In Preparation
HE7001 Project Management
Academic Quality and Standards Unit
University of Bolton
Module: Project Management
by Ron Hood
Code: HE7001
20 credits at level HE7
Module Type: STAN
Module Length: 1
Host Subject Group: Business & Creative Technologies
Version Number: 1.0
Description and Purpose of Module
Rationale
This module covers the important aspects of project management: project planning, project implementation and project evaluation. The management of single projects and multiple projects are considered utilising local resources. Project scheduling, project costs and risk strategies are developed in depth and illustrated with project management software.
Who can benefit?
The module will benefit project managers and the people they manage operating in both small and large organisations. An understanding of formal project management techniques is now essential in virtually all organisations particularly those that are technologically based. The module can be studied on its own or as part of a programme leading to a formal qualification.
Delivery Mode
The module delivery mode will be by distance learning on the Internet.
The module may also be delivered on campus in blended learning mode.
The module may also be delivered on remote campuses.
Aims
The aims of this module are:
- to provide an understanding of the planning and implementation of projects, involving physical, human and financial resources.
- to develop competence in project planning and provide a framework for managing project implementation in different types of organisation.
Indicative Syllabus Content
Pre-project evaluation
Concepts of project management
Tasks attributes: types, relationships, durations and contingency
Resources and their allocation: resource types and resource utilisation
Risk management: risk definition, assessment, the risk log, risk reduction
strategies, risk monitoring
Formal project management methods: networks, Gantt charts, CPM, PERT, PRINCE2
Project finance: direct costs, indirect costs, external costs, cash flow,
budgeting and reporting
Project planning: tasks, risk, contingency, resource utilisation
Project implementation: monitoring, corrective actions
Project completion
Post-project evaluation: the project review
Multiple projects: concurrent projects using shared resources
Learning, Teaching and Assessment
The module is expected to involve 200 hours of learning time spread over a period of 14 weeks. For the distance learning mode of delivery the approach is substantially student centred, with tutor support provided by e-mail and the telephone on a one-to-one basis; also peer discussion is encouraged. Typically concepts are presented in the on-line content and the student then carries out exercises that require application of the concepts studied and information obtained form both on-line and traditional sources. The exercises encourage the student to research, analyse and apply concepts to realistic situations. The module includes practical work based on professional project management software and standard project management methodologies. For on campus delivery the approach will be modified to suit a blended learning environment.
The module is assessed by two assignments, weighted 30% and 70%. Each assignment is based on realistic situations and requires the student to demonstrate competence in applying project management skills.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment Criteria |
|
when you have successfully completed this module you will be able to: |
to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcome you will: |
|
1 |
pre-evaluate the worth of a project to an organisation |
pre-evaluate a project using a standard project management methodology |
2 |
plan a single project using local resources |
plan a simple, but defined, project using project management software |
3 |
plan multiple projects, using local resources |
plan a number of projects that use shared resources using project planning software |
4 |
identify the risks associated with a project at task level and devise strategies to reduce them |
identify the risks associated with a project and develop strategies for reducing them |
5 |
manage the implementation of a project |
produce a monitoring scheme and documentation that will allow project progress to be monitored during project implementation |
6 |
post-evaluate projects using project review techniques |
produce a monitoring scheme for recoding information during project implementation to be used in a project review |
7 |
be able to competently use standard project management software |
use standard project management software to evaluate projects, produce project plans and supporting project documentation |
Assessment
Your achievement of the learning outcomes for this module will be tested as follows:
Type |
CW |
CW |
Description |
Pre-evaluate a project and produce a project plan for a defined project with local resources |
Undertake an assignment that involves managing several concurrent projects that share common resources. Project evaluation, project planning and project implementation will be covered. |
%age |
30 |
70 |
Final Assessment |
N |
N |
Learning Outcomes |
1,2,4,7 |
1,3,4,5,6,7 |
Prerequisite Module(s)
None (TBD)
Barred Combinations
N/A (TBD)
Indicative Reading
Set by Step Microsoft Office Project 2007 Carl Chatfield, Timothy Johnson, Microsoft Press, ISBN ?
Others to be added
Online sources would be recommended to students during the module delivery