Overview
This unit aims to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to manage strategic initiatives within an organization effectively. This unit will introduce you to the concepts, principles, life cycles, and performance domains of portfolio and program management. This unit will specifically address how organisations apply management techniques to initiate, select, prioritise, and execute projects and programs within a portfolio contributing effectively to the organisational success through strategic alignment, resource optimisation, risk management, stakeholder engagement, benefits realisation, monitoring, and control. This unit will also introduce you to systems thinking concepts, principles, and tools that help solve complex problems within portfolios and programs.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre Requisite Units: PPMP20007 & PPMP20009
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 1 - 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 Postgraduate 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 Feedback from the student evaluation survey
Provide formative feedback on students' performance
Encourage students to seek clarification on their marks. Include a dedicated session in the tutorial lesson plan after releasing the marks to discuss assessment results. Continue to incorporate Turnitin rubrics for each assessment to streamline administration and enable markers to provide direct feedback on student submissions specifically.
Feedback from Feedback from the student evaluation survey
It is highly appreciated to enhance the online quiz 1 since the questions were situational and quite challenging.
Offer sample questions for the online quiz corresponding to each learning week, allowing students to review lecture content and prepare for the quiz. Integrate case studies into tutorial material to help students become accustomed to situational questions.
- Examine and use portfolio and program management concepts, principles, and life cycles to implement strategic initiatives within an organisation.
- Acquire and apply the knowledge of portfolio and program management performance domains as strategic implementation tools within an organisation.
- Analyse contemporary scenario problems to provide recommendations for appropriate solutions.
- Evaluate the strategic plan of an organisation to bring about strategic business change and develop a portfolio management plan.
The unit contributes to the required number of academic study units for students wishing to undertake professional certification (such as CAPM or PMP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
The students will be using the PowerBI Desktop in order to develop a Portfolio Dashboard
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Basic project management software such as MS Project
- Microsoft Power BI
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
o.dawoud@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Management Overview
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 1
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Introduction
Lecture 1
Tutorial 1
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Life Cycles
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 2
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 2
Tutorial 2
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Strategic Management
Chapter
- The standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 3
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 3
Tutorial 3
Group formations for Assessments 1 and 2 must be finalised before tutorial session of Week 3
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Governance
Chapter
- The standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 4
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 4
Tutorial 4
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Performance Management
Chapter
Readings:
- The standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 6 (6.1, 6.2, 6.3)
Additional readings, case studies, YouTube videos, etc. will be provided on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 5
Tutorial 5
Module/Topic
Mid-term break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Value Management
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 7
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 6
Tutorial 6
Module/Topic
Portfolio Risk Management
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 7
Tutorial 7
Assessment 1 - Portfolio: Submission due
Consolidated Portfolio Due: Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Portfolio Capacity and Capability Management
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 8
Tutorial 8
Module/Topic
Portfolio Communication Management
Chapter
Readings:
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 7
Additional readings, case studies, YouTube videos, etc. will be provided on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 9
Tutorial 9
Module/Topic
Program and Portfolio Management Information Systems
Chapter
- The Standard for Portfolio Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 2, Section 2.4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 10
Tutorial 10
Module/Topic
Program Activities
Chapter
-
The Standard for Program Management (PMI) - 4th edition - Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 11
Tutorial 11
Assessment 2 - Portfolio Management Plan (Submission due)
Portfolio Management Plan Due: Week 11 Friday (30 May 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Advanced Topics on Program and Portfolio Management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture 12
Tutorial 12
Assessment 3 - Online Quiz (During the tutorial class)
Online Quiz Due: Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Portfolio
Objective
This assessment is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in portfolio management while developing their ability to analyse contemporary scenario problems and recommend appropriate solutions. Through a group-based role-play simulation, students will engage in the process of establishing and executing a portfolio, making strategic decisions, managing changes, and analysing portfolio performance. The assessment also enables students to evaluate the strategic plan of an organization to drive strategic business change. By applying portfolio management principles, tools, and governance frameworks, students will develop a portfolio management plan that aligns with organizational objectives. As part of the exercise, they will collaboratively generate and manage data for a portfolio dashboard created using MS Power BI, enhancing their data-driven decision-making skills.
Assessment Structure:
- This assessment is summitted and marked individually. However, the submissions are based on the reporting and reflection on the collaborative group work and the contribution of the student to the team.
- Students will form their groups following dedicated page on Moodle, where each group will act as a portfolio stakeholders. Each group can be formed of 4-6 students. Members of each group should be of the same tutorial session in order to conduct activities and communications during the weekly sessions under supervision of their Tutor. Forming teams shall start from Week 1 and be finalized by the end of Week 3.
- DST students shall form groups under the supervision of the UC. All activities and communications should be arranged and managed via online meetings on weekly basis.
- Within each group, students will take one of the roles as:
- Steering committee (This role is transferred to the tutor for all of the groups starting from tutorial sessions in Week 3)
- Portfolio Manager
- Program/Project managers
- Instructions and responsibilities of each role will be elaborated on unit Moodle page.
- Team members will interactively build a hypothetical portfolio for a chosen business, and generate and feed data according to the practices and principles of portfolio management.
- On Week 5, team members change roles choosing or electing a new portfolio manager. The tutor will inform the students about changes in the strategic goals of the company. The portfolio manager should follow strategic management plan to assess the portfolio components optimize the portfolio conveying the changes to the project managers who act accordingly.
- Each student should individually submit a portfolio by the end of Week 7 that includes:
-
- All artifact utilized and/or created to prepare the portfolio dashboard should submitted in a OneDrive Folder created and shared individually by each student for assessment. No personal services are accepted (e.g. google drive, Personal OneDrive ). It is the responsibility of the student to submit a valid link to avoid losing marks dedicated for this task. This includes the dashboard, raw data, communications, and analysis outcomes.
- Assessment of the portfolio projects alignment with the strategic goals
- Assessment of portfolio practices, processes, tools and techniques
- Assessment of strategic change management
- Assessment of portfolio governance and control.
- Comments on communications management
- Impediments encountered and strategies applied to overcome them.
- Comments on the dashboard and the employed portfolio information system.
- Personal reflections on learning outcomes.
-
Please note: The assessment criteria are focused on the correct application of portfolio management principles and standards. Students should focus on managing the components and ensure their alignment with the strategic goals rather than focusing on generating highly-detailed appealing components.
Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 9 Friday (16 May 2025)
The assessment criteria will be based on:
- Submitted artifacts (5%)
- Portfolio Assessment Report (10%)
- Role and contribution (10%)
- Personal reflection (5%)
- Analyse contemporary scenario problems to provide recommendations for appropriate solutions.
- Evaluate the strategic plan of an organisation to bring about strategic business change and develop a portfolio management plan.
2 Written Assessment
This is a group assignment which is worth 50% of the unit marks. You are required to develop a portfolio management plan that would realise one or more of a company’s strategic objective(s). Students are recommended
Purpose
The students are directed to prepare a portfolio management plan examining and using portfolio and program management concepts, principles, and life cycles in order to implement strategic initiatives within an organisation.
Acquire and apply the knowledge of portfolio and program management performance domains as strategic implementation tools within an organisation.
Analyse contemporary scenario problems to provide recommendations for appropriate solutions.
Tasks
- Form a group comprising 3-5 students (ideally 4 members in a group) in consultation with your tutor. All group members should belong to the same tutorial session. Registration of groups will be arranged on Moodle.
Select a specific strategic objective in an organization. Details of the organization will be provided in the assignment description on the Moodle website. - Propose a portfolio management plan to manage the portfolio implementation and aid portfolio managers to propose a portfolio and its components (i.e. related projects and programs) that will potentially realise a strategic objective in this organisation.
- The portfolio management plan must consist of all components as stated in the assignment description on the Moodle website.
- Starting from week 7, students are expected to submit non-graded progress reports by the end of every tutorial sessions. Feedback will be provided and noted during the tutorial sessions. These reports will be annexed to the final report submitted and will be considered as one of the assessment criteria.
- Due to the nature of the assessment, there is a loose word limit suggestion of 4000 words +/- 10%.
Week 11 Friday (30 May 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Friday (13 June 2025)
Marks distribution (scaled to 30% of unit marks):
- Executive summary - (5%)
- Portfolio strategy - (10%)
- Portfolio scope management - (10%)
- Portfolio roadmap - (5%)
- Portfolio governance plan - (10%)
- Portfolio capacity and capability management - (5%)
- Portfolio stakeholder engagement - (10%)
- Portfolio risk management - (10%)
- Portfolio value management - (10%)
- Evidence of group work and Progress Reports - (15%)
- Clarity of expression, language, format, citations, and references - (10%)
- Examine and use portfolio and program management concepts, principles, and life cycles to implement strategic initiatives within an organisation.
- Acquire and apply the knowledge of portfolio and program management performance domains as strategic implementation tools within an organisation.
- Evaluate the strategic plan of an organisation to bring about strategic business change and develop a portfolio management plan.
3 Online Quiz(zes)
- Task Description
This assessment item involves an online exam which is worth 20% of the unit marks. - The online exam is a closed-book exam and will be accessible via Moodle website. Seeking any form of assistance is prohibited.
- Only one submission attempt is allowed during the allocated exam time.
- On-campus students must attempt the quiz during their tutorial class in week 12 under the supervision of the tutor.. Online students would need to attend an online session via Zoom/Teams or an equivalent platform to attempt the quiz. Students must share their screens and switch on their cameras and microphones while attempting the quiz. Each student will be placed in a separate breakout room under the exam condition and be recorded during the quiz.
- Late attendance of 15 minutes after the quiz starts will be disqualified.
- Being absent from the quiz without an approved request for an extension would result in a zero (0) mark.
- The online exam will consist of 40 multiple choice questions.
- The online exam will be of 40 min duration.
- You should make sure you complete your answers within the given time frame, otherwise, your answers will be submitted automatically after 40 minutes.
- The questions will be randomly selected from a pool of questions and displayed to you. It is very unlikely that two students will be presented with the same questions.
- The online exam will be administered during the tutorial sessions of the 12th week.
- On the exam day, students will use lab computers to access the exam; however, make sure to bring your own computer to the exam in case any interruption occurs.
- The exam will cover the content from weeks 1 to 11 (lectures, tutorials, readings, etc.).
1
Other
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
This is an in-class exam that it organized during the tutorial session on Week 12. Please, make sure to verify the date of the Online Quiz with your tutor.
Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)
- The quiz will consist of forty (40) questions.
- Each question will carry equal marks.
- There will be no penalty for incorrect answers.
- Examine and use portfolio and program management concepts, principles, and life cycles to implement strategic initiatives within an organisation.
- Acquire and apply the knowledge of portfolio and program management performance domains as strategic implementation tools within an organisation.
- Analyse contemporary scenario problems to provide recommendations for appropriate solutions.
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?
