PRJ5003 Project Constraint Management Assessment 4

Assessment 4: Project Planning and Tracking in Microsoft Project

Trimester 3, 2025

Assessment Overview

Weighting: 30% of unit total
Due Date: Week 11/12 at the allocated time
Assessment Type: Individual assessment
Word Count / Length:

• Submitting MS Project file (equivalent of 1000 words)
• 10 minutes demonstration (equivalent of 1000 words)

Unit Learning Outcomes

In this assessment, you will be tested on whether you have successfully met the following Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs):

• ULO1: Identify key aspects of scope, schedule, and cost management as per best project management practices
• ULO2: Effectively write and present project planning and controlling reports.
• ULO3: Analyse a project case and develop a constraint management plan.

Submission Type and Required Format

The type of assessment you will be completing is Demonstration. It consists of the followings:

• Submitting MS Project file (.mpp)
• 10 minutes demonstration in the computer lab environment.

For further details refer to Report - Assessment Types -Demonstration

Assessment Details

Assessment Purpose

This assessment develops your ability to demonstrate project planning and control concepts clearly and professionally key skills in managing real-world projects using MS Project. You'll gain practical experience using industry-standard tools and techniques to plan, monitor, and present a project's performance effectively.

Students are expected to work individually on a small new case project under $1million and to develop a project constraint management plan using MS Project.

Assessment Instructions

To successfully complete this assessment, follow these steps:

1. Design Your Project Case

• Develop a realistic and original project scenario (under $1 million)
• Clearly define the project's purpose, context, and key objectives
• Ensure alignment with contemporary industry needs or trends (e.g., sustainability, digital transformation, hybrid work environments)

Note: Students are required to explain step 1 to the assessor during the demonstration time.

2. Develop your project constraint management plan using MS Project.
Include the following components in your project constraint management plan while using MS Project:

• Project Scope Management
  • Project Scope Statement
  • Scope validation and change control processes
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  • Graphical and outline format of WBS (min. 3 levels)
  • Work packages
  • WBS Dictionary (min. 3 detailed entries)
  • Cost control accounts
• Schedule Management
  • Project Network Diagram
  • Gantt Chart
  • Critical Path Identification
  • PERT Analysis
  • Probability of early completion (10% before CPM duration)
• Cost Management
  • Estimated activity costs
  • Time-phased budget
  • Development of Earned Value Management System
  • Earned Value Analysis (EVA):
    • CV (Cost Variance), SV (Schedule Variance)
    • CPI (Cost Performance Index), SPI (Schedule Performance Index)
    • ETC, EAC, BAC

3. Confirm your demonstration date/time with your lecturer. The date of demonstration shall be conveyed to the students by week 10, and it is mandatory that the students are available during their designated demonstration time slots.

4. Prepare for your Demonstration

• Rehearse for clear and confident delivery
• Practice to illustrate how the following tasks are implemented
  • Project duration and end date
  • Identified critical tasks (WBS codes).
  • Slack analysis and sensitivity summary
  • Total cost and most expensive task.
  • Lessons learned from tracking progress.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

In this assessment, the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT PERMITTED. In this assessment, you must NOT use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to generate any materials or content in relation to the assessment task.

This means you are NOT allowed to use any AI tools such as chatbots, text generators, paraphrasers, summariser, or solvers to complete your assessment. You are expected to produce your own work and cite any sources properly. Engaging with AI tools for this assessment will be treated as a breach of academic integrity. Refer to the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure for more details.

Other Important Information

Assessment Resources

It is strongly recommended that you use the following to find academic peer-reviewed sources of information.

• ECA Library catalogue and databases
• Unit Readings (Course Reserves) PRJ5003-course reserve
• Subject Guide: Project Management

For in-text citation and referencing, follow the ECA HE Student Guide to APA 7th Referencing.

Submission Requirements

On completion of your assessment:

• Save a copy of your MS Project file (.mpp) in your personal device.
• Complete an Assessment Cover Sheet, including the AI Declaration.
• Submit your files via the assessment submission link in Canvas.

Assessment Support

• For academic support or feedback on a draft of your assessment, please email [email protected]
• For assistance with finding resources, such as books and journal articles, please email [email protected]
• For information and guides on tackling assessments and developing your academic skills, please visit in the ECA Library and Learning Support website: https://eca.libguides.com/
• For queries about this specific assessment task, please contact the Unit Coordinator.

Assessment 4 Rubric

Criteria

High Distinction (HD) 85–100%

Distinction (D) 75–84%

Credit (CR) 65–74%

Pass (P) 50–64%

Fail (F) 0–49%

Project Setup: WBS, durations, dependencies (20%)

WBS hierarchy, task durations, and dependencies are fully accurate, complete, and logically structured.

Minor issues in WBS or dependencies; project structure is mostly correct.

Basic structure in place; some errors or omissions in durations or task links.

Significant gaps in WBS or incorrect dependencies; errors affect logic.

WBS or schedule structure is missing or largely incorrect.

Scheduling and Lag Implementation (20%)

All tasks are auto-scheduled correctly; lags and milestones are well-implemented and logically placed.

Most tasks use auto-scheduling; lags and milestones mostly appropriate.

Some effort at auto-scheduling and lag use; inconsistencies present.

Limited use of auto-scheduling; lag and milestone usage unclear or ineffective.

Auto-scheduling not applied; no visible lag or milestone structure.

Resource Assignment and Allocation Resolution (20%)

All resources are correctly created and allocated; over-allocations are fully resolved using appropriate methods.

Most resources assigned correctly; some over-allocation issues managed.

Basic resource assignment present; over-allocation partly addressed.

Limited resource setup; major unresolved over-allocation issues.

Resource assignment is incorrect or absent.

Costing and Budget Analysis (20%)

Cost estimates are accurate and clearly presented; high-cost tasks and resource spending are correctly identified.

Costing mostly accurate; key insights (e.g., most expensive task) are present.

Basic cost information present; some inaccuracies or missing analysis.

Costing is attempted but contains major errors or gaps.

No cost data included or entirely incorrect.

Baseline and Tracking Progress (20%)

Baseline is correctly set; status updates are realistic; tracking Gantt and filters used effectively.

Baseline and progress updates mostly accurate; tracking view used appropriately.

Baseline present: basic tracking updates made.

Baseline missing or incorrectly set; minimal tracking data entered.

No baseline or tracking progress evident.