Project Management

Module overview

This module covers the important aspects of project management: project evaluation, project planning, project implementation, and the project review.

The management of single projects and multiple projects are considered, utilising both local and distributed resources. Project scheduling, project costs and risk strategies are developed in depth.

Formal project management methodologies are covered, such as PERT, CPM and PRINCE2®.

Extensive exercises using Microsoft Project 2007 are an integral feature of the module. However this module is not intended to be a course on how to use Microsoft Project, but on completion of the module you will be proficient in its use.

You should have access to Microsoft Project 2007 Professional to undertake the exercises and complete the assignments in this module.

Module Contents

• A Suggested Study Plan

• A Suggested Method of Study

• Assignments

• Suggested Reading

• Author Profile

• Acknowledgements

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A Suggested Study Plan

The study plan is meant to help you organise your studies. You do not have to stick to it rigorously.

If you do follow the study plan you should complete the module and submit your assignments on time.

Unit	Unit Description	Exercises	Assessments	Value
1	Introduction to Project Management	Getting started with MSP	Assignment Information
2	Task types and task relationships	Simple project plan using MSP
3	Human and physical resources	Resource and Tasks in MSP	Start Assignment 1	30%
4	Risk management & contingency	Project Risks and the Risk Log	Continue Ass1
5	Project Planning	Project Planning: a single project	Continue Ass1
6	PERT	PERT in MSP	Submit Assignment 1
7	CPM	CPM in MSP
8	PRINCE2	Plan a new product development	Start Assignment 2	70%
9	Project Finance	Project cash flow in MSP	Continue Ass 2
10	Project implementation	Monitoring progress in MSP	Continue Ass 2
11	The project review	Project Documentation in MSP & PRINCE2®	Continue Ass 2
12	Managing Multiple Projects with local resources	Multiple project consolidation: local resources	Continue Ass 2
13	Module Summary	Project Sign Off	Continue Ass 2
	Finalise Assignment 2	None	Continue Ass 2
	Finalise Assignment 2	None	Submit assignment 2

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A Suggested Method of Study

If you have not studied online in distance learning mode before you should realise that you have to study the module material AND organise your studies.

The study plan we have suggested should help you organise your studies. Feel free to adapt it to your needs and preferences.

In contrast to traditional study methods all the courseware for the module is available to you from the outset of your studies.

We suggest that:

• You have an initial look at all the module material in the first week of your studies to get a feel for what is expected of you

• Check in the study plan when you are required to submit assignments- make a note of these dates in your diary

• Make sure that you have access to Microsoft Project 2007 in the first week of your studies

• Create a folder structure on your computer to hold all your exercise files- see exercise 1

• Create a folder structure on your computer to hold all your assignment files- see exercise 1

• Be prepared to refer to course materials as required- not just in the unit you are studying

• Be prepared to use material from other sources, such as the Internet and books, etc

• If you need help email your tutor, making sure to identify yourself and the module you are studying

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Assignments

There are 2 assignments in the module and you have to undertake and submit them both.

Assignment one is intended to allow your tutor to check your progress and identify any problems you are having early in your studies.

Your tutor will provide you with your grade and feedback well before you are expected to submit assignment 2.

When you undertake assignment 2 refer to the feedback you received for assignment 1 and use it to improve your grade for assignment 2, if possible.

Start your assignments, in outline form, as early as possible, do not wait to near the submission dates.

If you start the assignments early you will be able to use the course material and external material to bring all the materials together as a coherent whole.

Treat the assignments like a series of linked exercise that you will be assessed on.

Make sure you reference any material you obtain from external sources in your assignments.

More details on the module assignments

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Suggested Reading

Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK Guide		Project Management Institute	9781933890517
Step by Step Office Project 2007	Carl Chatfield, et al	Microsoft Press	None available
Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 Manual		PRINCE2 Book Store	9780113310609

The books in the above list are suggestions only, none of the books is essential reading for studying this module.

We recommend that you obtain copies of the books to see if you find them useful before you, or your organisation, purchases them.

Don't feel restricted to the above list, it is always interesting and useful to obtain different perspectives on project management from a variety of sources.

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Last update: 15/06/11 by: RA & RJH This material is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Licence.