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Title / Manage project communications
Level / 5 / Credits / 7
Purpose / This unit standard specifies the outcomes required to link people, ideas and information at all stages in the project life cycle. Project communications management ensures the timely and appropriate generation, collection, dissemination, storage and disposal of project information through formal structures and processes. It aids in decision making and the control of informal communication networks to facilitate the achievement of project objectives. A project manager usually performs the specialist functions required by this unit standard.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: plan communications processes; manage information; manage project reporting; and assess communication management outcomes, for projects.
Classification / Business Operations and Development > Project Management
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1 Legislation relevant to this unit standard may include but is not limited to: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; Resource Management Act 1991; Human Rights Act 1993; Privacy Act 1993; Employment Relations Act 2000.
2 To demonstrate competence in this unit standard a candidate must be able to provide evidence that they have taken responsibility within projects for managing communications. This will include evidence of managing the work of others within the project team with respect to communications.
3 Definitions
Organisational requirements refer to instructions to staff on policy and procedures which are documented in memo or manual format and are available in the workplace. These requirements include but are not limited to – site specific requirements and company quality management requirements.
Delegated authority means that activities may be done independently within broad guidance or by taking the lead of a team; involve consultation with other project members, teams and internal stakeholders; involve the selection, use and supervision of appropriate communications management methods and tools; be conducted routinely or as changing circumstances dictate; take into account internal organisational change and external environmental change.
Project management information system (PMIS) is a means for communicating knowledge about the project and provides a systematic approach to the storing, searching and retrieval of information relevant to the project; it may include simple manual systems, complex computer-based systems, or modified systems to cater for unique project requirements.
The client represents the person(s) or organisation(s) that will be the recipients of the project deliverables.
Project outcomes are the difference the project outputs will make to the people or institutions the project will benefit.
4 Evidence is required of managing a minimum of two projects.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Plan communications processes for projects.
Evidence requirements
1.1 Information requirements are identified, documented, and analysed, with input from stakeholders and guidance of senior personnel, to determine the basis for communications planning, in accordance with delegated authority and organisational requirements.
1.2 An agreed communications management plan is developed to ensure clarity of understanding and achievement of project objectives throughout the project life cycle in accordance with delegated authority and organisational requirements.
1.3 Designated PMIS structure and procedures are established and maintained to ensure the quality, validity, timeliness, and integrity of information and communication in accordance with project plan and organisational requirements.
Outcome 2
Manage information for projects.
Evidence requirements
2.1 The generation, gathering, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of information by project staff and stakeholders is managed within established systems and procedures to aid decision making processes throughout the project life cycle, in accordance with project plan and organisational requirements.
2.2 Information validation processes are implemented, modified, monitored, and controlled to optimise quality and accuracy of data, in accordance with organisational requirements.
2.3 Agreed communication networks between project staff, client and other stakeholders are implemented and maintained to ensure effective communications throughout the project life cycle, in accordance with project plan.
Range communication networks may include – formal networks, informal networks, specific networks, the organisation’s communication networks, client organisation and end users.
Outcome 3
Manage project reporting.
Evidence requirements
3.1 Any communication or information management system problems are identified and reported to senior personnel, and agreed remedial actions are implemented to ensure project objectives are met, in accordance with project plan and organisational requirements.
3.2 Customer relationships are maintained within established guidelines to ensure clarity of understanding of objectives and to reduce conflict throughout the project life cycle in accordance with organisational requirements.
Outcome 4
Assess communications management outcomes for projects.
Evidence requirements
4.1 Finalisation activities are conducted to ensure agreed ownership of, and responsibility for, information collected during projects, in accordance with project plans and organisational requirements.
4.2 Project outcomes are reviewed to determine the effectiveness of information and communications management processes and procedures, in accordance with project plans and organisational requirements.
4.3 Any communications management issues and recommended improvements are identified, documented and passed on to senior personnel for application in future projects, in accordance with organisational requirements.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 17 April 2009 / 31 December 2018
Rollover and Revision / 2 / 24 October 2014 / 31 December 2020
Review / 3 / 20 July 2017 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0113
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZQA National Qualifications ServicesSSB Code 130301 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut