Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSL916005A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Manage complex projects

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSL916005A - Manage complex projects
Description This unit of competency covers the ability to interpret complex technical briefs, determine project methodologies and resource requirements, establish project plans, manage projects to successful conclusions and evaluate project outcomes.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency is applicable to senior technical officers and laboratory supervisors working in all industry sectors.Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These can be found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Interpret brief and design feasible project plan
  • Interpret and confirm project objectives, deliverables, constraints and principal work activities
  • Determine resource requirements, including personnel, equipment and materials
  • Develop a detailed implementation plan for the project outlining methodology, milestones and budget
  • Identify roles and responsibilities of project team members
  • Analyse quality requirements to ensure compliance with quality standards
  • Develop risk management strategies and risk management plans to ensure successful and timely outcomes
       
Element: Establish and implement project plan
  • Brief team members about the project and allocate roles and responsibilities, balancing job roles and skills development opportunities
  • Establish communication and reporting mechanisms
  • Implement agreed time management strategies to ensure milestones are met
  • Apply agreed quality requirements to measure performance and outcomes
       
Element: Manage project
  • Monitor and report progress of activities in relation to the project plan
  • Ensure income and expenditure is in line with the agreed project plan and budget
  • Work with the team to analyse and diagnose problems and to determine corrective actions
  • Implement agreed variations to the plan to accommodate changing situations
  • Maintain accurate records and communication with stakeholders and project team members
       
Element: Finalise project
  • Ensure project objectives are met and deliverables are provided on time and within budget
  • Complete all reporting requirements
       
Element: Evaluate project methodology
  • Assess the effectiveness of resource management in delivering project outcomes
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of communication processes used throughout the project
  • Recommend improvements for future projects
       


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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

analyse a complex technical brief and prepare a feasible project implementation plan

establish a project team and implement a project in response

reach milestones within budget

consult and communicate effectively to ensure project outcomes are achieved

maintain accurate records and documentation in accordance with enterprise procedures

select and establish operational systems for the project

plan work activities, resources and finances to ensure project outcomes are achieved within the timeframe and budget constraints

monitor and evaluate the progress of the project.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSL916002A Manage and develop teams

MSL936001A Maintain quality system and continuous improvement processes within work/functional area.

Resources may include:

procedures and documentation typically used by the enterprise

scheduling charts/strategic plans

GANTT charts

operational reports

financial plans

sample budgets.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of reports, operational budgets and project plans generated by the candidate

review of project outcomes and customer satisfaction

questioning/interview to assess underpinning knowledge

feedback from project team and management

review of documented examples of quality performance improvements achieved and examples of significant problems solved

observation of the candidate's interaction with project team.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Manufacturing

A cosmetics manufacturing company decided to upgrade the image of a product range which included lipsticks, nail lacquers, hair shampoos and conditioners. A technical specialist coordinated the project and organised input from marketing, development, quality assurance and production personnel. The production boundaries were defined through consultation with marketing and it was decided to update shades of shaded products and introduce natural ingredients wherever possible. The project had to be completed within a reasonably short timeframe and within a tight budget which placed overall constraints on the way the project could be handled. After developing and gaining approval for an implementation plan, team members were briefed and development samples produced for approval. Product characteristics were checked and recommendations made for adjustments until each product met requirements. When pilot batch manufacture had been successfully completed, project development processes were fully documented and then passed to production to allow for efficient development of production batches.

Environmental

The quality team in a laboratory has set a goal of getting reports out more quickly and assigned the coordination of the project to one of the senior technical officers. The officer prepared an outline of the project, a timeframe, a resource list and budget. Specific tasks were allocated to members of the quality team according to their abilities and existing work commitments. The officer monitored the project's progress by tracking and adjusting elements as necessary. After the development of a final draft for the revised procedures, a draft project report was prepared for consideration by the quality team.

Food processing

A dairy company currently uses an imported cocoa-based product for the chocolate flavouring of their milk. Following a feasibility study of a range of ingredients, it was decided to investigate further an alternative source on the basis of cost. A technical specialist prepared a project plan that included required personnel, materials, equipment and a detailed GANTT chart. Key personnel from quality assurance, production, engineering, product development and marketing were chosen for the project team. The project was monitored to confirm progress, control expenditure and review the suitability of the alternative product source. At the end of the project, the technical specialist assessed the outcomes and prepared a detailed report that recommended the use of a local ingredient.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, 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.

Required skills

Required skills include:

analysing a complex technical brief and preparing a feasible project implementation plan

establishing a project team and implementing a project in response

reaching milestones within budget

consulting and communicating effectively to ensure the project outcomes are achieved

maintaining accurate records and documentation in accordance with the enterprise procedures

selecting and establishing operational systems for the project

planning work activities, resources and finances to ensure the project outcomes are achieved within the timeframe and budget constraints

monitoring and evaluating the progress of the project

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

purpose and methods of planning

techniques for monitoring timelines, expenditure and team performance

techniques for achieving effective communication and cooperation

techniques for troubleshooting, problem solving and conflict resolution

reporting requirements

techniques for evaluation and continuous improvements

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

laboratory's business goals and key performance indicators

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.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Complex projects

Complex projects may include:

development or modification of products and services

acquisition and commissioning of new equipment

commissioning of laboratory facilities

appraisal of supplies

development of applications for customers

validation of analytical methods and/or equipment

quality improvement or corrective action teams

restructuring of laboratory services

reclassification of staff and staffing levels

Records

Records may include:

lists of potential costs, invoices and payment records

project and/or enterprise files and records

reports to clients, personnel and higher management

risk management plans and log books

diaries, scheduling charts and other charts

Communication

Communication may include:

computer generated communication

customers, stakeholders, external authorities and project team

reports, briefs, minutes, letters, oral briefings, advice and conversations and telephone calls

Resources

Resources may include:

personnel

budget

equipment, materials and facilities

computer project planning programs

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health

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
Interpret and confirm project objectives, deliverables, constraints and principal work activities 
Determine resource requirements, including personnel, equipment and materials 
Develop a detailed implementation plan for the project outlining methodology, milestones and budget 
Identify roles and responsibilities of project team members 
Analyse quality requirements to ensure compliance with quality standards 
Develop risk management strategies and risk management plans to ensure successful and timely outcomes 
Brief team members about the project and allocate roles and responsibilities, balancing job roles and skills development opportunities 
Establish communication and reporting mechanisms 
Implement agreed time management strategies to ensure milestones are met 
Apply agreed quality requirements to measure performance and outcomes 
Monitor and report progress of activities in relation to the project plan 
Ensure income and expenditure is in line with the agreed project plan and budget 
Work with the team to analyse and diagnose problems and to determine corrective actions 
Implement agreed variations to the plan to accommodate changing situations 
Maintain accurate records and communication with stakeholders and project team members 
Ensure project objectives are met and deliverables are provided on time and within budget 
Complete all reporting requirements 
Assess the effectiveness of resource management in delivering project outcomes 
Evaluate the effectiveness of communication processes used throughout the project 
Recommend improvements for future projects 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSL916005A - Manage complex projects
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

MSL916005A - Manage complex projects

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: