BMM4702 - Tools and Techniques of Project Management

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 - Assess the feasibility of a project and develop project success criteria which are then evaluated
2 - Apply and evaluate performance of project planning, scheduling, quality planning and control, estimating and cost planning, management and control techniques
3 - Apply closure to a project in a controlled manner and evaluate project through lessons learned reflections
4 - Respond effectively to questions based on a project management body of knowledge
5 - Reflect on group’s performance at all stages of the project life cycle.

Content:

This module exposes you to using the tools and techniques associated with managing and controlling the project to achieve identified benefits. You will be actively engaged in a project to experience the various stages of project lifecycle including developing project management plan (PMP), establishing responsibilities of project team members, scope management, planning, estimating, scheduling, budgeting, change control and resource management. You will encounter and explore the problems involved in utilising tools and techniques (Business case, risk register, cost-benefit analysis, quality management plan, scope management plan, change control tools, estimating, configuration management plan, PERT and GANTT chart, project management plan, resource management) and evaluate the applications of these in valuable lessons learned reflections. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to test out your understanding of an industry relevant project management body of knowledge.

Lecturers will explain the different tools and techniques (scheduling, estimating, risk register, stakeholder register,change control tools, project management plan etc.) and apprentices will use those tools in the project they are working on.

Relevant KSBs

K1.3 How to construct robust project business cases that demonstrate the benefits and value expected from project deliverables.

K3.1 How to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build and maintain their support for successful project outcomes.

K3.2 How to manage the dynamics of stakeholder relationships and needs during the project and develop appropriate and pro-active project communication plans to ensure that all of the multi-skilled, cross-disciplinary stakeholders are aligned.

K4.1 How to work with the project sponsor and within a programme to prepare organisations, teams and individuals for organisational change including an analysis of the current state, preparation of an envisaged future state and plans for progressing from one to the other.

K5.1 How to develop and manage projects within different planning frameworks to balance the fundamental components of the project.

K5.2 How to prepare and maintain resourced project schedules and use these for project monitoring, control and delivery.

K5.3 How to analyse schedule integrity, dependencies and their implications.

K7.1 How to apply quality management frameworks and monitor their impact in a project environment.

K7.2 How to deliver quality within a project environment including assurance, control and continuous improvement of deliverables, processes and procedures.

K10.1 How to apply the concepts of project change control.

K10.2 How to define and use appropriate processes and tools to manage scope, requirements, benefits and success factors of a project.

K10.3 How to analyse the impacts and interdependencies of changes on the project and its deliverables.

S1.3 Maintain, review and communicate a project business case for approval through the stages of a typical project lifecycle ensuring continued value for money and continued alignment with organisational objectives.

S4.1 Manage the project within the constraints of time, cost and quality. Control expenditure and produce status reports as required, including control of costs against budgets, forecasting, and establishing performance indicators as required by funding sources.

S4.2 Measure progress and actual costs against plans to determine a full understanding of project performance. Identify, achieve and maintain quality standards appropriate to the context and specific requirements of project activities.

S7.1 Dependent upon the size and complexity of a project, define and apply a recognised process to manage change in projects.

S7.2 Make effective decisions in the interests of a range of stakeholders with regards to change requests. Handle change within different project management methodologies.

S8.1 Evaluate requirements and methods for data capture and analysis in a project environment. Evaluate project schedule integrity including identification and resolution of scheduling problems.

S8.2 Apply resource acquisition and management techniques to balance programme and project needs against resource demand. Negotiate the allocation and scheduling of internal and external resources to meet programme and project demands.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered in 2-day teaching block, comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by workshops.

In addition to 2-day teaching block, there will be an additional 1- day workshop at the end of semester 2 for both Methods and Principles, and Tools and Techniques modules to prepare apprentices for Level D PMQ qualification exam.

Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading for independent learning in advance on the VLE and in the module handbook. The module will use book exercises, case studies, scholarly papers and sample exam questions according to the topic and learning objective.



Planned LTU Off-the-Job Delivery Learning:

Lectures
Hours: 14
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Additional Exam Revision Session
Hours: 7
Intended Group Size: Cohort



Planned Off-the-Job Learning:

Training Plan Activities
Hours: 32
Intended Group Size: Individual



Minimum Self-Directed Off the Job Learning and Practical Training:

Hours: 147



Further Detail Relating to Assessment

Group Project and Personal Diary with Reflection on Group’s performance: Apprentices are required to work in a project team to plan, manage and deliver a project of their choice (subject to acceptance by their tutor) through concept to transition, using a linear project management lifecycle. Throughout the project they are required to individually reflect and evaluate the management of their project. Using the template provided they are to reflect on the decisions and processes undertaken in their project, provide an evaluation of the management of their project compared to research and include personal reflection of their understanding and application of the project management tools and techniques used in the project.

Exam: Apprentices are required to undertake a closed-book exam in which they will answer questions relating to APM Body of Knowledge 7. They will be required to answer 4 questions in 1hr 15 mins allowed time. This assessment will be done individually and in exam conditions.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Kashif Aziz
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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