module specification

The concept behind this module is that it provides an understanding of project management tools, techniques and responsibilities in order to run a project from initiation through to successful completion.  The module uses case study material in order to allow students to formulate plans for the introduction of a web-based application in a business environment. Students’ will work as a team to develop a prototype web-based application using web authoring tools and scripting languages.

Topics will be introduced through the medium of formal lectures, supported by tutorial and workshop sessions, and blended learning as follows:
- Lecture (1 hour / week):
Introduction of the major topics identified in the syllabus, plus for practical exercises, directed reading and other further study
- Tutorial/ Workshop (2 hour / week):
Consolidating understanding of topics introduced in the lecture via class and group discussions, informal presentations and other activities in the tutorial sessions.
Data analytic skills will be further developed through lab-based workshops.
- Blended learning:
Using the University’s VLE and online tools to deliver content, assessment and feedback, to encourage active learning, and to enhance student engagement and learning experience.
Students will be expected and encouraged to produce reflective commentaries and an action plan for personal development on the learning activities and tasks that they carry out to complete their work, e.g. in the form of an assessed section of their coursework report/essay

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
LO 1: Use key project management tools and techniques, e.g. Gantt chart, network diagrams, critical path analysis, cost-benefit analysis, earned value, work breakdown structure, risk analysis and management
LO 2: Understand a number of system development methods and analysis techniques, and make an appropriate selection for a given context
LO 3: Make a realistic plan in teams, with timings and costings, for a project
LO 4: Monitor the progress of a project plan, and be able to recommend corrective actions if necessary
LO 5: Identify and evaluate risks associated with a project plan, identify and evaluate suitable containment actions and contingency plans, monitor risk
LO 6: Identify stakeholders and make a coherent analysis of their needs and engage them in the development process.
LO 7: Develop a prototype web-based application that meets the client requirements stated in the case study.

The assessment method consists of four assessed components. Coursework 1 assignment (Interim Report) and coursework 2 assignment (Final Report), Coursework 3 Prototype Web-based, Coursework 4 Weekly in class test (week 2 to week 26). All coursework except the weekly in class test will be teamwork but assessed as individual work.

Students need to be assessed on their ability to absorb and apply theoretical material.  Additionally, students need to be assessed on their ability to demonstrate practical proficiency of a software environment.  The learning outcomes encompass both theoretical and practical aspects and the assessment strategy reflects both these elements.

The assessment strategy ensures that students can demonstrate practical knowledge that they will have acquired during workshop sessions, with the use of a practical coursework element which will include the use of appropriate software.  The assessment strategy also allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of the wider subject area, e.g. risk analysis, team management, cost-benefit analysis, resource allocation and scheduling, system installation etc. by means of a weekly in class test.  The assessment strategy also allows students as a team to demonstrate that they can translate a plan into a prototype web based application and apply relevant evaluation techniques to recommend improvements, but students will be assessed as individuals.
An in class test will be available via Weblearn for reassessment, this will consist of a range of questions covering topics that students covered during weeks 2 to 26.

Textbooks:

Core Text:

Beynon-Davies, P., 2013, Information Systems, Palgrave, ISBN 978-1-137-26580-7
Burke, R. (2003 or subsequent editions) Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques, 4th edition. Wiley, Chichester. [CORE]
Sharp H, Rogers Y and Preece J, (2015) Interaction Design: Beyond Human-computer Interaction. John Wiley & Sons; 4th Edition. [CORE]
Paul Bocij, Andrew Greasley, Simon Hickie (2015) Business Information Systems : technology, development and management for the e-business. [CORE]
Cadle J & Yeates D (2001) Project Management for Information Systems, 3rd Edition, Prentice-Hall.

Other Texts

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.
JAMSA, K. (2014). Introduction to Web development using HTML 5. Jones and Bartlett Learning. [CORE]
Castiro, E., Hyslop, B., & Castiro, E. (2012). HTML5 and CSS3: visual quickstart guide. Berkeley, CA, Peachpit Press.
Shneiderman, Ben (2010) Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer interaction. 5th ed. Pearson Education,
Heim, Steven G (2008) The resonant interface: HCI foundations for interaction design, Boston: Pearson/Addison Wesley.

Journals: Taylor and Francis online journals

Websites: Lynda.com, W3C Schools

Electronic Databases: ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore/IET Digital Library