module specification

Through studying this module, you will develop a critical awareness of project planning and execution principles alongside developing the skills necessary to deploy them to manage a variety of project types.  Through enquiry-based learning it will facilitate a project scenario to allow you 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 BOK and the PMI PMBOK. The module explores the planning of a project across the project lifecycle to enable you to understand that detailed planning of a project is needed to help in the successful execution of each project phase. By the end of the module, you should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• Defining project outputs including success and benefits; objectives and requirements; options and solutions; scope definition and quality planning.
• Integrated project planning and the creation of a baseline project plan.
• Progress monitoring during the project execution phase.

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 Body of Knowledge ((APMBOK) and the PMI Project Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).  Topics will include:
• Identifying and accommodating project constraints (LO1,2)
• Project risk identification and management (LO2,3,4)
• Stakeholders: internal and external to the project team and managing their expectations (LO1,3)
• Work breakdown structures (LO2)
• Preparing, monitoring, and reporting on the baseline project plan (LO3)
• Delay analysis techniques (LO3)
• Identifying and managing project change (LO4)
• Earned value management as a project tracking tool. (LO3,4)

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 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. Propose feasible and achievable responses to a need to plan and manage the execution of a project.
2. Synthesise information from a variety of sources to produce a work breakdown structure.
3. Interpret complex project requirements and information to develop and monitor a detailed baseline project plan which evaluates and manages project risk and includes a programme identifying project milestones, resource requirements and critical path.
4. Assess and respond to changes to the project goals.

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.

https://idp.londonmet.ac.uk/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s1