module specification

The module critically explores current issues of project and quality management in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries. Managers and executives at all levels within the Creative Industries sector typically manage projects and deal with quality management issues. The module covers essential concepts and offers key knowledge, skills and a structured approach to identifying, understanding and solving some of the issues of project and quality management.
The concepts, principles and frameworks covered, apply both in the UK and internationally, to a range of organisations and sectors, focusing on Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries.
Aims of the module:
1. To enable students to enhance their understanding of the theory and practice of project and quality management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and Creative Industries context.
2. To enable students to critically understand and use, theoretical and practical skills and tools, which apply to project and quality management business challenges in contemporary Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries.
3. To equip them to critically discuss issues and make appropriate choices, based on project and quality management observations and recommendations that are applicable to their sectors, organisations and brands.
4. To stimulate students’ critical awareness of academic theories and current professional practice, and their ability to apply theories and tools to the practice of project and quality management in their current and future career settings.

No pre-requisites; available for Study Abroad: YES

1. Introduction to Project Management, key concepts, issues, conventions, and the like. LO1
2. Making sense of the project context. Managing the project process. LO1
3. Time planning, cost and benefit, stakeholders and quality, risk and opportunities management. LO1
4. Project organisation and key tools. LO1
5. Project control and execution. LO1
6. Project management in practice - case studies. LO1
7. Project leadership, supply chain issues, critical appraisal of project management. LO1
8. Introduction to Quality Management, key concepts, issues, conventions, and the like. LO2
9. Quality issues, competitiveness, ethics, CSR, quality culture, etc. LO2
10. Quality, strategic management and customer satisfaction. LO2
11. Leadership, training, team, effective communication and clear policies. LO2
12. TQM overview and tools. LO2
13. ISO, HACCP overview, issues and challenges. LO2
14. Quality controlling issues.LO2

The learning and teaching strategy for this module involves an approach using a variety of teaching and learning tools, such as blended learning (via the use of VLE), experiential learning, students’ responsibilities and opportunities for reflective learning, professional and personal development, etc.

The module will be delivered over a 12-week period consisting of 3 hours of face-to-face contact each week. The key theories, models and concepts of project and quality management will be covered during the weekly sessions, via the use of seminars, tutorials, case study analyses, question and answer sessions, group discussions, presentations, student-led group activities (such as reflective peer discussions) etc.

Teaching materials will be available via our VLE (WebLearn). Students should individually and/or in their respective teams, prepare all sessions and assignments in advance of the date in which materials will be covered. Students will be supported on key issues in relation to preparation, for the in and out of class work. It is the responsibility of the students to initiate timely pre-sessional and follow-up activities and reading.

The module draws on a wide-range of academic research and professional experience. It introduces core concepts and encourages students to develop a critical and analytical approach, to issues related to project and quality management in Events, Leisure, Tourism and the broader Creative Industries sector. Students will develop an awareness of different theoretical and practical perspectives, so that the complexity of project and quality management issues and practice is explored as thoroughly as possible.

To ensure a positive and productive student learning experience the programme is designed to be a combination of class-based sessions, seminars, tutorials and case-study group work, as well as self-directed learning, VLE activities (including reflective commentary) and presentations.

Classroom sessions will be supported by web-based materials and recommended pre-readings (and follow-up) from the module textbooks and other readings. The aim is that, internal and external guest speakers will be invited to classes at the initiative of students, which should enhance hands-on understanding of the role of project and quality management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries context.

Students should engage in all preparation activities that they need to undertake to support their learning and the module sessions. They should also engage in additional individual academic and practitioner-based research, learning and reading, including for example, independent research through academic journals and other university resources.

Digital literacy development
The learning,  teaching and assessment strategy for this module will enable students to develop their capabilities in digital literacy and information handling appropriate to professional/master’s level study as outlined in the Open University Digital and Information Literacy Framework (DILF: available to view at:
https://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/pages/dilframework/)

At the end of this module you should be able to:
LO1
Critically understand issues, evaluate and apply contemporary frameworks and concepts appropriate to project management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and Creative Industries sector. [Assessed in A1].

LO2
Demonstrate a critical understanding – underpinned by reflective use of academic and professional literature – of the concepts, models and techniques used in quality management in Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries sector. [Assessed in A2].

This module will be assessed through two assessment components.

A two-hour in-class test that will confirm the critically understand, and the ability to evaluate and apply contemporary frameworks, concepts and issues of project management, with a focus on Events, Leisure, Tourism and the broader Creative Industries sector. Students will thus demonstrate their capability to adopt appropriate perspectives of project management to a given situation, making critical and informed choices. [Assesses LO1].

An individual 3,000 words ‘Patchwork Text’ (PT) portfolio will help students illustrate how they critically understand concepts, models and techniques used in quality management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and in the broader Creative Industries context. [Assesses LO2].

What is patchwork?
“The essence of a patchwork is that it consists of a variety of small sections, each of which is complete in itself, and that the overall unity of these component sections, although planned in advance, is finalized retrospectively, when they are ‘stitched together’.” (Winter, 2003, p.112).

Winter, R. (2003) Contextualizing the Patchwork Text: addressing problems of coursework assessment in higher education, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 40 (2), pp. 112-122.

Formative feedback will be provided on assessment 2, which requires students to submit an outline (in week 11) and a draft (in week 13) that identifies components and issues (based on the relevant academic literature), before having to plan, research, write and submit their final report. The feedback on drafts will help identify areas where improvements and further development may be needed. This will feed forward into the submission of the individual ‘Patchwork Text’ (PT) portfolio in week 15.

Library TALIS Link:
https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/lists/55C048D6-ED2F-48B9-4118-C57BAB84B68E.html

Textbooks:

Core Textbooks:
Buswell, J., Williams, C., Donne, K. and Sutton, C. (2016) Service Quality in Leisure, Events, Tourism and Sport, 2nd Edition, CABI.

Greg Horine, G. (2017) Project Management Absolute Beginner's Guide, 4th Edition, Que Publishing.

Other Literature:

Goetsch, D. and Davis, S. (2013) Quality Management for Organizational Excellence: Introduction to Total Quality, 7th Edition, Pearson.

Mauch, P.D. (2017) Quality Management: Theory and Application, CRC Press.

Maylor, H. (2017) Project Management, 4th Edition, Pearson.

Meredith, J.R., Shafer, S.M. and Mantel, S.J. (2017) Project Management: A Strategic Managerial Approach, 10th Edition, Wiley.

Mok, C., Sparks, B. and Kadampully. J. (eds.) (2001) Service Quality Management in Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure, Abingdon: Routledge.

Pries, K.H. and Quigley, J.M. (2012) Total Quality Management for Project Management, Auerbach Publications.

Ross, J.E. (2017) Total Quality Management: Text, Cases, and Readings, 3rd Edition, New York: Routledge.

Sunil Sharma, S. (2018) Total Quality Management: Concepts, Strategy and Implementation for Operational Excellence, SAGE Publications.

Journals:
Journal of Quality Management
The TQM Journal
International Journal of Applied Quality Management
International Journal of Quality Innovation
International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences
International Journal of Project Management
Journal of Project Management

Websites:
Project Management Institute (APMBOK): https://www.pmi.org/
Association for Project Management (APM): https://www.apm.org.uk/
International Organization for Standardization: https://www.iso.org/
The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI): https://www.quality.org/
Project Management Today http://www.pmtoday.co.uk
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP): https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/hazard-analysis-and-critical-control-point-haccp
Make an HACCP food plan: https://www.gov.uk/food-safety-hazard-analysis

Other resources:
AXELOS: https://www.axelos.com/
PRINCE2 Agile: https://gds.blog.gov.uk/tag/prince2/
As available via the university Library Services and the SCONUL Access Scheme