Application
This unit applies to those responsible for managing and leading a project in an organisation, business or as a consultant.
The project manager operates within assigned authority levels, and is responsible for own performance and the performance of others.
The project manager may undertake the work in the context of an organisational program and/or portfolio of projects.
This unit has generic application for projects in a range of industries, organisations and contexts.
In the context of this unit a project is defined as involving:
a comprehensive, detailed and integrated project management plan
a formal communications plan
a dedicated and project-based budget
formal and planned engagement with a wide range of stakeholders
a documented risk, issues and change-management methodology
a quality plan with assurance and control processes
a project team-based environment.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Establish project | 1.1 Identify, clarify and prepare project initiation documentation 1.2 Identify the relationship between the project and broader organisational strategies and goals 1.3 Negotiate and document project objectives, outcomes and benefits 1.4 Negotiate the project governance structure with relevant authorities and stakeholders 1.5 Prepare and submit project charter for approval by relevant authorities |
2. Undertake project planning and design processes | 2.1 Establish and implement a methodology to disaggregate project objectives into achievable project deliverables 2.2 Identify project stages and key requirements for stage completion against client requirements and project objectives 2.3 Analyse project management functions to identify interdependencies and the impact of the triple constraints 2.4 Develop a project management plan that integrates all project-management functions with associated plans and baselines 2.5 Establish designated mechanisms to monitor and control planned activity 2.6 Negotiate approval of project plan with relevant stakeholders and project authority |
3. Execute project in work environment | 3.1. Manage the project in an established internal work environment to ensure work is conducted effectively throughout the project 3.2. Maintain established links to align project objectives with organisational objectives throughout the project life cycle 3.3. Within authority levels, resolve conflicts that may negatively affect project objectives |
4. Manage project control | 4.1. Ensure project records are updated against project deliverables and plans at required intervals 4.2. Analyse and submit status reports on project progress and identified issues with stakeholders and relevant authorities 4.3. Analyse and submit impact analysis on change requests for approval where required 4.4. Maintain relevant project logs and registers accurately and regularly to assist with project audit 4.5. Ensure associated plans are updated to reflect project progress against baselines and approved changes |
5. Manage project finalisation | 5.1. Identify and allocate project finalisation activities 5.2. Ensure project products and associated documentation are prepared for handover to client in a timely manner 5.3. Finalise financial, legal and contractual obligations 5.4. Undertake project review assessments as input to future projects |
Required Skills
Required skills
decision-making skills between competing interests and priorities
literacy skills to interpret and develop complex project plans and documentation
negotiating skills to work with stakeholders and project authorities on agreed plans and processes
numeracy skills to conduct complex forecasting
planning and organising skills to:
plan, monitor and respond to project issues
measure progress against agreed plans
team leadership and communication skills to liaise with other members of the project team
technology skills to use common software and work office products for documentation and analysis
time-management skills to ensure priorities are addressed.
Required knowledge
project governance models
project knowledge areas
project life cycle stages, phases and structures relevant to industry and project context
types of organisational documentation for strategies and goals.
Evidence Required
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: identifying and aligning project with organisational objectives conducting project establishment processes managing preparation of a project management plan for a project of sufficient complexity to demonstrate the full range of performance requirements ensuring project registers and logs are maintained analysing project reports undertaking impact analysis preparing strategy for project finalisation. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: project documentation, which includes information about participation in life cycle and integration processes. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills 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 analysis of responses addressing different project scenarios oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of project life cycle processes relevant to the industry sector and project context assessment of management of the project life cycle processes. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. |
Range Statement
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.
Project initiation documentation may include: | agreed project management framework agreed project methodology client or customer requirements concept proposal contract documentation executive team instructions feasibility study life cycle approval gateways output from prior project. |
Broader organisational strategies and goals may include: | market focus organisational mission statement strategy plans values and ethics |
Objectives, outcomes and benefits may include: | expected benefits to be achieved for organisation and business measurable project product statement short and long-term outcomes for the organisation. |
Project governance structure may include: | boards, committees, working groups, reference groups, advisory groups, sponsors, project managers, project team members and stakeholders identified authority levels assigned to groups and individuals issue-escalation procedures project organisation chart statements of roles for project management bodies and participants. |
Project charter may include: | approvals and sign-off broad stakeholder identification consolidated project initiation documentation (PID) documented objectives high-level product deliverables high-level risk assessment project assumptions and constraints project mandate source of project authority. |
Project deliverables may include: | definable product, service or document discrete components of the overall project outputs specified products of the project time, quality and cost. |
Project management functions involve all nine functions: | communications cost human resources procurement and contracting project integration quality risk scope time. |
Triple constraints include: | cost scope and quality time. |
Project management plan may be: | a covering document that integrates the planning requirements of the nine functions of project management in single or multiple document format. |
Integrates may include: | decisions that: determine comparative value evaluate competing interests make trade-offs processes and activities that: combine coordinate define identify unify |
Associated plans and baselines may include: | communications plan (stakeholders and information) human resources plan procurement plan project budget project schedule quality-management plan risk plan scope-management plan. |
Internal work environment may include: | organisational policy and procedures organisational culture and style physical working conditions geographic location and/or dispersion team dynamics. |
Status reports may include: | client progress reports internal or external regular consolidated reports to project authority reports under contractual obligations specific budget and schedule reports. |
Impact analysis may include: | assessment against project quality requirements forecasting against triple constraints (scope, time and cost) review of project baselines against proposed change. |
Project logs and registers may include: | change log daily log issues log quality log risk register task-completion log version-control log. |
Project finalisation activities may include: | completing financial transactions consolidating and storing project data documenting outstanding project issues obtaining or providing certifications preparing final project reports updating organisation knowledge management. |
Associated documentation may include: | 'as built' design specifications certificates, guarantees, indemnities and warranties product or service specifications user, training and installation manuals. |
Project review assessments may include: | benefits realisation review outcomes evaluation post-implementation review project lessons learned. |
Sectors
Management and Leadership – Project Management
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.