module specification

Provides an appreciation of the key concepts in planning and managing projects. Develops an understanding of the use and value of tools and techniques employed by project managers. Develops an appreciation of leadership and motivation skills in the context of team management.
 

None

This module:
Allows students to identify management, leadership and team member characteristics that apply to them and other people.
Enables students to create a workable project plan using recognised tools and techniques.
Provides students with the skills to evaluate and monitor a project plan.
The principal graduate attributes focused on in the module are A2 and A3.

The major topics of study of this module are:
? Project planning tools, techniques and methods
? Work breakdown structure and work allocation principles
? Principles of team dynamics and communication
? Team and meeting management
? Reporting and presenting results

Topics are introduced through formal lectures (one hour per week). The lecture slides are available on-line to students, together with the study guide. Understanding is further developed in tutorials (one hour per week), where students work through tasks relating to lecture material and directed reading, and attempt questions from past examination papers to test and reinforce their learning with feedback from tutors. In addition, an online tutorial with a quiz is available on the intranet on: http://lgu-project-management (note: this is not available outside the University).

Indicative students’ learning time on the module:

Class contact (lectures, drop-in tutorials, drop-in workshops) 33 hours
Individual study, directed reading and examination preparation 47 hours
Coursework project planning and reporting 50 hours
Use of software/tutorial package and online quiz in PC labs 20 hours
TOTAL HOURS 150 hours

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of key principles involved in the project planning and management process [A2]
2. Demonstrate competence in using tools and techniques for planning and managing projects [A3]
3. Initiate, plan and conduct a project, such as a business systems project [A2, A3]
4. Analyse and report the process and outcome of a project in written format [A2, A3]

The assessment for this module is based on coursework and examination as follows:
? Assessment profile:
- Coursework (50%): a coursework assignment which involves the planning of a project for a case study scenario, using appropriate project planning tools and techniques. The assignment requires a workable project plan to be generated, and solutions to specific issues that might arise to be presented.
The coursework assignment is designed to enable students to put into practice the methods, tools and techniques they have met in lectures and directed reading. This enhances learning by allowing students to use the tools and techniques for themselves.
The coursework assignment is predominantly linked to Learning Outcomes 3 and 4.

- Examination (50%): a 2-hour unseen examination related to material covered in lectures and directed reading. The examination focuses on the use of tools and techniques for planning and managing projects, and key concepts in project planning and management.
The examination is designed to allow students to demonstrate their mastery of the tools, techniques and methods employed in planning and managing a project, as well as their understanding of key concepts and principles.
- The examination is predominantly linked to Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.


? Opportunities for formative feedback:
- Informal formative feedback on students’ development of their project plans is provided in the tutorial sessions
- Informal formative feedback is provided on students’ solutions to tasks specified in the study guide. Students can work through these tasks (including past examination questions) in order to test their own understanding, and discuss their solutions and ideas in the tutorial sessions

? Timing of assessment:
- The scenario is published in Week 2
- The questions are published in Week 6.
- The final report is submitted in Week 11.

The module is passed on an aggregate of the marks for coursework and examination reaching 40% or above.

Burke, R. (2003) Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques, 4th edition. Wiley, Chichester.
Cadle J & Yeates D (2001) Project Management for Information Systems, 3rd Edition, Prentice-Hall.
Gray CF & Larson EW (2000) Project Management: The Managerial Process, McGraw-Hill (includes CD-ROM).
Hughes, B. & Cotterell, M. (2002), Software Project Management, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead.
Lockyer K & Gordon J (1996) Project Management and Project Network Techniques, 6th edition, Prentice-Hall, Harlow.
Maylor H (2003) Project Management, 3rd edition, Pearson Education, Harlow.
Meredith, J. R, & Mantel Jr, S. J., (2003), Project Management: A Managerial Approach, 5th edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
O’Connell, F. (2001) How to Run Successful Projects III: The Silver Bullet, Addison-Wesley, Harlow.
Posner K & Applegarth M (1998) The Project Management Pocketbook, Management Pocketbooks, Alresford.
Pyron, T (1997) Using Microsoft Project 98, QUE, Indianapolis