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Project Management and Decision Making

Module description

The Project Management & Decision Making module enables apprentices to undertake the key stages of the project lifecycle. Define, Design and develop a framework to Deliver (Do) a professional project addressing a work based issue decided by the apprentice and agreed by the workplace. This model sets the foundation for the delivery (Do) and review (Develop) of a work based project in the final module of the programme (Organisational Research Project). This module is designed to specifically address the project based CMI standard references contributing to the End Point Assessment Process.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to provide the apprentices with the opportunity to develop a project within their own organisational context through the application of learning gained from Leading and Managing People (Module 1) and Operational and Organisational Strategy (Module 2). This module brings together the knowledge of their own area of professional practice and asks them to offer a detailed discussion of a problematic area and locate it within the wider professional and academic context. Through developing a deeper understanding of the organisational context, apprentices will identify the value of the application of the learning to the organisation/workplace. Apprentices are expected to demonstrate the ability to diagnose an organisational issue and to present this issue in a coherent manner and to draw conclusions from their reading and personal analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the key stages of a project and how a project moves through planning, design, development, deployment and evaluation. Identify key project outcomes, developing and implementing plans to ensure that these are achieved (B1, B4)
• 2. Initiate, lead and drive change within a specific area of own organisation, identifying barriers/challenges and presenting strategies to overcome these. (A1, B6)
• 3. How to undertake research, data analysis, problem solving & decision-making techniques (L1)
• 4. How to manage time, set goals, prioritise activities and undertake forward planning in a business environment with a focus on outcomes (K1)
• 5. Risk management models and reporting, risk benefit analysis and health and safety implications. (B2)

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 6. Evaluate risk management models and review own organisation's approach to the identification and monitoring of risk. Proactively identify risk and create plans for their mitigation (A1, B5)

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 7. Produce reports that clearly present information and data, using a range of interpretation and analytical processes. Gain wide support to deliver successful outcomes. (A5, B4)
• 8. Different forms of communication (written, verbal non-verbal, digital) and how to apply them. Communicate clearly, effectively and regularly using oral, written and digital channels and platforms (F1, F4)

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

All passed components of the module will be rolled forward and will not be reassessed in the event of module failure.

Defer – as first time

Refer – capped at 40%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Maylor, H. (2017). Project Management (4th ed.). Pearson Education.

Costley, C. (2010). Doing Work Based Research: Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers (1st ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Thomas, G. (2013). How to Do Your Research Project: A Guide for Students in Education and Applied Social Sciences (Second ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P. R. (2012). Management Research (Fourth ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Gill, J., & Johnson, P. (2010). Research Methods for Managers (Fourth ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Whitehead, J. A., & McNiff, J. (2006). Action Research: Living Theory (1st ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research Methods for Business Students. Prentice Hall.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

CMI - Management Direct - an online management resource portal. Management Direct allows managers at any level to learn, research and think. It offers fast, 24-hour access to the latest digital content to help overcome hundreds of managerial challenges from absence to performance to change: 5 minute, 20 minute and extended briefings; Creative tools for problem solving; Hundreds of checklists and interactive scenarios to aid self-directed learning; Self-Assessments and automatic CPD recording/reporting; Document templates and best practice guides.

Key words search

Project management and Decision Making, CMDA