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Sydney Uni gains project management awards

Dr Michael Chaaya, Information Age

11/02/2005 15:40:18

The Project Management Institute (PMI), an advocacy organisation for the project management profession, has awarded Sydney University its 2004 PMI Professional Development Provider of the Year, and Professional Development Product of the Year, awards. The two awards, which are new PMI recognition categories, (MPM).

Commenting on the award, Sydney University module leader Dr Michael Chaaya said that a strong grounding in project management is a fundamental element of ICT systems design and maintenance. To date there have been limited options for ICT professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and practical skills in this critical area.

Now, a groundbreaking programme offered by the University of Sydney has been developed to bring together some of the world's best minds in ICT project management. The result is an internationally-acclaimed course in ICT and innovation project management.

Why project management? The first principles of ICT are a good indicator of the need for solid project management skills. ICT encompasses all of the processes and technologies associated with the creation, storage, distribution and display of information in a variety of forms. Accordingly, ICT development requires its creators to think systematically and logically about how to accomplish each of these facets. It is a fair assumption that a lack of sound project management is reflected in poor or unworkable ICT solutions.

Researchers at the University of Sydney Project Management Graduate Programme (PMGP) recognised this deficiency and developed a new model specifically designed for ICT professionals entitled "ICT and Innovation Project Management". Course structure The PMGP comprises a number of discipline streams that allow students to build competencies across the project management spectrum. Among the 13 units of study offered by the PMGP lies the "ICT and Innovation Project Management" module.

Dr Chaaya says the PMGP provides a flexible and self-motivating environment within all participants in the module.

The "ICT and Innovation Project Management" module offers these outcomes:

• an understanding of the principles of planning, configuration and systems management related to major software, ICT and innovation systems; • ability to formulate and implement strategic and operational plans for projects related to software, new ICT and innovation systems; • ability to apply knowledge for strategic planning and ongoing adjustment to ensure acceptability and satisfaction by stakeholders and users of ICT and innovation systems; • ability to research in most popular models of a SDLC (Systems Development Life Cycle); • ability to formulate project briefing and initiate the due processes, including capturing client's requirements, selection process, budgets and outsourcing. Course rationale and recognition The PMGP is an online postgraduate program that offers three qualifications: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and a Masters in Project Management. The programme was initiated following a survey of offerings from around the world, which revealed that none truly met the needs of a real project manager working in a global business environment. The PMGP initiators wanted to create a learning tool that brings together professionals from any number of countries to collectively learn from one another.

The result is a course designed to produce project managers who can think strategically to fit their projects into the business overall strategies. Importantly, the programme develops students' professional management skills for the business they are in while meeting their personal development and career needs.

Course delivery Course delivery is a mix of collaboration and knowledge transfer. Participants in the PMGP are assigned to a team at the start of the semester. The teams must meet the challenges that arise through the module and throughout the complete course. The team challenge is to make this process work while increasing, and at the end demonstrating, the competencies achieved at the general management, project management and personal and leadership levels.

The participants will need to look closely and analytically, in a dynamic way, at the work they have produced. This itself is a challenge to the traditional learning experience, in which individuals are used to work specifically from sources, trusting them and looking at how to implement those findings.

Rather, the PMGP requires participants to investigate the problems and to look at solutions with a system view, discovering and locating real issues in a certain discipline seeking collectively a comprehensive solution.

This is a new approach for students where they will undertake a real investigation that goes beyond what they have learned and what they thought they knew. The analysis of information from the literature, the people who work in the industry and the outcomes of several case study projects will assist in getting the real picture. Participants are also shown how solutions need to be suited within a context and must be developed in that light, as a response to an issue where strategic considerations are vital.

Dr Chaaya's combined experience in the construction industry, Computer Aided Design (CAD), ICT and innovative project management has led to the development of a Visual Design Management Model that can be applied to complex life cycle capital projects within a defined advanced project management philosophy.

Recently, he was involved as a project manager in the Heritage and Environmental portfolio of the University of Sydney. He has extended the application of ICT to special residential and commercial developments, emphasising on the design stage protocols applications among stakeholders and working closely with companies applying innovations in the construction industry.

He acknowledges valuable assistance by Dr Milad Saad in developing and delivering the "ICT and Innovation Project Management" module. Dr Saad is the managing director of ICAD, known for its work in FMIS in Australasia. ICAD Consultants produced innovative solutions towards the development and management of Facilities Management and Project Management applications for major Australian organisations including the University of Sydney, the Department of Defence, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Tempo Facilities Services. Students are introduced to strategic implementation of real life case studies related to database development and migration, integration with financial and human resource systems, Web-based applications and administration and system training. Through the application of ICT knowledge, Dr Saad provides solutions that are easy to use even when addressing complex tasks. Examples include achieving total integration between business requirements and complex environment through desktop applications, Web portals and graphical interfaces. According to Dr Chaaya: "At a time when the process of technological convergence is now a reality, it is imperative for ICT professionals to have access to tailored courses that specialise in the project management aspects of ICT development.

The University of Sydney's course in ICT and Innovation Project Management is not only unique in Australia, but has also opened up a world of ICT project management through its innovative study environment.

More information at

Dr Michael Chaaya is Adjunct Senior Lecturer Academic and Practice Leader (ICT and Innovation Project Management) at Sydney University m.chaaya@pmgp.usyd.edu.au