Main Aim(s) of the Unit:

This unit aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the role of project management in organisations.  The unit explores the methods adopted for robust project management including techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling complex projects and the role of computing in this process.   

Main topics of study:

Projects in Contemporary Organisations:

• Definitions
• Why Project Management
• The Project Life Cycle (PLC)

Strategic Management & Project Selection:

• Project Management Maturity
• Project Selection & Criteria of Choice
• Types of Project Selection Models
• Net Present Value

The Project Manager:

• Job Description
• Job Specification
• Person Specification
• Cultural Differences

Project Organisation:

• Functional Organisation
• Pure Project Organisation
• Matrix Organisation
• Mixed Organisational Systems
• Project Teams
• The Human Factor

Project Planning:

• Initial Project Coordination
• Systems Integration
• Work Breakdown Structure
• Linear Responsibility Chart

Conflict & Negotiation:

• The Nature of Negotiation
• Partnering, Chartering, and Change
• Conflict & the PLC
• Linear Responsibility Chart
• Principles of Negotiation

Budgeting & Cost Estimation:

• Estimating Project Budgets
• Improving the Process of Cost Estimation

Scheduling & Resource Allocation:

• Background
• Network Techniques: PERT & CPM
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• The Resource Allocation Problem
• Resource Loading
• Resource Levelling
• Crashing

Monitoring & Information Systems:

• The Planning-Monitoring-Controlling Cycle
• Information Needs & the Reporting Process
• Earned Value Analysis
• Computerised Project Management Information Systems (PMIS)

Project Control:

• The Fundamental Purpose of Control
• Three Types of Control Process
• Design of Control System
• Control as a Function of Management
• Balance in a Control System
• Control of Creative Activities
• Control of Change and Scope Creep

Project Auditing:

• Purpose of Evaluation – Goals of the System
• The Project Audit
• The Project Audit Life-Cycle
• Construction and Use of the Audit Report

Project Termination:

• The Varieties of Project Termination
• When to Terminate a Project
• The Termination Process
• The Final Report – A Project History

Learning Outcomes for the Unit

At the end of this Unit, students will be able to:

1. Understand elements of the project management process
2. Contribute to the planning process for complex projects 
3. Develop a detailed plan for a complex project including analyse the resourcing requirements.
4. Identify and evaluate appropriate systems to enhance the monitoring and control of projects.

The numbers in the boxes below show which of the above unit learning outcomes are related to particular cognitive and key skills.

Learning and teaching methods/strategies used to enable the achievement of learning outcomes:

Learning takes place on a number of levels through lectures, class discussion including problem review and analysis.  Formal lectures provide a foundation of information on which the student builds through directed learning and self managed learning outside of the class.  The students are actively encouraged to form study groups to discuss course material which fosters a greater depth learning experience.

Assessment methods which enable student to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the Unit:

Examination: 3 hours duration 100%

Indicative Reading for this Unit:

Reading List

Main Text:

Project Management – A Managerial Apprach – Jack R. Meredith & Samuel J. Mantel (Wiley)

Alternative Texts and Further Reading:

Project Management – A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling & Controlling – Harold Kerzner (Wiley)
The Portable MBA in Project Management – Eric Verzuh (Wiley)

Guideline for Teaching and Learning Time (10 hrs per credit)

50 hours Lectures / Seminars / Tutorials / Workshops:
Tutorial support includes feedback on assignments and may vary by college according to local needs and wishes.

50 hours Directed learning :
Advance reading and preparation / Class preparation / Background reading / Group study / Portfolio / Diary etc

100 hours Self managed learning:
Working through the course text and completing assignments as required will take up the bulk of the learning time.  In addition students are expected to engage with the tutor and other students and to undertake further reading using the web and/or libraries.