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Overview

Course Prescription

Learn to systematically manage and maximise project outcomes. Introduces practical tools and strategies for identifying, planning and tracking project benefits while developing skills to communicate project outcomes effectively to diverse audiences using innovative dissemination methods. 

Course Overview

This course invites you to explore a fundamental shift in how we define project success from delivering outputs to realising meaningful outcomes. The course introduces you to the principles, frameworks, and tools of Benefits Management, empowering you to actively manage value rather than merely track deliverables. You’ll learn to think strategically about how projects create sustained benefits for organisations, stakeholders, and society.

Through a blend of interactive workshops, industry conversations, and peer learning, you will develop the confidence and capability to design and evaluate benefits realisation strategies that endure beyond project completion. You’ll also practise how to communicate complex artefacts such as benefits maps and value frameworks in clear, purposeful, and audience-specific ways.

The course emphasises experiential and collaborative learning. Rather than traditional lectures, learning takes place in weekly hands-on sessions supported by dynamic online modules, discussion forums, and on-demand resources. You will have the freedom to explore ideas creatively, share insights with peers, and receive continuous feedback from teaching staff and industry experts.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week as follows:

  • 3 hours of watching/listening/reading/writing and thinking about the online content (acquisition and practice),
  • 1.5-2 hours live tutorial - weekly (inquiry, discussion and collaboration),
  • 4 hours of working on assignments (inquiry and production), and
  • 1 hour participating in online discussion forums (discussion and collaboration).

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City
UoA Online

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Semester 1: Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including group discussions/lectures/workshops, to complete components of the course.

All the lectures/workshop sessions will be available as recordings. However, due to the nature of the group discussions/workshops, it is most effective when there is active participation. Other learning activities and materials used during the workshops will be made available online.

The course will not include any live online events.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a fortnightly timetable.

If students prefer learning remotely, the course offers an Online semester as well.

Semester 2: Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities, including workshops to complete components of the course.

The course will include live online events, including group discussions/workshops/lectures, and these will be recorded where possible (expectations include times like breakout room sessions).

Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester timetable, and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Postgraduate policies and guidelines.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

A passing mark is 50% or higher, as per university policy.

Late submissions will not be accepted/allowed for the exam, tests, and online quizzes. It is possible to submit assignments and projects late, with prior approval. The late submission penalty schedule will be included on Canvas under Modules.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

The course has been substantially redesigned, moving from a dual focus on benefits management (research implementation) and research dissemination to a dedicated emphasis on benefits management. The concept of outcomes thinking is now fully integrated within the principles and practice of benefits management.

Improvements to the course based on feedback from last year:

  • Assignment briefs have been revised to improve clarity. 
  • Wovex, a tool used on the course, will be supported with a recorded tutorial (and may be a dedicated support session).

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.