BM9615 - Project Management

What will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will learn about the role of a project and project manager in organisations and the concepts and techniques required to manage the core aspects of a project.

The main topics covered include the core knowledge areas outlined in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) published by Project Management Institute (PMI) as well as essential fundamental theories, knowledge, and techniques required to manage a project in contemporary business settings.

These topics include:
• Defining project characteristics, lifecycle, and activities.
• Understanding how projects drive change and achieve strategic goals in organisations.
• Realising the role of the project and project manager in various organisational structures and cultures.
• Managing core project aspects, such as stakeholder relationships, scope, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Distinguishing traditional, agile, and extreme project management approaches.

Drawing on contemporary project management research and business case studies, this module will develop your knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing projects and your learning with take place though lectures and practical IT workshops. Your learning will expose you to a wide range of project management examples (successful and unsuccessful) and project management approaches (classic and contemporary) to broaden your understanding of project management in a dynamic business setting. You will be given opportunities to work as a team and develop essential project management documents for a chosen project.

On completing this module, you will be able to utilise appropriate project management techniques and technical skills to effectively and efficiently manage different projects and you will be able to critically challenge the assumptions and existing practices in project management.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a combination of formal sessions (lectures, IT workshops, and webinars), tutor-directed study, and independent reading. The lectures, IT workshops, and webinars will be highly interactive and will draw upon the directed learning undertaken, your own project management-related experiences and discipline expertise of the academic team. The lectures will cover essential project management concepts, theories, and techniques that will enable you to develop and manage a project in contemporary business settings. The IT workshop and webinar sessions will facilitate hand-on practices with the project management methods and techniques covered. These interactive sessions will centre on high levels of participation, both individually and within your team. The webinars will allow further contact with members of the teaching team to discuss various topics within the module as well as the formative and summative assessment. There will be additional reading and online resources listed on the module’s e-learning portal (eLP) that will permit you to undertake further critical and independent inquiries. Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject. You will identify and pursue areas of interest within the project management discipline, to inform the writing of your individual report. Critical reflection on knowledge, experience, and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy on this module will develop into an individual report as part of the module’s summative assessment.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by the module tutor who is an academic lead for the module. The academic team will deliver lectures, IT workshops, and webinars. The lectures will introduce you to core concepts, theories, and principles related to project management. The IT workshops will be in small teams so that there are opportunities for exploring the subject matter in detail with both the academic staff and your fellow students, further supported through questions and answers sessions with members of the module teaching team via the weekly webinar. You will also make use of contemporary project management software (such as Microsoft Project) for planning, development, and managing your project. A comprehensive eLP site will store the materials needed for the lectures and IT workshops, alongside a week-by-week learning and teaching plan to guide you through the module. There is an electronic reading list indicating the core texts with cover the essential project management concepts, alongside reference to various recommended project management-related journals and business and management databases, which you should access as the module progresses. Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module through IT workshop discussion and reflection, further supported by the weekly webinar. You will give and receive feedback from your tutors and fellow students. This will provide you with formative feedback on your project idea and will help you to develop your summative assessment.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Demonstrate your understanding of a range of classic and contemporary theories and research on project management. [MLO1]
• Demonstrate your understanding of a range of project management techniques to manage a project in contemporary business settings. [MLO2]

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Develop effective interpersonal communication skills and the ability to use a range of project management techniques and technologies. [MLO3]
• Develop and IT-based suite of documentation as part of a project management team [MLO4]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Reflect on the professional and ethical values as a practitioner in the project management discipline. [MLO5]

How will I be assessed?

You will receive formative feedback from tutors on your project idea, individual report, and project management documents. This will involve face-to-face feedback and will take place during the IT workshops, where you will also be able to share your project idea and documents with fellow students. The weekly webinar will also provide further opportunities for academic and peer discussion and formative feedback.

The summative assessments are (i) a 2,000 project management report (individual-based and weighted 70%) and (ii) a package of project management documents (team-based and weighted 30%). Guidance on the development of your individual report and project management documents will be given during the lectures, IT workshops, and webinars.

The individual summative assessment (70% weighted) will cover module learning outcomes MLO1-MLO3 and MLO5, with the team based component covering MLO4 in addition.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Globalisation and huge advances in technology have created opportunities for organisations – but they’ve also exposed them to threats and
challenges. Effective project management can be a key tool for ensuring that organisations adapt to a fast-changing environment. It also
supports the delivery of improved products, services and processes, and allows for the successful execution of organisational strategy.
What’s more, effective project managers are crucial to organisations seeking to successfully achieve their performance objectives.

This module seeks to develop you as a project management practitioner. You’ll acquire knowledge and skills to plan and manage various
aspects of a project, such as its stakeholder relationships, scope, cost, schedule and risk, and in doing so will enhance your employability.
Working as a team, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a specific project and use advanced IT software to
manage a project more effectively. You’ll write up your experience, evaluation and reflection in an individual report for the module
assessment, achieved thorough research tutored and enquiry-based learning.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 18 months Full Time

Start Level 5: March, September Level 6: June, December

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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