module specification

The module aims for the student to develop a critical awareness of project planning and delivery principles alongside developing the skills necessary to deploy them to manage a construction project.  Through enquiry-based learning it will facilitate a project scenario to allow the students to deploy the tools necessary to successfully plan a project and monitor a project's resources.

The syllabus is guided by professional body project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB) and the module explores the pre-construction and delivery phase of the project to enable the students to understand that detailed planning of a project is needed to help in the successful delivery of the construction phase. By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• project constraints and how they are identified and accommodated.
• project risks and strategies to accept, avoid, control, transfer and monitor them.
• internal and external stakeholders to the project and how to manage their expectations.
• the requirements of a project delivery plan for the pre-construction and construction phase of a project and once produced how to control it throughout the construction phase.
• Produce and maintain a detailed project programme

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The syllabus is informed by the project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice as defined by professional bodies such as the Association for Project Management (APM) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).  Topics will include:

• Identifying and accommodating project constraints (LO1, 2)
• Project risk identification and management (LO2, 4,5)
• Stakeholders: internal and external to the project team and managing their expectations (LO1, 2)
• Preparing the project plan: site and surrounding area constraints and layouts (LO 2)
• Work Breakdown Structures (LO1)
• Project planning: master and detailed programmes (LO1, 2, 4)
• Identifying and managing project change (LO3, 4)
• Earned value management as a project tracking tool. (LO3, 5)

Student’s teaching and learning will consist of weekly classes comprising a combination of lectures, seminars, site visits, discursive sessions, and workshops totalling 36 hours of contact time. Students will be given the opportunity to engage in seminar activities in which the use of case studies from around the world stimulates discussion and helps them to develop a deep understanding of project planning and delivery in context and within the framework of the existing project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice.

Workshops will facilitate group study of authentic case studies, presenting typical project planning challenges which will require the students to propose and test solutions to them and evaluate the outcomes. They will develop themes discussed in lectures, tutorials, group work and independent study to build upon and develop key aspects of the subject and encourage innovative approaches in formulating responses and determining solutions to tasks. Computer workshops will be used to introduce the students to the project planning software and provide them with instruction to allow them to develop the necessary programming skills and have the opportunity to progress their module assessments in supervised scheduled sessions.

A blended/ technology enhanced learning approach will be employed in the delivery of this module. Formal lectures will introduce and develop themes that relate to the core subject. The delivery of the module will be broken down into key elements that have discrete tasks. Tasks will be performed through group and independent study, to develop critical thinking skills of analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. Throughout the module student output’s will be reviewed, and formative feedback will be given to ensure clarity and comprehension.

Study will be supported via online lectures, tutorials and seminars that will be captured and made available to allow asynchronous access.

The learning and teaching in classes will be supported by the University’s VLE and a blended learning approach, sharing class materials, recommended reading, and case studies. Group tutorials will also be offered to support students in the preparation of their assessments, with opportunities for students to receive forward feedback.

On completion of the module the learner, operating independently and applying their knowledge and skills, should be able to:

1. Synthesise information from a variety of sources to produce a work breakdown structure and project programme.
2. Interpret complex project requirements and information to develop a detailed project plan which evaluates and manages project risk and includes a programme identifying project milestones, resource requirements, critical path and a site layout.
3. Propose feasible and achievable responses to project change events.
4. Propose critical responses to construction methodologies and measure the impacts to programmes of alternative construction methodologies.
5. Use delay analysis techniques to assess and respond to changes to the project goals.

The module assessment reflects the real industry experience of collaborative working in construction project planning, presenting the students with scenarios that require interrogation of the subject to produce innovative and novel solutions. Students will be supported throughout their assessment preparations through having access to formative feedback which will be available throughout the module, during lectures, seminars, and workshops. Further detail will be provided in the coursework briefing documents.

Coursework 1: Individual Project (1500 words plus outputs including project programmes and site layouts)

Coursework 1 requires students to develop independent learning, critical and analytical thinking skills. It will require the students to evidence a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subject area within the constraints of the assessment project. The project requires students to produce several project specific outputs including a master and detailed programme, linear responsibility matrix, risk evaluation and management proposal and site layouts.

Coursework 2: Individual Report. (1000 words plus outputs including a project programme))

Coursework 2 gives the student the opportunity for evaluation and reflection and requires a critical appraisal of the activities undertaken in project 1. The coursework requires the student to research a construction methodology that would provide a time saving for the project programme.  This exercise requires the student to demonstrate independent and creative problem-solving skills to propose and analyse their proposal.

There is no single text currently in publication that provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of this module. There are several books which cover various parts of the module in some detail, and these are listed in the core text list.  There is excellent coverage of the subject available via the Construction Information Service (CIS).  

CIS is accessed via Construction Information Service  and provides a huge range of information relevant to this module. Useful books and articles for this course are listed below:

Link to library reading list