Classes

Each week you should attend two hours of lectures (Thursday 11-1pm), the tutorial-lecture (Friday 12-1pm ) and the practicals (from week 2). For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.

Note that practicals commence in week 2.

Resources to assist your learning

Digital recordings of lectures are available as Echo360 through iLearn login.

Textbook

The textbook for COMP3770/6770 used this semester is:

• Schwalbe, K., (2019) Information Technology Project Management 9th Ed. Thomson Course Technology Boston Mass. U.S.A

Numerous recent references have been used to compile the management series of lectures and workshops from Weeks 8 to 11.  Students will be provided with online references and reference will be made to additional textbooks available in the library.

Technology used

Use will be made of MS Project, Google Code, JIRA, TRAC and GitHub. Students are also expected to make use of MS Word and MS Powerpoint.

The textbooks typically offer a trial version of Project as well.

Submission methods for assessment tasks:

Only soft copy assignment submissions are required and submitted. Marks returned will be done through the COMP3770/6770 page on iLearn. 

Late submission:

Late submission of individual work will incur a 10% penalty for every 24 hours, or part thereof, it is late. So within 24 hours, the maximum mark that can be obtained is 90% of the full grade for that assessment task; between 24 and 48 hours, the maximum mark that can be obtained is 80% of the full grade; and so on. No extra documentation is required unless the student wishes to have an extension (see below) applied.

Late submissions of group based assignments are not permitted unless under exceptional circumstances with documentary evidence provided to the unit convenor which may include medical certificates as per the Department of Computing policy. One person being sick does not mean the group cannot submit work. Students are recommended to have a backup plan for group based submissions.

Extensions

The current process is for the student or group to contact student services and apply for a disruption.  Medical causes will require a Macquarie University Professional Authority Form.  Once a disruption has been approved, the convenor can grant special consideration which is usually an appropriate extension.

Exam:

The final exam will focus on content covered in the classes throughout the semester. Please see the assessments section for details on the final exam.  The final examination in this unit is a hurdle requirement. You must get a mark of at least 40% in the examination to pass the unit. If you get a mark of 30-39% in your first attempt at the final examination you will be given a second and final attempt. If you are given a second opportunity to sit the final examination as a result of failing to meet the minimum mark required, you will be offered that chance during the same supplementary examination period and will be notified of the exact day and time after the publication of final results for the unit.

The two units COMP3770 (replacing ISYS302) and COMP6770 (replacing ITEC602) are now completely identical - all assessment and due dates are the same.

Four standards, namely HD, D, CR, P summarize as many different levels of achievement. Each standard is precisely defined to help students know what kind of performance is expected to deserve a certain mark. The standards corresponding to the learning outcomes of this unit are given below:

Grading

At the end of the semester, you will receive a grade that reflects your achievement in the unit

• Fail (F): does not provide evidence of attainment of all learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; and incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.
• Pass (P): provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; and communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.
• Credit (Cr): provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; plus communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
• Distinction (D): provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
• High Distinction (HD): provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application.

The final examination in this unit is a hurdle requirement. You must get a mark of at least 40% in the examination to pass the unit. If you get a mark of at least 30% in your first attempt at the final examination you will be given a second and final attempt. If you are given a second opportunity to sit the final examination as a result of failing to meet the minimum mark required, you will be offered that chance during the same supplementary examination period and will be notified of the exact day and time after the publication of final results for the unit.

The final mark for the unit will be calculated by combining the marks for all assessment tasks according to the percentage weightings shown in the assessment summary.