Project Management for Operators of Large Assets

Learning Outcomes

1. Use clear terminology to describe the key areas of project, program and portfolio management practices as applies to asset rich organisations.

2. Discuss the relevance of tools and techniques for investigating and describing project process related to developing new workings, facilities, equipment, plant and processes or maintaining existing facilities and equipment.

3. Present and interpret major processes that are based on sound policy, information,

and research that enable project justification, tenders, contracts, and selection criteria to occur in an asset rich organisation.

4. Critically analyse management strategies and operational activities from a broad perspective to ensure safety and quality, to avoid overruns or rework, to manage variations and claims, and to make decisions to discontinue or close projects.

5. Demonstrate an effective, professional level of teamwork and communication and support collaborative peer group learning.

Task Description

You should use AS 4120-1994 as the basis of developing a tender request as the principal for a project in the mining, plant and/or large asset industry. The project may be one of your choosing based on your current work practice or may be one selected from a set of possible projects on the Moodle web site. You must ensure that your tender document is consistent with all of the Australian standards referred to in this course.

Should you wish to use a tender template from the organisation you work for then you may do so. However, you must ensure that all of the ten items in the task definition below are included in your tender.

You must obtain the agreement from your lecturer and course coordinator that the subject project scope of your tender is suitable for this course.

Your task is to consider the contents of the course and apply it to a tender request. Your tender must do the following:

1. Define the project in the context of mining, plant, or a large asset;

2. Explain the project justification and contract process;

3. Explain the financing of the project;

4. Identify the project conditions, project team and project processes required;

5. Provide your expected estimates to the tenderer for the project labour, plant, materials, and sub-contractors;

6. Provide your requirements for project changes;

7. Provide your requirements for quality assurance and quality control;

8. Provide your requirements for document management, reporting and governance;

9. Provide your requirements for disputes, arbitration and mediation;

10. Provide your requirements for safety.

The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to develop skills for expressing the manner in which a principal normally engages with contractors through a tendering process.

The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis, critical thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of argument development and tender writing

Your tender should be as much as practically possible a properly constructed tender

However, you must also apply the rigours of an academic essay. Therefore, you must include references within your tender and a reference list formatted in the prescribed Harvard style is compulsory at the end of your tender. Do not include a bibliography.

You are strongly encouraged to discuss your ideas with your business and student colleagues on the course discussion forum, before drawing your conclusions and submitting your assignment.