PMQ505 Project Procurement


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Unit Outline: Session 4 2026, QUT Online, Online

Unit code:PMQ505
Credit points:12
Equivalent:PMN505
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit identifies the optimal procurement strategy for a project from a client’s perspective – taking a strategic approach and positions procurement in the project lifecycle and provides the detail required to be an effective client or tenderer for projects. Further this unit considers project procurement from a contractor and contract management perspective recognising that procurement is a strategic and systematic process of acquiring the necessary goods, services, and resources required to successfully initiate, execute, and complete a project. This vital aspect of project management involves planning, sourcing, negotiating, and managing relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure that the project's objectives are met within specified timelines, budget constraints, and quality standards. Effective project management procurement involves a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, risk assessment, contract management, and stakeholder collaboration.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Identify and assess procurement strategies suitable for client projects.
  2. Investigate and communicate appropriate engagement strategies for First Nations project stakeholders.
  3. Plan ways to effectively manage project teams in the development and delivery of procurement strategies.
  4. Construct strategic contract matrices and associated tender selection and award processes for the execution phase of a project.
  5. Create contract and contractor management strategies for the execution phase of projects.

Content

This unit will cover:

  • Project procurement strategies from the client’s perspective.
  • Procurement of project goods and services.
  • Indigenous and Torres Strait Island perspectives as they impact and are impacted by project procurement.
  • Procurement strategies appropriate for the delivery of project sustainability goals.
  • Common forms of contract.
  • Public private partnerships and other collaborative forms of contract.
  • Creation of contract matrices.
  • Managing the contract and contractor.
  • Procurement ethics.
  • Working in teams.

Learning Approaches

This unit will be delivered fully online. In this unit, you will learn by engaging in active and reflective learning through:

  • participating in class/online discussions
  • engaging with online learning materials
  • reading book chapters, scholarly and industry articles

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester including:

  • Rubrics provided to show the expected standard for each criteria in an assessment item.
  • Feedback comments on assignments returned to you via Canvas.
  • Collaborate and Discussion sessions providing extensive question and answer opportunities with peers and teaching staff.

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessments in this unit:

  • Project Procurement Strategy – this will develop your understanding of strategic procurement considerations and decisions from a client’s perspective for large-scale or mega-projects.
  • Project Procurement Strategy Presentation - this will develop your skills in professional project presentation techniques.
  • Contract Management Strategy – this will develop your understanding of important commercial and tactical contracting strategies and develop your skills in planning for the management of contractors during the delivery/execution phases of projects.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Project Procurement Strategy

 

You will take on the role of project manager to propose a project procurement strategy to a client. The strategy will be developed in response to a case study of a large project incorporating Indigenous peoples' involvement and sustainability challenges.

The written proposal is an assignment and is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Weight: 40
Length: 3,500 words (or equivalent)
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 5
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Project Procurement Strategy Presentation

Presentation (pitch) of the key recommendations from the report created for Assessment #1.

The late submission period does not apply, and no assignment extensions are available.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Weight: 20
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 5
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Contract Management Strategy

 

In small groups, you will take on the role of a project management team developing a contract management strategy for a case study project which incorporates a significant contract issue. The strategy will include a contract matrix, a contract and contractor management strategy, and appropriate resolution strategies for a contract issue.

You will also complete a teamwork evaluation survey to evaluate how your team worked together during the development of your project execution strategy. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Weight: 40
Length: 10,000 words (or equivalent)
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 10
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3, 4, 5

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.

Resources

There are no prescribed resources required for this unit. There are however recommended texts stipulated below. Further, additional resources will be made available through the unit's Canvas site and QUT Readings as relevant to each unit module.

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Murray-Webster, R., & Dalcher, D. (2019). APM Body of Knowledge (7th ed.). Association for Project Management.

PMI, 2021, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Seventh Edition, Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, PA.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no extraordinary risks associated with the learning activities in this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

PQ15 Graduate Certificate in Project Management

  1. Identify internal/external stakeholders and apply the principles of communication management to maintain business relationships
    Relates to: ULO2, Project Procurement Strategy
  2. Formulate approaches to effectively manage individuals in a project team environment for successful project outcomes.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy
  3. Apply ethical, professional and risk-based judgements to inform decision making in project environments.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, ULO5, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy
  4. Apply appropriate tools, methods and techniques to plan and execute projects
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, ULO5, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy

PQ20 Master of Project Management

  1. Appraise and adapt contemporary project management methodologies to projects of different types and complexities
    Relates to: ULO2
  2. Communicate, negotiate and manage diverse stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes
    Relates to: ULO2, Project Procurement Strategy
  3. Synthesise and apply leadership and team development theory across dynamic and complex project environments
    Relates to: ULO3, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy
  4. Apply ethical, professional and risk-based judgments to inform decision making in project environments
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, ULO5, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy
  5. Create project plans to effectively deliver strategic business and organisational objectives
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, ULO5, Project Procurement Strategy, Contract Management Strategy