module specification

SM5088 - Digital Project Management (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Digital Project Management
Module level Intermediate (05)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Computing and Digital Media
Total study hours 150
 
30 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
75 hours Guided independent study
45 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Group Presentation 40%   Presentation of a pitch to a fictitious client (duration 20 minutes)
Coursework 60%   A Project Management Production Report (2500 words)
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Autumn semester North Tuesday Afternoon

Module summary

This module is designed to enable students to appreciate and implement digital project management practices and tools, emphasizing the use of AI in creative and production processes. It covers a broad spectrum of topics essential for managing digital media projects, such as AI's role in enhancing creativity and efficiency, team dynamics, client interaction, outsourcing strategies, and asset coordination.

Students will be introduced to the planning and production lifecycle, with a particular attention to project management methods and the use of project management tools, including GenAI technologies. Students will acquire the skills necessary to evaluate critical aspects of digital project management issues. They will learn to effectively plan, organize, and execute projects, and learn digital and management skills which would then be applicable to their area of professional interest in media, cultural or creative industries or in industry more generally. The module offers hands-on experience in design team roles, allowing students to align their learning with their industry specialisations. This educational experience aims to equip future professionals with a deep understanding of digital project management in the creative industries, preparing them to manage innovative projects with confidence and expertise.

The module aims follow from the description, specifically:

- To enable students to evaluate digital media project management best practice.
- To allow students to experience design team roles according to their industry specialism.
- To enable students to plan and organise the production of a digital media project with relevant tools.
- To critically analyse the role of AI and other project management tools in project management.
- To enable students to take on various roles within a design team, allowing them to apply their knowledge in an industry relevant assessment.

Syllabus

1. The role of the project manager and product manager in digital media productions.
2. Project management methods in digital media productions: Agile, SCRUM and Waterfall.
3. Project Management tools and the role of AI in project management.
4. The digital media production lifecycle, scheduling and planning.
5. Digital media teams: skills and roles.
6. Team management and team communication.
7. Manging the relationship with clients.
8. Hardware and software requirements for a digital media artefact.
9. Digital Media Asset Management.
10. Copyright, IP and legal issues.
11. Risk Assessment and Crisis management.
12. Quality assurance and project closure.

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

This module will be delivered through a combination of modes of delivery, including formal lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual coursework. The mixed-mode module delivery will be used to encourage a supportive environment for individual and peer-group learning. A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE: Weblearn) will be used as a platform to support online activities including evaluation of online resources, access to materials and electronic reading packs. The VLE will also be used to facilitate assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

- Analyse and address the role of digital project management of clients’ briefs (LO1).
- Apply teamwork in digital media project management (L02).
- Produce a project management plan for a digital media production (LO3).
- Appreciate legal and copyright issues in digital media projects (LO4).
- Integrate AI and project management tools into the project management lifecycle (LO5).

Bibliography