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Project Management Fundamentals

Module description

Project Management has become an integral part of practically every firm’s business models and our daily life activities. Given that this domain has become a complex management challenge today, this module aims to provide you with an opportunity to explore the holistic, realistic, and socio-technical view of project management. It offers an overview of the entire project lifecycle, covering project scope and objectives, budgeting, timescale, team development, and resources priotisation. You’ll learn the key principles and themes of building a successful project from conception, implementation, to evaluation and closure, as well as how to overcome business problems and challenges within different project lifecycles. Specifically, you will gain an appreciation for the role that projects play within your organisation and how they contribute to the development, delivery, and impact of organisational strategies in the long run.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is designed to provide you with a broad understanding of the fundamental management principles of technology, people, culture, stakeholders, and other diverse elements necessary to successfully complete a project. It will sharpen your knowledge and skills in leadership, team building, conflict resolution, negotiation, and influence in equal measure with technical skill set. In particular, you will learn various project management tools and processes from traditional project management activities such as project initiation, project planning, project execution, and project termination, to contemporary and inclusive perspectives on project management in modern times.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Explain project management theories and concepts, terminologies, and methodologies.
• 2. Discuss emerging tools, processes, techniques, and practices in project management.
• 3. Critically analyse contemporary project management issues and their implications.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Develop and manage projects using different planning frameworks.
• 5. Measure and monitor project performance.
• 6. Critically evaluate the impact of project management on the firm and wider global environment.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Effectively utilise information and data in project management to support organisational decision making.
• 8. Reflect upon recent changes in the global environment and how this may impact on how projects are developed and managed in future.

Syllabus plan

Typical topics to be included on this module will include:

• Modern Project Management
• Organisational Strategy and Project Selection
• Defining the Project
• Estimating Project Times and Costs
• Developing a Project Schedule
• Managing Project Resources
• Managing Project Teams
• Managing Interorganisational Relations
• Project Monitoring and Information Systems
• Project Progress and Performance Evaluation
• Project Auditing
• Project Closure
• Agile Project Management
• International Projects

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Larson, E., and Gray, C. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process (8th ed). McGraw-Hill.
• Kerzner, H. (2022). Project Management:  A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (13th ed). Wiley.
• Pinto, J. (2019). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage (5th ed). Pearson.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• Association of Project Management: www.apm.org.uk
• Project Management Institute: www.pmi.org

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• APM. (2019). APM Body of Knowledge (7th ed). Association for Project Management.
• PMI. (2021). PMBOK® Guide(7th ed). Project Management Institute.
• Hinde, D. (2018). PRINCE2 Study Guide. Orgtopia.
   

Key words search

Project management, project life cycle, project stage, project manager, project governance, project control