TOPIC 6.1: Workplace Project Learning Overview

The PSMP Workplace Project offers you the opportunity to apply your learning from across the program to investigate a real opportunity or issue from your actual workplace situation, where you take the role of an “internal consultant” to your Sponsor to gain a new perspective on the opportunity or issue.

The PSMP GSZ634 Unit Co-ordinator takes the role of Academic Advisor and guides the process of identifying an opportunity or issue, preparing a proposal, implementing the methodology and presenting the results.

Project characteristics

To allow you to exercise the skills that you have learned in the PSMP, the project must have a public value focus i.e.:

• the project may focus on a system improvement – more efficient or effective ways of organising or communicating practices
• a service innovation – changing the customer experience for the better
• an operational improvement – engaging staff in a new way of doing business.

A systems approach to identifying the problem, the stakeholders impacted and the proposed project work to be undertaken to achieve the project aim is encouraged.

For a broad overview of project management have a look at the following video.

Your Workplace Project and the subsequent report should demonstrate your ability to manage the ‘business of government’ by investigating an operation or practice in your work-related environment and developing and delivering a project outcome that focuses on operational effectiveness.  You should also demonstrate that you can thrive in a contestable and ambiguous environment and deliver outcomes that are innovative and future oriented. In the process, you will emphasise the benefits of collaborative practice, organisational resilience, a commitment to service, and a results orientation.

Suitable project opportunities can arise from topics covered in the 4 units of the program. Depending on your topic, you might apply your learning across all four units or maybe a more in-depth reference to one or two units

Some examples of projects undertaken by graduates of the program include:

• Workplace Safety – Creating a state-wide network of workplace safety investigators to build capability, share intelligence and streamline investigative procedures
• Licensing? – Evaluating licensing service delivery alternatives in the building industry
• Managing the Development of an Extranet Site for the Local Government Association of Tasmania – The development of a secure access website for the benefit of staff and councillors.
• Supporting the Capabilities of Volunteer Organisations in their Mission to Enhance Community Engagement – Developing strategies that will enable small community-based volunteer organisations to raise funds, raise their profiles, keep their members safe, and build long-term sustainability, in conjunction with the agency’s community strategies.
• Creating an Innovation Pipeline Mechanism –Developing strategies and processes that will facilitate innovation with the agency, capture and share learning, and in the long term, embed an ‘innovation mindset’ within the agency
• Review of Scientific Sample Handling and Processing within the Australian Antarctic Division – Review process to ensure that projects collecting physical samples had the necessary legislative permits in place.