KA7064 - People in Project Management

The module will adopt an integrated approach to learning and teaching. This will include a programme of formal scheduled teaching and a constructively aligned programme of academic staff-guided independent learning. You will examine selected concepts and theories related to how groups operate in organisations during formally scheduled instruction. You will also study specific chapters of the essential reading textbooks, complete applied tasks, critique case studies and watch online video presentations.

Academic staff will provide guidance, 1-2-1 support (where possible), or use interactive asynchronous online peer support forums on the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) to support you in your studies. Academic staff will use guided independent learning activities, e.g., directed reading. You will supplement this structured support with independent learning activities.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Define and evaluate selected key theories and concepts associated with the main characteristics and processes of teams, the issues facing teams and the organisational context of teams.
2. Critically appraise selected key theories and techniques associated with the groups and teams in an organisation, organisational structures and management processes.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:
3. Empowered with the knowledge, skills and abilities to create, participate in and effectively lead real and virtual project-orientated teams.
4. Critically review the literature on team dynamics, management and organisational behaviour and engage with what others have written through evaluative discourse.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Exhibit the professional ethics characteristics of a Northumbria University postgraduate student. You will have the opportunity to reflect on how these are related to your own values and thus review your personal professional development plan.

Formative Assessment
Academic staff on the module will assess you in a formative manner to help build your confidence and highlight any misunderstandings you may have of the theoretical and professional concepts presented in the module. Your formative feedback will be given to you either verbally by academic staff on the module during formally-scheduled teaching sessions or digitally using the University’s VLE. Your formative feedback aims to help you learn and prepare for the submission of your summative assessment.

Summative Assessment
Academic staff on the module will assess you in a summative manner by two pieces of inter-related coursework. Academic staff on the module will use Coursework 2 to evaluate your ability to satisfy all the module’s learning outcomes. You will use the University’s VLE to submit your coursework. Academic staff on the module will use digital feedback tools to issue your feedback for Coursework 2. Coursework 1 is the peer review of your draft Coursework 2.

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Of all the variables that contribute to the success or failure of projects, the most neglected one, and therefore in need of the most attention, is the project team itself. The module aims to provide a clear and concise overview of the key concepts and theories of project, social and organisation psychology about effective project team dynamics. Of equal importance, the module will also explore the key concepts and theories associated with management and organisational behaviour which influence people and project-orientated team working. Grounded in the social, management and organisation sciences, but with an underlying practice-based focus on effective team working, the module will enable you to understand and participate in and effectively lead real and virtual project-orientated teams.