Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

This unit aims to develop a sound understanding of what resources are, the full gamut of resources that are involved in IT Projects, and insight and knowledge of how these resources can be most effectively managed in order to deliver value to the business. In addition, this unit aims to develop an appreciation of the importance of effectively managing all project resources and the impact that IT Project Resource Management can have on the duration of IT projects and on outcomes achieved.
After completing HIT8430 IT Project Resource Management you should be able to:
• Understand, identify and describe the resources involved in IT projects
• Demonstrate a knowledge of and an ability to use appropriate project resource management tools and techniques
• Develop strategies for the acquisition and deployment of resources in IT Projects.
• Differentiate between the management of in house resources verses external resources.
• Understand the need to appraise the performance of various resources during the project life cycle.
• Understand the consequences of a change (adding or removing) in resource assignment in a project.
• Demonstrate how a project schedule should be updated to address changes in resources.
• Understand the role a project manager plays in the resource allocation and assignment.
• Demonstrate the use of project management software to allocate and assign resources.

Teaching Methods:

This unit is delivered through lectures, seminars and tutorials and/or online delivery.

Assessment:

Group Project Presentation and Report, Individual Project Report, Final Examination 

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Swinburne University of Technology works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen profession. Learners bring to Swinburne University of Technology a diverse wealth of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes. Within this context it is the intent of unit HIT8430 IT Project Resource Management, that students develop the following key generic skills:
• teamwork skills
• analysis skills
• problem solving skills
• communications skills
• ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• ability to work independently

Content:

• types of resources (human and capital)
• planning and managing resources in IT projects
• allocation of resources according to project schedules
• matching deliverables, activities and resource requirements
• project activity resource estimating
• resource estimation techniques
• planning and scheduling
• managing resources throughout the IT project life cycle
• managing the consequences of changes in resources allocation within an IT project

References:

Kerzner, H. (2009) Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling. Wily, USA.
Phillips, J.J. et al. (2002) The project management scorecard: measuring the success of project management solutions. Butterworth Heinemann, USA.
Lewis, J. (2007) Mastering project management: applying advanced concepts to systems thinking, control and evaluation, resource allocation. McGraw-Hill, USA.
Lientz, B.P., Rea, K.P. (1999). Breakthrough technology project management. Academic Press, USA