stakeholder management strategies per stakeholder

Communication Plan 15 Communication Plan covering major stakeholders: information to be communicated, reason, messenger, receiver, frequency, authorizer, method and resources.

Communication Plan covering extensive internal and external stakeholders: information to be communicated, reason, messenger, receiver, frequency, authorizer, method and resources

Project Performance Reporting 15 Mock up of a Project Status Report Process to ensure quality and

validity of data reported.

Template for Steering Committee Meeting presentation

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Communications Management Procedures

15 Basic Communication Management Procedures including standards, escalation processes, version control, process to update the Communications Plan

Project Management information system: a systematic approach to the storing, searching and retrieval of information relevant to the project (manual systems or computer based).

Advanced Communication Management Procedures including Glossary of Terms, Flowcharts for communication, communication constraints and policies

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Human Resources



Schedule including Human Resource assignments (include in the Schedule developed for Manage Project Time).

5 High level deliverables and activities assigned to teams or generic positions

Schedule with detailed activities and specific people assigned to each task

Roles and responsibilities 20 Basic roles and responsibilities listed for each role within the project

Basic Responsibility Assignment Matrix for main stakeholders

Detailed roles and responsibilities provided for each role/person within the project including delegated authority and decision making authority

Comprehensive Responsibility Assignment Matrix for most stakeholders

Team Work and performance management

10 Conflict resolution process Project Team Code of Conduct

HRM legislation application 10 Evidence of understanding which legislation is to be applied to the Project

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Individual Performance Reports

10 Multiple project team member performance reports

Multiple project team member performance reports including performance improvement strategies and development plans

Project close – human resource lessons learnt

10 Lessons learnt log –human resource and stakeholder management issues and recommendations for improvements for future projects.

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

Manage Project Procurement



Procurement Plan 15 Table of major procurement and contracting requirements for human and non-human resources

Sourcing approach detailed and responsibility assigned

Table of detailed procurement and contracting requirements including human and non-human resources

Selection criteria and contract requirements also included

Assessment and selection approach

15 Detailed assessment and selection approach for a major procurement

Evaluation and selection for a major procurement

Basic understanding and evidence of tender processes

Detailed assessment and selection approach for multiple major procurements

Evaluation and selection for multiple major procurements

Advanced understanding and evidence of tender processes

Procurement procedures 10 Basic procurement policies and procedures developed including approval for procurement, sourcing approaches and contract types (if applicable).

Advanced procurement policies and procedures developed including flowcharts and different processes as values increase

Contract management procedures

15 Basic contract management policies and procedures including contract negotiation, escalation, review,

Advanced contract management policies and procedures including contract change control, performance

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approval and management processes with responsibilities outlined

bonuses and penalties

Contract Performance Reports 10 At least one example of a contract performance report or discussion for a major procurement

Multiple examples of contract performance reports or discussions for several major procurements

Total 65 42 to 55 56 to 65

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Diploma of Project Management Student Assessment Guide · Diploma of Project Management Student Assessment Guide ... Diploma of Project Management Student ... Marks Basic Competency