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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1 - Critically appraise commercial assessment practices including consideration of procurement
2 - Critique the relationship between perceived strategic importance and the attainment of project resources
3 - Critically evaluate the elements required in the production of business case that creates the foundation for any proposed project
4 - Justify the importance of embedding value as part of project definition
5 - Critically analyse benefits management and realisation techniques.
This module recognises that project failure often results from insufficient work being carried out at the front-end of the project. To greater increase the chance of project success you are required to focus on the business case and the establishment of the project definition whilst also being made strongly aware of the need to align with strategic objectives. This front-end shaping also demands an understanding of the multiple institutional factors and actor interactions including negative aspects such as strategic misrepresentation. You will examine the advantages of early planning concerning procurement, funding, and contract issues whilst approaches to value management will be critiqued. As all projects are about the production of benefits, you will gain a specific focus on a thorough understanding of defining benefits and planning benefits management and realisation techniques.
Indicative Content
- Business case, procurement planning (e.g., estimation costs, tools and techniques, outputs), contracts (fixed-price types, cost-reimbursable types etc.), SLA/SLOS, procurement maturity model.
- Conduct procurement (competitive bids, invitation to tender, source selection, etc.) value and value management, (critiques, tools utilised in value management).
- Strategic management, (decision making, governance, organisational performance and measurement of success. Benefits management, effects of decision making on strategic tactical and operational levels, strategic divergence, project investment and fundraising issues, international strategy), benefits realisation.
Relevant KSBs
K1.3 How to construct robust project business cases that demonstrate the benefits and value expected from project deliverables.
K6.1 How to interpret organisational and programme aims and objectives to develop robust business plans and the requirement to revisit such plans at key stages of a project to ensure ongoing viability of the business case.
K6.2 The identification of realistic benefits, both tangible and intangible, and an appreciation of how these might be delivered.
K8.1 How to procure goods and services in a cost effective, process driven manner.
K8.2 How to manage projects within commercial and contractual policies, practices and relationships.
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.
S6.1 Maintain and evaluate different commercial contract and procurement types to select appropriate options for specific programmes and projects. Support effective contract management and the achievement of programme and project outcomes.
The sessions will be organised as 2-day teaching block. Lectures will deliver core theoretical frameworks with practical content, context and processes to achieve the themes outlined in the learning outcomes, followed by workshops and personal exercises for reflection and development.
The module will make use of current newsworthy case studies and developing business 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 also be directed to broad electronic sources including e-books, journals, and other web-based sources to support their learning. Teamwork will be used to enhance project leading and working together skills. The group will work on analysing case-studies, problem-solving and group discussions. Time will be allocated for independent learning.
Students would be expected to prepare for the sessions by reading set texts and completion of tasks set in class or via the VLE and will be expected to take part in a wide range of learning activities.
Planned LTU Off-the-Job Delivery Learning:
Lectures
Hours: 14
Intended Group Size: Cohort
Virtual Tutorial Cafe
Hours: 3
Intended Group Size: Cohort
Planned Off-the-Job Learning:
Training Plan Activities
Hours: 55
Intended Group Size: Individual
Minimum Self-Directed Off the Job Learning and Practical Training:
Hours: 128
Further Details Relating to Assessment
Presentation: Project failure often results from insufficient work being carried out at the front-end of the project. To greater increase the chance of project success, Apprentices are required to prepare a presentation in which they critically evaluate the elements required in the production of the business case that creates the foundation for any proposed project. The presentation should address other institutional factors such as strategy and governance, critique relationship between perceived organisation’s factors of strategic importance and the attainment of project resources, commercial assessment practices including procurement routes and contracts used. They also critique the value management tools and approaches and the literature surrounding value management with a view to justify the importance of value management.
Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -