BMM6402 - Project Management

Objectives:

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

1 - Compare and contrast a range of project management models and tools, their advantages/disadvantages and relevance to particular projects and internal/external contexts
2 - Appraise the risks and uncertainties inherent in project management and how these may be managed or mitigated
3 - Develop a project plan that covers a broad range of issues and stakeholder/client relationship management and utilizes appropriate project management techniques
4 - Produce a coherent and data-based presentation of a professional standard project plan and reflect on advantages/disadvantages of the plan, as well as project team performance
5 - Utilise ICT-based project management tools, techniques and conventions to concieve and communicate a project plan effectively.

Content:

This module explores the key aspect of project management, including a range of tools/techniques/methodologies required for professional planning and implementing projects, evaluating associated benefits/costs and managing risk and uncertainty. The challenges of project organisation structures and resource scheduling will be addressed. The actual development of a project plan encourages students to discover the principles of stakeholders/client management, as well as to learn how to build effective project teams and leadership capability. A project based environment will be nurtured and supported throughout the module with the aim of delivering a realistic baseline of skills expected in the workplace.

Project workshops will be used in weeks 3 to 7 to focus on specific elements of the project planning process. The work delivered in these workshops will contribute to the overall knowledge of the student, provide crucial skills, and give an opportunity to work on aspects of the assessed project plan in a supportive learning environment.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered via a series of weekly 3-hour teaching blocks, comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by in-depth applied workshops. The 3-hour sessions involving theoretical content, simulations and activities all run in team formats, and the course will include a team based exercise and presentation.

The module will make use of current newsworthy case studies and developing business and political trends, and so the nature of the topics and exercises will vary. Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions/ exercises to support their progress through the module material. Students will be expected to read widely from seminal texts as well as locating contemporary articles through electronic databases.

Lecture/Seminars
Contact hours: 30
Intended Group size: Cohort

Workshops/Tutorials
Contact hours: 10
Intended Group size: Cohort or variable sized groups

Guided Independent Study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment

Project plan (group presentation): Students will be expected to work in groups to develop a project plan for a project scope title that may be negotiated with the module tutor. This presentation will include various elements taught throughout the module and allow for students to demonstrate a capacity to present at a professional level.

Project plan (individual evaluation): Students will be expected to prepare a full project plan for the project brief developed in groups. This will be an individual piece of work and allow for the students to engage fully with the academic content of the module, and an element of critical self analysis. The resulting piece of work is intended to be similar to the sort of project planning documentation that is used in the work place. Examples are presented throughout the module to assist students in pitching their output at the correct level.

Formative assessments: Workshops will be used throughout the semester to allow students to focus on particular skills that are utilised in the project environment. For example, the use of Microsoft Project software, financial planning processes, and online / cloud computing systems.

Alternative assessment: any students who defer or re-sit any components of the assessment will be assessed by a written report with equivalent pro-rata loading.

Assessment:

001 Project Plan (Group Presentation); 20 minutes (including Q&A); End of Semester 2 40%
002 Project plan (Individual evaluation); 2,000 words; end of semester 2 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Satish Sharma
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S26S2

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