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 organisation 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.
Not applicable.
1. Determine project schedule | 1.1 Develop the work breakdown structure with sufficient detail to enable effective planning and control 1.2 Estimate the duration and effort, sequence and dependencies of tasks to achieve project deliverables 1.3 Use project-scheduling tools and techniques to identify schedule impact on project time management, resource requirements, costs and risks 1.4 Contribute to achieving an agreed schedule baseline and communication of the schedule to stakeholders |
2. Implement project schedule | 2.1 Implement mechanisms to measure, record and report progress of activities in relation to the agreed schedule 2.2 Conduct ongoing analysis to identify baseline variance 2.3. Analyse and forecast the impact of changes to the schedule 2.4 Review progress throughout the project life cycle and implement agreed schedule changes 2.5 Develop responses to potential or actual schedule changes and implement them to maintain project objectives |
3. Assess time-management outcomes | 3.1 Review schedule performance records to determine the effectiveness of time-management activities 3.2 Identify and document time-management issues and recommend improvements |
Required skills
analytical skills to review and evaluate process
communication skills to:
convey expectations
advise others of progress
literacy skills to read, develop and interpret project schedules
planning and organising skills to sequence tasks and see that objectives are met
technology skills to use appropriate software to develop project schedules.
Required knowledge
estimation techniques to determine task duration and resource effort
procedures for identifying critical path
procedures for managing project baselines, establishment and variance
project life cycle phases and what is included in each phase
time-management methodologies, and their capabilities, limitations, application and outcomes
tools and techniques for project schedules
work breakdown structures and application to project schedules.
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 successful application of time-management tools and techniques for a project of sufficient complexity to demonstrate the full range of performance requirements knowledge of time-management methodologies, and their capabilities, limitations, application and outcomes. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to workplace documentation, schedules and reports from project team consideration of feedback from project stakeholders regarding the management of project time. |
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 time and their application in different situations analysis of responses in addressing case studies and scenarios that present project time-management issues and problems review of progress throughout project life cycle; and review of implementation of agreed schedule changes assessment of documented time-management issues and recommended improvements. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. |
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.
Work breakdown structure may include: | activity and task descriptors high-level deliverables framework multi-level task granulation work breakdown task dictionary. |
Estimating the duration and effort may include: | allowance for contingency and risk availability of resources and supplies degree of variation expert opinion level of accuracy prior project history regulations and standards governing resource performance top-down or bottom-up estimating. |
Sequence and dependencies may include: | deliverable milestones preferred, logical or required order of task completion relationship between tasks impacting on start and finish times and dates. |
Project-scheduling tools and techniques may include: | bar charts conducting or supervising qualitative and/or quantitative time analysis, such as schedule simulation, decision analysis, contingency planning and 'what if' scenarios critical chain management critical path diagrams Gantt charts project schedule network diagrams standalone, organisation-integrated or cloud-based software tools using personal experience and/or subject matter experts using specialist time-analysis tools to assist in the decision-making process. |
Schedule impact may include: | accuracy of estimates advances or delays in task completion changes to project risk changes to resources and cost degree of change to baseline relevance of task dependencies. |
Schedule baseline may include: | assigned responsibility assigned schedule-management responsibilities charted milestones contingency plans project schedule and sub-schedules critical path analysis resource assignment to task schedule-management strategies and actions. |
Agreed schedule changes may include: | applied constraints changing objectives changing scope delayed or advanced task completion resource availability. |
Review of schedule performance may occur at: | agreed major milestones, e.g. phases and subcontracts change of key personnel completion of major deliverables finalisation of project and other agreed milestones. |
Records may include: | diaries, incident logs, occurrence reports and other such records evaluation of options Gantt, PERT and other scheduling charts lists of variances and forecasts of potential scheduled events project and/or organisation files and records recommended and approved courses of action records of analysis work breakdown structure. |
Management and Leadership – Project Management
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.