Overview
The overall aims of this unit are to: to understand the research methods and decision processes that are undertaken from the initial project or development idea through to project feasibility; understand the purpose and methodology in conducting feasibility studies and initial project evaluation; be familiar with purpose and methodology in conducting cost benefit analysis and investment decision techniques; understand the issues associated with investment strategies and pricing techniques that can influence the initial project accept or reject decision; be familiar with the methodologies and techniques used to assist cost control and bench-marking for project feasibility and project evaluations; and understand the techniques used to appraise a project using the quantitative and qualitative techniques of value management to increase the likelihood of better long-term outcomes for a project.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: BLAR13047 or [BLCN14005 and BLSV12013]
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Communication with students
The lecture could include cases showing the effect of material price fluctuation on construction cost.
Include cases showing the effect of material price fluctuation on construction cost in the learning material.
Feedback from Communication with students
The lecture relating to interest rate makes me understand the effect of interest rate on construction.
Continue to include the 'nature of interest rate' in the learning materials.
- Understand the research methods and decision processes that are undertaken from the initial project or development idea through to project feasibility
- Understand the purpose and methodology in conducting feasibility studies and initial project evaluation
- Be familiar with purpose and methodology in conducting cost benefit analysis and investment decision techniques
- Understand the issues associated with investment strategies and pricing techniques that can influence the initial project accept or reject decision
- Be familiar with the methodologies and techniques used to assist cost control and benchmarking for project feasibilities and project evaluations
- Understand the techniques used to appraise a project using the quantitative and qualitative techniques of value management to increase the likelihood of better long-term outcomes for a project.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 44% | ||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 16% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 44% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 16% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.zhao@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
1. Development appraisal
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
1. Development appraisal
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
2. Feasibility studies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
2. Feasibility studies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
3. Cost benefit analysis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
3. Cost benefit analysis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
4. Project pricing and investment strategies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
4. Project pricing and investment strategies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
5. Cost control and benchmarking
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
5. Cost control and benchmarking
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
6. Value management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
6. Value management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment item relates to the unit learning outcomes 1 and 2. Task 1 will test the understanding of the external factors affecting demand for residential buildings. Task 2 will focus on the actions required for the feasibility study of commercial projects. Task 3 will focus on the recent change of statistical data of building approvals, and their implications for the building industry.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 6 Tuesday (16 Dec 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Tuesday (6 Jan 2026)
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity and succinctness of expression.
- Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
- Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
- Original thought.
- Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.
- Understand the research methods and decision processes that are undertaken from the initial project or development idea through to project feasibility
- Understand the purpose and methodology in conducting feasibility studies and initial project evaluation
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
This assessment item relates to the learning outcomes 3 to 6. Task 1 will focus on the cost-benefit analysis of a commercial project, including calculation of net present value and internal rate of return, as well as comparison between different options. Task 2 will allow you to show value management practices in a company or organisation and draw implications for improvement.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 11 Tuesday (3 Feb 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Tuesday (10 Feb 2026)
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity and succinctness of expression.
- Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
- Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
- Original thought.
- Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.
- Be familiar with purpose and methodology in conducting cost benefit analysis and investment decision techniques
- Understand the issues associated with investment strategies and pricing techniques that can influence the initial project accept or reject decision
- Be familiar with the methodologies and techniques used to assist cost control and benchmarking for project feasibilities and project evaluations
- Understand the techniques used to appraise a project using the quantitative and qualitative techniques of value management to increase the likelihood of better long-term outcomes for a project.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
3 Written Assessment
This assessment item relates to the learning outcomes 1 to 6. There will be one activity for each topic of this unit.
You must submit a satisfactory workbook in order to receive a passing grade for this unit. The Workbook is a compulsory component of the course as it supplements the other assessments. You will need to show appropriate use of procedures, discussion, evaluation and calculations in your Workbook answers. Set out your work clearly. Work is to be typed. Handwritten work will only be accepted when associated with sketching, drawing or numerical calculations. Treat each activity as a ‘new chapter’ by starting a new page in the Workbook.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Monday (16 Feb 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Friday (20 Feb 2026)
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity and succinctness of expression.
- Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
- Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
- Original thought.
- Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.
- Understand the research methods and decision processes that are undertaken from the initial project or development idea through to project feasibility
- Understand the purpose and methodology in conducting feasibility studies and initial project evaluation
- Be familiar with purpose and methodology in conducting cost benefit analysis and investment decision techniques
- Understand the issues associated with investment strategies and pricing techniques that can influence the initial project accept or reject decision
- Be familiar with the methodologies and techniques used to assist cost control and benchmarking for project feasibilities and project evaluations
- Understand the techniques used to appraise a project using the quantitative and qualitative techniques of value management to increase the likelihood of better long-term outcomes for a project.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
