- BSBPMG504A - Manage project costs
Assessor Resource
BSBPMG504A
Manage project costs
Assessment tool
Version 1.0
Issue Date: June 2024
This unit applies to an individual who is clearly and solely responsible for the management and leadership of a complex project, either as an employee of an organisation or an external consultant.
In the context of this unit a complex project is defined as a project which involves:
the need for a comprehensive and multi-faceted project plan
the need for a formal internal or external communications strategy
a dedicated and diverse project budget
multiple administrative components
multiple operational components
a wide range of stakeholders
a project operations team.
The functions performed by a program manager to manage costs within multiple projects are addressed in BSBPMG604A Direct cost management of a project program.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify, analyse and refine project costs to produce a budget, and to use this budget as the principal mechanism to control project cost.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: demonstrated evidence of monitoring project costs across the project life cycle for multiple complex projects knowledge of budgeting processes, tools and techniques. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to workplace documentation including budgets, financial documents consideration of feedback from project stakeholders on how costs were managed. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skill and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of strategies for managing project costs and their application to different situations. analysis of responses addressing case studies and scenarios which present project cost management issues and problems review of developed and implemented cost management plan review of documentation about project outcomes, cost management issues and identified improvements. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: other units from the Diploma of Project Management. |
Submission Requirements
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
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Required skills |
numeracy and budgeting skills to monitor expenditure and manage costs technology skills to use software for recording expenditure and reporting on finances analytical skills to evaluate processes and recommend improvements. |
Required knowledge |
budgeting processes, tools and techniques methods and tools for costing and cost analysis. |
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Others may include: | relevant project authority program manager project specialists or other personnel team members |
Project costs are estimated to a level of accuracy available considering: | availability of information at the time contingencies to allow for identified risks and uncertainty organisational requirements, for example overhead and profit margin stage of the project life cycle |
Delegated authority means that activities will: | be conducted routinely or as changing circumstances dictate be done independently within broad guidance or by taking the lead of a team involve consultation with other project members, teams and internal stakeholders involve the selection, use and supervision of appropriate time management methods, tools and techniques take into account internal organisational change and external environmental change |
Financial management processes and procedures may include: | approval processes communication and reporting processes financial authorisations/delegations invoice procedures |
Reviewing may include evaluations of: | agreed major milestones, for example phases and sub-contracts change of key personnel delivery of major deliverables finalisation of project and other agreed milestones |
Records may include: | budgets, commitment and expenditure cost management lessons learned cost management plans invoice and payment summaries lists of potential costs project and/or organisation files and records recommended and approved courses of action reports to relevant stakeholders |
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice | Yes | No | Comments/feedback |
---|---|---|---|
Determine resource requirements for individual tasks, with input from stakeholders and guidance of others | |||
Estimate project costs to enable budgets to be developed and implement agreed cost management processes | |||
Develop and implement a cost management plan, within delegated authority, to ensure clarity of understanding and ongoing management of project finances | |||
Implement agreed financial management processes and procedures to monitor actual expenditure and to control costs | |||
Select and use cost analysis methods and tools to identify cost variations, evaluate options and recommend actions to a higher project authority | |||
Implement, monitor and modify agreed actions to maintain financial and overall project objectives throughout the project lifecycle | |||
Conduct appropriate activities to signify financial completion | |||
Review project outcomes using available records and information to determine the effectiveness of cost management processes and procedures | |||
Review cost management issues and identify improvements |
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
BSBPMG504A - Manage project costs
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
Student ID:
I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
Student signature:
Result: Competent Not yet competent
Feedback to student
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Date:
Assessment Record Sheet
BSBPMG504A - Manage project costs
Student name:
Student ID:
Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
(add lines for each task)
Feedback to student:
Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent
Assessor name:
Signature:
Date:
Student signature:
Date: