module specification

This module is a 15 credit option module on the Undergraduate Scheme.

Increasingly managers at all levels of an organisation are required to manage projects, temporary endeavours undertaken to create a unique product or service. This module uses the Association of Project Management Body of Knowledge (APMBOK), https://www.apm.org.uk/body-of-knowledge/  - and therefore prepares students in the capabilities required for effective project management: managing resources, time, people, and the project as a whole. The module includes both the use of computer programmes for project management and approaches to managing people and leading and motivating teams.

Aims of the module:
The module will equip the student with an understanding of the complexities of managing projects in an uncertain world. The student will become familiar with the project business case, the detailed planning and the use of ‘WBS’ and the ’OBS’, resources issues and their management, the timeline, budgeting and cash flow as well as the eventual monitoring and control of the project through methods of tracking and monitoring. The student will study methods of managing people in the project with appropriate models of leadership, team behaviours and motivation and methods of conflict management and resolution.

Level 4 or 5 module involving quantitative methods.

The student will learn:
• To break down the planning of a project LO1
• To build a ‘Work Breakdown Structure’ (WBS) in computer software LO1
• To add resources and various fixed costs to tasks in the WBS LO1
• To control the timeline, the resources, the cash flow and the budgeting LO1
• To control calendars so as to work with multinational, multicultural projects LO1
• To track a project and to control it through monitoring and taking timely remedial actions LO2
• To consider and to control and evaluate issues of risk and uncertainty LO2
• To build effective project teams, their motivation and control and how to deal with conflict and the importance of communications in the process LO2
• To optimise resource levels and usage in large projects LO2
• To crash project duration on a cost benefit basis LO2
• To understand the limitations of project management theory LO2

The module will consist of a one hour lecture each week to introduce new topics and themes and a two hour seminar. Seminars will be computer and class based and will require students to practice case study materials and activities including video materials relating to the lecture topics.

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

1. To appraise the life cycle of project planning, control and monitoring processes using Microsoft Project or similar software on live case study materials involving risk and uncertainty. 

2. Evaluate models of control, motivation and leadership to project management and assess the theory behind project management.  Rate goals, scope, priorities and procedures for the management of projects including an assessment of the limitations of the business case.

The module will be assessed by a case study based coursework (50%) using the computer software and an unseen (2 hour) in class assessment (50%) towards the end of the module. The module will be assessed using a “pass on aggregate” basis.

The coursework will place emphasis on reporting, tracking and resource and cost allocations and control.  The in class test  will concentrate on the theoretical background to project management covering topics such as crashing, Gantt charts, the business case, how projects ‘fit’ in organisations, uncertainty and various behavioural areas about motivation and team leadership and control.

Textbooks:
Core Text:
Maylor, H, 2010 Project Management, Financial Times/ Prentice Hall, 4th Revised Media edition (includes MS Project CD, 60 days personal use); ISBN-10: 027370432X  ISBN-13: 978-0273704324  (Note: The new 5th Edition from Pearson is due out on Jan 2018 - ISBN-10: 1292088435, ISBN-13: 978-1292088433)
Other Texts:
Kerzner, H, 2017: Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, John Wiley & Sons; ISBN-10: 1119165350, ISBN-13: 978-1119165354, 12th Edition
D Lock and R Wagner, 2016: Gower Handbook of Programme Management, Routledge; ISBN-10: 1472445775, ISBN-13: 978-1472445773
Marchewka, J, 2015: Information Technology Project Management: Providing Measurable Organizational Value, John Wiley & Sons; 5th Revised edition; ISBN-10: 1118911016, ISBN-13: 978-1118911013
Meredith, Jack R., 2015: Project Management - A Managerial Approach, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 9th Ed (older editions included MS Project CD for personal use, 60 days); ISBN-10: 1118945832, ISBN-13: 978-1118945834
Snyder, C, C, 2016: Project 2016 for Dummies, John Wiley and Sons Ltd; ISBN-10: 1119224519, ISBN-13: 978-1119224518
Journals:
Through your library username/password required
Harvard business manager from 01/10/2001 to present in Nexis UK
Harvard business review from 01/10/1922 to present in Business Source Premier

Websites:
Project Management Today http://www.pmtoday.co.uk
Project Management Institute http://www.pmi.org   for APMBOK
Association for PM  http://www.apm.org.uk
International PM Journal http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-project-management/ 
Prince2, government source https://gds.blog.gov.uk/tag/prince2/

Other
For information on and trail copy of MS Project Pro for Office 365:
https://products.office.com/en-us/Project/project-pro-for-office-365

This module is supported by WebLearn – students are advised to access the site on a regular basis, at least once a week. Lecture notes, module booklet are pdf Word or pdf Powerpoint files on WebLearn and/or on the student K: shared drive under the module code BA6052