INFS4858 Project, Portfolio and Program Management - 2018

Subject Code
INFS4858
Study Level
Undergraduate
Commencing Term
Semester 1
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
6
Delivery Mode
On Campus
School
Info Systems & Tech Mgmt

1. Course Details

Summary of Course

This course provides you with a comprehensive introduction to project management in an information technology/information systems context that is also applicable to other contexts in which project management principles apply.

The course considers both theoretical and practical perspectives and will equip you with the necessary skills to be able to manage, or participate in, significant projects. The course, which is built around the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) from the Project Management Institute, has a firm emphasis on learning by practice, critical analysis of the PMBoK, understanding emerging issues in IS project management, and ethical and responsible management.

You will learn by action, working on a project team that puts into practice the newly acquired knowledge. During this semester you will plan and manage a complex project that will allow you to gain knowledge and skills on technical, behavioural and strategic aspects of project management. You learning effort will be supported by readings, videos, discussions and practical workshops that will explain the critical phases of the project management cycle.

Teaching Times and Locations

Please note that teaching times and locations are subject to change. Students are strongly advised to refer to the Class Timetable website for the most up-to-date teaching times and locations.

View course timetable

Course Policies & Support

The Business School expects that you are familiar with the contents of this course outline and the UNSW and Business School learning expectations, rules, policies and support services as listed below:

  • Program Learning Goals and Outcomes
  • Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
  • Student Responsibilities and Conduct
  • Special Consideration
  • Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts
  • Student Learning Support Services

View course Policies and Support

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

This course aims to equip you with both theory and practical skills in the management and implementation of projects. These skills are of paramount importance to improving the performance of your personal projects and in your future professional career where you can expect to be involved in a variety of projects.

The course also aims to further your development as a scholar and future business professional. The course will refine your communication skills and group-work skills, improve your time and conflict management skills, and assist in your research skills.

The course assumes no prior experience in project management in general or information technology/information systems implementation projects in particular.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Course Learning Outcomes are what you should be able to DO by the end of this course if you participate fully in learning activities and successfully complete the assessment items.

The Learning Outcomes in this course also help you to achieve some of the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes for all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students in the Business School. Program Learning Goals are what we want you to BE or HAVE by the time you successfully complete your degree (e.g. ‘be an effective team player’). You demonstrate this by achieving specific Program Learning Outcomes - what you are able to DO by the end of your degree (e.g. ‘participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams’).

For more information on Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, refer to the course Policies and Support.

The following table shows how your Course Learning Outcomes relate to the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, and indicates where these are assessed (they may also be developed in tutorials and other activities):

Program Learning Goals and Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes Course Assessment Item
This course helps you to achieve the following learning goals for all Business undergraduate/postgraduate coursework students:

On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

This learning outcome will be assessed in the following items:

1 - Knowledge

Explain how IS/IT projects can assist organisations to meet strategic goals and increase innovation and agility.

Explain what is involved in managing IS/IT projects at the strategic level.

Understand the role of senior project managers in managing the core areas of project management, as per the Project Management Institute’s PMBOK.

Knowing how to define a project, including idea generation, scoping and planning for the project’s execution.

Analyse a given project/programme and develop a high level strategy for the delivery of such project.

  • Assignments
  • Exam
  • Class activities
2 - Critical thinking and problem solving

Learn a number of models, methods, processes, approaches, and techniques to enable the effective management of projects and how to best contribute and respond to opportunities to improve IS/IT project outcomes.

  • Assignments
  • Exam
  • Class activities
3a - Written communication

Construct written work which is logically and professionally presented.

  • Assignments
  • Exam
3b - Oral communication

Communicate ideas in a succinct and clear manner.

Resolve issues by discussing and negotiating outcomes with team members.

Class activities and presentations.

4 - Teamwork

Work collaboratively to complete a task.

Understand the importance and significance of teamwork via the positive resolution of conflict and the the generation of solutions.

Team assignments, Class activities.

5a - Ethical, social and environmental responsibility

Identify and assess environmental and sustainability considerations in problems related to the implementation of projects and programs.

  • Assignments
  • Class activities
  • Exam
5b - Social and cultural awareness

Be able to work effectively and responsibly in a multicultural team environment.

  • Team assignments
  • Class activities.

2. Staff Contact Details

Position Title Name Email Location Phone Consultation Times
Lecturer-in-chargeProfWalter FernandezRoom 2090, Quadrangle Building – Ref E15
–
–
Workshop Associate FacilitatorMrRasheed KhanTo be announced via Moodle
–
–

The best way to contact your lecturer in charge is via email or during their consultation times as specified in Moodle.

Please note that only your UNSW email account will be used for formal notices and correspondence regarding the course. It is school policy to only respond to email messages that are clearly identifiable as having originated from legitimate accounts. Legitimate email accounts are:

  • A UNSW student account
  • An identifiable employer provided account
  • An identifiable ISP account (bigpond, ozemail, etc.)

Moodle will be utilised for all course communications i.e. notices, questions regarding assignments and course content. Please check Moodle regularly as this is where we communicate urgent notices when needed.

Please note – only urgent (and very short) enquiries will be answered via e-mail, or telephone. Please attend consultation times or make an appointment if you need to discuss issues in detail. If you need to contact the School urgently you can contact the School Office on 9385-5320.

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

In this course, students are responsible for their learning. The staff involved in the course will facilitate that learning by providing guidance as to what needs to be studied through the reading list, the ‘self-assessment questions,’ the content of lessons and discussions during the weekly workshop and the assignments.
We will cover a considerable amount of material during the workshops, and you must prepare and study ahead of the workshops. Pre-workshop preparation is vital to your success; therefore, it must start from Week 0. This requirement means that you should read the set readings, work through the preparation material, and attend the workshop each week of the semester.
The workshops will be based on a flipped-mode of learning. That is, you need to prepare ahead and work during the workshops on a set of activities facilitated by your teacher(s). Preparing ahead will allow you to take advantage of the learning activities and to contribute to your and your peers’ learning outcomes. By doing so you will develop not only your skills but also your potential to succeed in your future professional life.
Given the action-based learning nature of this course, it is not possible to learn and succeed without attending and participating in teamwork and class activities.
You are as responsible for your effort in your studies as you would be in a professional project. It is important that you get your study regime organized quickly. You cannot afford to be left behind, keeping up to date is very important as each week builds on the prior weeks. Also, by keeping up you with studies and activities, you will be appropriately prepared to participate in the weekly workshops and to effectively contribute to your team activities and tasks. If you have any problem getting ready for the workshops, please contact your Lecture-in-Charge immediately.

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

​The learning activities and teaching strategy follow flipped classroom learning principles. This means that you will watch videos, read your textbook and other prescribed material, and listen/read instructions from to your lecturer for homework. You will then use your class-time (workshops) for tackling difficult problems, working in teams/groups, researching, creating and collaborating. The preparation before the workshops is therefore extremely important to your learning-by-doing activities.
For the duration of the semester, you will be working with your team on a single project. Your project team will propose and then plan for the delivery of a key component of a programme that aims to deliver a sustainable bio-fuel industry. While the program is fictitious, the project work you will be doing for it is real (in the sense that you will be working with your team to produce a coherent and fully developed project strategy).
The learning activities do continue after the workshops. You will be working with your team, collectively and as an individual team member, to complete many tasks related to your project assignment.
Finally, a fundamental idea behind our teaching and learning strategy is that project management is learned by doing; that is, by putting into practice techniques and methods in a social and environment. Thanks to your engagement in performing substantial project work and managing yourself and your team, you will learn essential project management skills, methods, and techniques while simultaneously developing your individual and team leadership capabilities.
Seminars/Workshops
This course will not have formal lectures, but it instead takes the form of a series of workshops that will allow you and your team to develop a full plan for a significant project.
During the workshops, the lecturer will only provide a short overview of the topic at hand in the form of “briefs” that will focus on explaining difficult concepts and emerging issues as well as clarifying the tasks you need to perform.
The role of the briefs is to help you to understand the context of the topic as well as work through the problematic points of your project.
The LIC will act as both the key facilitator of the workshops and the Program Manager to whom your team will report. Part of the role of the Program Manager is to mentor you and your team so that you can maximise your learning experience.
The preparation required for each lecture is set out in each week’s study guide. To encourage learned discussions and contributions, you will be briefly examined on the mandatory readings before each workshop.
Please note that each week is likely to have additional readings to supplement the textbook, you will be provided with access to resources for further readings. The additional readings are not examinable but represent a great addition to your knowledge and will improve your outcomes.
The order of topics as provided on your initial schedule is unlikely to change. However, if changes are required, they will be communicated via Moodle.

Class Participation & Discussion

Typically, the first part of the workshop will be facilitated by the LIC and you will participate in a series of activities that will both progress your knowledge and your project. The second part of the workshop will involve further teamwork, such as solution design, investigating, conflict management/resolution, and reporting.
You will receive a workshop plan before each workshop. During your activities, you will receive support from the LIC (and other facilitators), so you can better understand the tasks to be performed, but you will be responsible for performing the tasks.
Attendance at these workshops will be taken; it is vital that all students engage in these activities. It is essential for you to understand that if you cannot attend this course’s weekly workshops, or work on teams, you should not enroll in this course. This requirement is not negotiable. Without teamwork and constant development of the project plan, no project management (or project) is possible.
As you commit to your team and participate, you will develop your communication and management skills, gaining a significant experience and knowledge that is likely to empower you and benefit your future career. Most students report a challenging but highly rewarded learning experience during this course.

Private Study

Your private study is the most crucial component of this course. The readings and all other pre-workshop material will be stated and provided to you via Moodle. Keeping up to date is very important as each week builds on the prior weeks. It is highly recommended that you get your study regime organized quickly.

5. Course Resources

The course website

The course website is hosted on Moodle. You will have access to the course website once you have enrolled in the course. The course website contains the study guides, lecture slides, assignment details, announcements and other information about the course.

Textbook

The text for the course is:

  • Information Technology Project Management (8th edition) by Kathy Schwalbe, published by Course Technology (Cengage)

Workshop Slides and other Material

A PDF document of the slides that will be used in the lecture will be posted on Moodle after each workshop. Other relevant documents and URLs will also be posted to Moodle.

6. Course Evaluation & Development

​Each year feedback is sought from students and other stakeholders about the courses offered in the School and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. UNSW’s myExperience survey is one of the ways in which student evaluative feedback is gathered. In this course, we will seek your feedback through ongoing discussion plus end of semester myExperience responses.

7. Course Schedule

Week 1: 26 Feb
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Project Initiation Introduction to PM Project Management and Information Technology Context

Assessment/Other

This is the most important week: Course success factors discussed. Assignment teams formed. Team briefed, and projects are proposed.

Read the newsletter sent to you and all emails from the LIC before the workshop.

Week 2: 05 Mar
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Project integration management Project and scope definition Project scope management (A)

Assessment/Other

Teams have defined their project. Assignment released Assignment’s scope discussed in class

Read Chapters 4 and 5 before the workshop (other readings as required)

Week 3: 12 Mar
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Defining Deliverables Project Planning Conflict and Negotiation

Assessment/Other

Principles of pro-active conflict management and negotiation are in place, and the team has defined how they will be managing their time and activities.

Read Chapter 5 in more detail, having your project in mind, before the workshop.

Read Chapter 6 to gain an idea of the key time management concepts (other readings as required).

Week 4: 19 Mar
Activity

Workshop

Topic

WBS Development Time Management

Assessment/Other

Teams have designed the integration aspects of their projects and how these should be managed

Read Chapter 6 again before the workshop (other readings as required)

Week 5: 26 Mar
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Stakeholders Management Managing your sponsors

Assessment/Other

Teams have produced a stakeholder management plan, identifying all key stakeholders and their critical success factors.

Read Chapter 13 before the workshop (other readings as required).

Mid Semester Break: 02 Apr
Activity

Catch-up

Topic

No formal activity

Week 6: 09 Apr
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Project scope management (part b) Getting the scope right and keeping it right. Scope change and scope creep.

Assessment/Other

Teams define the activities and the strategies needed to manage the scope of their projects during the project lifecycle.

Revisit Chapters 5 and 6 in more detail, having your project in mind. Modify your plan as required before the workshop.

Week 7: 16 Apr
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Project Quality Management Project Communication Management

Assessment/Other

Teams (a) define the quality of their outcomes/deliverables, and how to measure and manage it during the project lifecycle; and (b) produce a communication plan that defines communication channel as well as frequency and nature of communicative events/activities.

Read Chapters 8 and 10 before the workshop (other readings as required).

Week 8: 23 Apr
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Managing Project People Procurement Management

Assessment/Other

Teams finalise plans to acquire, maintain, motivate, and develop human resources.

Teams finalise their procurement plans.

Read Chapters 9 and 12 before the workshop (other readings as required).

Week 9: 30 Apr
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Managing Project Risk Discussion on Teamwork assessment

Assessment/Other

Teams will identify the top risks for their project and put in place clear and effective risk management strategies.

Read Chapter 11 before the workshop (other readings as required).

Week 10: 07 May
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Budgeting and Cost Estimation.

Assessment/Other

Teams produce a detailed plan that includes cost and budgeting estimates.

Read Chapter 7 before the workshop (other readings as required).

Week 11: 14 May
Activity

Workshop

Topic

Managing Projects Portfolios and Programs. Group Presentations.

Assessment/Other

Assignment due on Wedneday at 16:00hs

Assignment presentations and discussions.

Week 12: 21 May
Activity

Homework

Topic

Final exam and Wrap Up

Assessment/Other

On-line, no workshop this week.

Students complete the self-reflection assignment on teamwork due on Friday Week 12.

Week 13: 28 May
Activity

N/A

Topic

Potential recovery week.

Assessment/Other

A workshop may be scheduled if required (i.e., if a previous week was not conducted).

8. Policies

Information about UNSW Business School protocols, University policies, student responsibilities and education quality and support.

Program Learning Goals and Outcomes

The Business School Program Learning Goals reflect what we want all students to BE or HAVE by the time they successfully complete their degree, regardless of their individual majors or specialisations. For example, we want all our graduates to HAVE a high level of business knowledge and a sound awareness of ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of business. As well, we want all our graduates to BE effective problem-solvers, communicators and team participants.

You can demonstrate your achievement of these goals by the specific outcomes you achieve by the end of your degree (i.e. Program Learning Outcomes—henceforth PLOs). These PLOs articulate what you need to know and be able to do as a result of engaging in learning. They embody the knowledge, skills and capabilities that are identified, mapped, taught, practised and assessed within each Business School program.

All UNSW programs and courses are designed to assess the attainment of program and/or course level learning outcomes, as outlined in the UNSW Assessment Design Procedure. It is therefore important that you become familiar with the Business School PLOs, as they constitute the framework which informs and shapes the course components and assessments of the courses within your program of study.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate Coursework
Knowledge You should be able to identify and apply disciplinary knowledge to business situations in a local and global environment.
Critical thinking and problem solving You should be able to identify and research issues in business situations, analyse the issues, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions.
Written communication You should be able to prepare written documents that are clear, concise and coherent, using appropriate style and presentation for the intended audience, purpose and context.
Oral communication You should be able to prepare and deliver oral presentations that are clear, focussed, well-structured, and delivered in a professional manner.
Teamwork You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes.
Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  1. You should be able to identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice.
  2. You should be able to identify social and cultural implications of business.
Workplace skills (Co-op programs only) You should be able to conduct yourself in a professional manner in the work environment, communicate effectively in diverse workplace situations and be able to apply discipline knowledge and understanding to real business problems with initiative and self-direction.
Related PLO Documents View the Undergraduate Honours PLOs (pdf)
Knowledge You should be able to identify and apply current knowledge of disciplinary or interdisciplinary theory and professional practice to business in local and global environments.
Critical thinking and problem solving You should be able to identify, research and analyse complex issues and problems in business and/or management, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions.
Written communication You should be able to produce written documents that communicate complex disciplinary ideas and information effectively for the intended audience and purpose.
Oral communication You should be able to produce oral presentations that communicate complex disciplinary ideas and information effectively for the intended audience and purpose.
Teamwork You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes.
Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  1. You should be able to identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice.
  2. You should be able to identify social and cultural implications of business.
Related PLO Documents View the Master of Philosophy PLOs (pdf)
 View the Doctor of Philosophy PLOs (pdf)

UNSW Graduate Capabilities

The Business School PLOs also incorporate UNSW graduate capabilities, a set of generic abilities and skills that all students are expected to achieve by graduation. These capabilities articulate the University’s institutional values, as well as future employer expectations.

UNSW Graduate CapabilitiesBusiness School PLOs
Scholars capable of independent and collaborative enquiry, rigorous in their analysis, critique and reflection, and able to innovate by applying their knowledge and skills to the solution of novel as well as routine problems.
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Knowledge
  • Oral communication
  • Research capability
  • Teamwork
  • Workplace skills
  • Written communication
Entrepreneurial leaders capable of initiating and embracing innovation and change, as well as engaging and enabling others to contribute to change
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Knowledge
  • Oral communication
  • Workplace skills
  • Written communication
Professionals capable of ethical, self- directed practice and independent lifelong learning
  • Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  • Workplace skills
Global citizens who are culturally adept and capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially just and responsible way.
  • Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  • Oral communication
  • Written communication

The Business School strongly advises you to choose a range of courses that assist your development against these PLOs and graduate capabilities, and to keep a record of your achievements as part of your portfolio. You could use these records for work or further study. For support with selecting your courses contact the UNSW Business School Student Centre.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Academic Integrity is honest and responsible scholarship. This form of ethical scholarship is highly valued at UNSW. Terms like Academic Integrity, misconduct, referencing, conventions, plagiarism, academic practices, citations and evidence based learning are all considered basic concepts that successful university students understand. Learning how to communicate original ideas, refer sources, work independently, and report results accurately and honestly are skills that you will be able to carry beyond your studies.

The definition of academic misconduct is broad. It covers practices such as cheating, copying and using another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgement. Incidents of academic misconduct may have serious consequences for students.

Plagiarism

UNSW regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct. UNSW has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism at UNSW is using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own. All Schools in the Business School have a Student Ethics Officer who will investigate incidents of plagiarism and may result in a student’s name being placed on the Plagiarism and Student Misconduct Registers.

Below are examples of plagiarism including self-plagiarism:

Copying: Using the same or very similar words to the original text or idea without acknowledging the source or using quotation marks. This includes copying materials, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document, presentation, composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, website, internet, other electronic resource, or another person's assignment, without appropriate acknowledgement of authorship.

Inappropriate Paraphrasing: Changing a few words and phrases while mostly retaining the original structure and/or progression of ideas of the original, and information without acknowledgement. This also applies in presentations where someone paraphrases another’s ideas or words without credit and to piecing together quotes and paraphrases into a new whole, without appropriate referencing.

Collusion: Presenting work as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people. Collusion includes:

  • Students providing their work to another student before the due date, or for the purpose of them plagiarising at any time
  • Paying another person to perform an academic task and passing it off as your own
  • Stealing or acquiring another person’s academic work and copying it
  • Offering to complete another person’s work or seeking payment for completing academic work

Collusion should not be confused with academic collaboration (i.e., shared contribution towards a group task).

Inappropriate Citation: Citing sources which have not been read, without acknowledging the 'secondary' source from which knowledge of them has been obtained.

Self-Plagiarism: ‘Self-plagiarism’ occurs where an author republishes their own previously written work and presents it as new findings without referencing the earlier work, either in its entirety or partially. Self-plagiarism is also referred to as 'recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without disclosure. In the student context, self-plagiarism includes re-using parts of, or all of, a body of work that has already been submitted for assessment without proper citation.

To see if you understand plagiarism, do this short quiz: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism-quiz

Cheating

The University also regards cheating as a form of academic misconduct. Cheating is knowingly submitting the work of others as their own and includes contract cheating (work produced by an external agent or third party that is submitted under the pretences of being a student’s original piece of work). Cheating is not acceptable at UNSW.

If you need to revise or clarify any terms associated with academic integrity you should explore the 'Working with Academic Integrity' self-paced lessons available at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/aim.

For UNSW policies, penalties, and information to help you avoid plagiarism see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism as well as the guidelines in the online ELISE tutorials for all new UNSW students: http://subjectguides.library.unsw.edu.au/elise. For information on student conduct see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct.

For information on how to acknowledge your sources and reference correctly, see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/referencing. If you are unsure what referencing style to use in this course, you should ask the lecturer in charge.

Student Responsibilities and Conduct

Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to university policies in relation to class attendance and general conduct and behaviour, including maintaining a safe, respectful environment; and to understand their obligations in relation to workload, assessment and keeping informed.

Information and policies on these topics can be found on the 'Managing your Program' website

Workload

It is expected that you will spend at least nine to ten hours per week studying for a course except for Summer Term courses which have a minimum weekly workload of eighteen to twenty hours. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, online activities and attending classes. In periods where you need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. You should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study with employment and other activities.

We strongly encourage you to connect with your Moodle course websites in the first week of semester. Local and international research indicates that students who engage early and often with their course website are more likely to pass their course.

View more information on expected workload

Attendance

Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures and seminars or in online learning activities is expected in this course. The Business School reserves the right to refuse final assessment to those students who attend less than 80% of scheduled classes where attendance and participation is required as part of the learning process (e.g., tutorials, flipped classroom sessions, seminars, labs, etc.).

View more information on attendance

General Conduct and Behaviour

You are expected to conduct yourself with consideration and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct which unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing or talking on mobile phones, is not acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class.

View more information on student conduct

Health and Safety

UNSW Policy requires each person to work safely and responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others.

View more information on Health and Safety

Keeping Informed

You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course web site. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your university e-mail address without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information. It is also your responsibility to keep the University informed of all changes to your contact details.

Special Consideration

You must submit all assignments and attend all examinations scheduled for your course. You can apply for special consideration when illness or other circumstances beyond your control, interfere with your performance in a specific assessment task or tasks. Special Consideration is primarily intended to provide you with an extra opportunity to demonstrate the level of performance of which you are capable.

General information on special consideration for undergraduate and postgraduate courses can be found in the Assessment Implementation Procedure and the Current Students page.

Please note the following:

  1. Applications will not be accepted by teaching staff. The lecturer-in-charge will be automatically notified when you lodge an online application for special consideration
  2. Decisions and recommendations are only made by lecturers-in-charge (or by the Faculty Panel in the case of final exam special considerations), not by tutors
  3. Applying for special consideration does not automatically mean that you will be granted a supplementary exam or other concession
  4. Special consideration requests do not allow lecturers-in-charge to award students additional marks

Business School Protocol on requests for Special Consideration

The lecturer-in-charge will need to be satisfied on each of the following before supporting a request for special consideration:

  1. Does the medical certificate contain all relevant information? For a medical certificate to be accepted, the degree of illness and its impact on the student must be stated by the medical practitioner (severe, moderate, mild). A certificate without this will not be valid. Students should also note that only medical certificates issued after physically visiting a registered medical practitioner will be accepted. Medical certificates submitted for Special Consideration should always be requested from a registered medical practitioner that you have seen at a medical practice. Certificates obtained online or via social media may be fraudulent and if relied upon could result in a breach of the UNSW Student Code.
  2. Has the student performed satisfactorily in the other assessment items? To understand what Satisfactory Performance means in this course, please refer to the 'Formal Requirements' section in Part A of your Course Outline

Special Consideration and the Final Exam in undergraduate and postgraduate courses

Applications for special consideration in relation to the final exam are considered by a Business School Faculty panel to which lecturers-in-charge provide their recommendations for each request. If the Faculty panel grants a special consideration request, this will entitle the student to sit a supplementary examination. No other form of consideration will be granted. The following procedures will apply:

  1. Supplementary exams will be scheduled centrally and will be held approximately two weeks after the formal examination period.

    Supplementary exams for Semester 1, 2018 will be held during the period 14 - 21 July, 2018. Students wishing to sit a supplementary exam will need to be available during this period.

    The date for all Business School supplementary exams for Summer Term 2017/2018 is Wednesday, 21 February, 2018. If a student lodges a special consideration for the final exam, they are stating they will be available on this date. Supplementary exams will not be held at any other time.

  2. Where a student is granted a supplementary examination as a result of a request for special consideration, the student’s original exam (if completed) will be ignored and only the mark achieved in the supplementary examination will count towards the final grade. Absence from a supplementary exam without prior notification does not entitle the student to have the original exam paper marked, and may result in a zero mark for the final exam.

The Supplementary Exam Protocol for Business School students is available at: http://www.business.unsw.edu.au/suppexamprotocol

For special consideration for assessments other than the final exam refer to the ‘Assessment Section’ in your course outline.

Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts

The UNSW Business School has set a protocol under which students may view their final exam script. Please check the protocol here.

Given individual schools within the Faculty may set up a local process for viewing final exam scripts, it is important that you check with your School whether they have any additional information on this process. Please note that this information might also be included in your course outline.


Student Support and Resources

The University and the Business School provide a wide range of support services and resources for students, including:

Business School EQS Consultation Program
The Consultation Program offers academic writing, literacy and numeracy consultations, study skills, exam preparation for Business students. Services include workshops, online resources, individual and group consultations.
Level 1, Room 1035, Quadrangle Building.
BUS.EQS.Consultations@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4508

Business School Student Centre
The Business School Student Centre provides advice and direction on all aspects of admission, enrolment and graduation.
Level 1, Room 1028 in the Quadrangle Building
02 9385 3189

UNSW Learning Centre
The UNSW Learning Centre provides academic skills support services, including workshops and resources, for all UNSW students. See their website for details.
Lower Ground Floor, North Wing Chancellery Building.
learningcentre@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 2060

Educational Support Service
Educational Support Advisors work with all students to promote the development of skills needed to succeed at university, whilst also providing personal support throughout the process. Check their website to request an appointment or to register in the Academic Success Program.
John Goodsell Building, Ground Floor.
advisors@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

Library services and facilities for students
The UNSW Library offers a range of collections, services and facilities both on-campus and online.
Main Library, F21.
02 9385 2650

Moodle eLearning Support
Moodle is the University’s learning management system. You should ensure that you log into Moodle regularly.
externalteltsupport@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 3331

UNSW IT
UNSW IT provides support and services for students such as password access, email services, wireless services and technical support.
UNSW Library Annexe (Ground floor).
itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 1333

Disability Support Services
UNSW Disability Support Services provides assistance to students who are trying to manage the demands of university as well as a health condition, learning disability or who have personal circumstances that are having an impact on their studies. Disability Advisers can arrange to put in place services and educational adjustments to make things more manageable so that students are able to complete their course requirements. To receive educational adjustments for disability support, students must first register with Disability Services.
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building.
disabilities@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services
Provides support and services if you need help with your personal life, getting your academic life back on track or just want to know how to stay safe, including free, confidential counselling.
Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building.
counselling@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 5418


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