ABN502 Management and Administration of Projects
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABN502 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 72 credit points of completed Landscape Architecture study (ABB24% or DL% units), or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture. |
| Equivalent(s): | DYN207 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,900 |
| International unit fee | $5,616 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABN502 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 72 credit points of completed Landscape Architecture study (ABB24% or DL% units), or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture. |
| Equivalent: | DYN207 |
| Coordinator: | Paul Trotter | paul.trotter@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit builds upon and consolidates key issues in understanding management, documentation and contract administration of built environment projects in practice. The unit examines project phases, including inception, schematic design, design development, documentation, contract administration and completion. The unit is delivered in two key modules. Module 1 provides a detailed understanding of the professional management of a built environment project in practice, including forms of procurement, stakeholder management, and legal obligations. Module 2 examines forms of contracts, regulatory codes and standards across Australia, and the contract administration of built environment projects, including risk management, relevant laws, and statutory regulations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Prepare a client architect agreement for a project and apply industry methods to report on the project’s progress and varying of the scope of services.
- Evaluate contemporary and alternative construction procurement methods and choose the most appropriate procurement method for a project; considering relevant factors such as project type, scale, the coordination of contractors, and appropriate forms of delivery.
- Review and select the most appropriate qualified contractor for a project, in accordance with an agreed procurement method and construction contract.
- Apply clear and consistent communication with clients and relevant stakeholders through all stages of a project, using industry standards.
Content
The major topics covered in this unit will include:
- Module 1 – Management of built environment projects in a professional practice setting: Project inception, delivery, and completion, as well as project-specific professional communication and conduct, including client agreements, forms of procurement, quality assurance systems, scope of services, stakeholder management, and legal obligations such as copyright, moral rights, authorship of cultural knowledge, and intellectual property.
- Module 2 – Administration of built environment project contracts; Risk management and legal obligations, safety in design, building contracts and codes, tendering, procurement, contract administration, and construction milestones.
Learning Approaches
ABN502 is an advanced unit designed as a shared learning environment for Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Landscape Architecture) students, focusing on issues relevant to managing and administering built environment projects involving architects, landscape architects and other spatial designers in Australia.
The unit will be offered in a blended format, including both online and on-campus learning materials and activities. The content and learning outcomes of this unit lend themselves to being engaged in a professional manner; as such, portions of this unit will be run as a simulated practice office in which you will role-play the membership of a professional design office in team-based projects, and be expected to contribute to collaborative group discussions. Information sessions with experts and specialists, and facilitated meetings will be used to guide your participation in the group discussions.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- ongoing in-class formative exercises/activities with peers, academics and professional/industry experts
- in-class review of weekly activities
- marking rubrics for formal assessments
- verbal/written feedback from teaching staff at completion of summative assessments.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment will take the form of a quiz, report and an exam, to evidence your knowledge and understanding, and demonstrate your ability to apply, the management and administration of built environment projects and contracts. While you will be assessed for grading at the completion, there will also be ongoing formative feedback throughout the semester, to guide your progress. Assessment expectations will be discussed during relevant workshops.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: In-class Quiz
In class quiz examining client agreements, project timelines, and the management of projects.
Assessment: Report
A report that applies professional writing standards, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of project management and administration skills through the preparation of a professional portfolio.
Assessment: In-class Exam
In class exam consisting of short answer questions addressing the topics of project procurement, contractor selection and professional communication.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 FoE General Health and Safety online Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities.
Risk Assessment Statement
During classes you are expected to comply with all evacuation drills, instructions and other occupational health and safety regulations at QUT. You are advised to avoid construction areas/hazardous zones and to minimise risks to both yourself and other members of the public while at QUT. In this unit, you will undertake lectures and tutorials in traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. The unit may require you to participate in field trips, both of a self-guided nature and sometimes organised trips overseen by staff. A risk assessment for the latter has identified only low impact risks. A risk assessment will be conducted prior to any organised field trips. You will be provided with relevant safety guidelines prior to any field trip and be required to comply with all guidelines and directions given while attending field trips.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Report - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: In-class Quiz, Report - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: In-class Quiz, Report - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: In-class Quiz - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: In-class Quiz, Report
DE83 Master of Architecture
- Independently researching and evaluating emergent knowledge as it becomes necessary to fulfil the profession's role in society.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Report - Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, In-class Quiz, Report, In-class Exam - Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
Relates to: ULO4, In-class Quiz, Report - Demonstrating their understanding of architecture's status as an ethical service-oriented profession committed to responsible care for the inhabited environment.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, In-class Quiz, Report, In-class Exam