ENG5221 Project as a social system
Faculty of Engineering
ENG5221 Project as a social system is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ENG5221
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ENG5221
No unit lists ENG5221 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Must be enrolled in a Master's course
Overview
This unit explores projects as primarily social constructs, where sense-making and adaptive behaviours are required to accommodate local contexts, dynamics, and personal attributes. The perception of projects as primarily a process is critically examined. The concepts of systems thinking is explored to develop an understanding of the interrelationships between various elements of a project, and the environment in which they are executed.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Assignment 1Written40%
- Assignment 2Written40%
- Presentation10%
- Workshop contributionQuiz / Test10%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Critique the theory and concepts of systems thinking applied in a project management context.
- 2
Appraise and evaluate adaptive behaviours between a project and its environment using the theory of sense-making.
- 3
Interpret the differences between a social construct and a technical process when managing projects.
- 4
Manage the interaction between a project and its environment.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3 - 6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6 - 9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
You will engage in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but you need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
You will actively apply your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ENG5221 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Jian Zhao
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Jian Zhao
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ENG5221?
ENG5221 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ENG5221 offered?
In 2026, ENG5221 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ENG5221?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ENG5221 have an exam?
No. ENG5221 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ENG5221?
ENG5221 is part of Project management.