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Event Management

Module description

Every sport, and related organisation, whether in the public (government), private (commercial), voluntary (third) sectors, will be involved in the management and planning of projects /events. Having the skills to plan and implement such activities in professional teams and in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, can enhance your employability for future careers. This module allows you to be part of a ‘live’ (including remote/online alternatives) event organising committee which will deliver a real sport event or related event/project. You will get to directly experience the impact of your contribution and decision-making upon a range of associated stakeholders through the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a real event/project.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will enable you to be competent to plan and deliver a live event/project (including online/remote alternatives) as part of an organising committee. You will gain the knowledge and understanding of event/project management principles and associated transferable skills. Events and projects within sport and wider industries are diverse. Whilst the aims and objectives differ the basic premise behind successful event/project planning, organisation, implementation, and evaluation is similar. Concepts of group (committee) formation, role allocation, team leadership and management, feasibility (SMART objectives/ target markets), GANNT chart planning, PR/marketing (consumer demands/ market competition/ branding), budgeting, financial management, risk assessment and associated health and safety, customer satisfaction, logistics (scheduling/ ancillary provision / stewarding), are explored. This is analysed alongside operational aspects of managing projects and working with teams and stakeholders responding to conflict, contingency and change management. The module culminates with a post event/project evaluation.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module, you are expected to develop the following skills:

• Identify and apply appropriate event planning, organisational skills in the delivery of a live event / project.
• Produce a feasibility plan and execute the plan to successful delivery of a live event/project.
• Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate a capacity to professionally initiate, negotiate and service commercial and social contracts with peers, industry /community partners or local organisations and responding to change / conflict and contingency planning.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the event/project including customer/consumer/ stakeholder satisfaction and self-reflection on own contribution.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Analyse and apply a range of academic and professional information related to the planning, organisation, and feasibility of a live event or project
• 2. Determine and demonstrate the principles and operational aspects of planning, organisation, implementation and evaluation of a live event or project

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Apply concepts of GANNT chart planning, production of SMART objectives, budgeting, risk assessments, logistics and marketing & PR strategies to a live event/project
• 4. Evaluate success of an event/project, responding to consumers / stakeholders needs, satisfaction and feedback

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Discuss and explore concepts of managing live events/projects within professional group contexts (eg teamwork, role allocation, satisfying stakeholder needs/ change/contingency planning and conflict)
• 6. Demonstrate competency in academic and professional communication with others, including internal/ external stakeholders
• 7. Undertake routine and non-routine tasks required for the planning, organisation, delivery, and evaluation of a live project/event
• 8. Apply evaluative and self-reflective techniques to planning, organising and delivering an event/ project.

Syllabus plan

Illustrative content which may be subject to change:

• Definitions /scope of sports events & projects (from global/mega to local/community / MICE etc)
• Event/project management planning & feasibility covering:
  • Event committee/ organisation / role allocation / team management
  • Aim/objectives / targets
  • Stakeholders / sponsors / contractual agreements
  • Project management (eg GANNT charts etc)
  • Logistics: venues/ facilities /equipment/ uniform/other resources
  • Schedule/programming (including set up/strike down & event format eg tournament/conference structures etc)
  • Health & safety / legislation
  • Hospitality / catering / ancillary provision
  • Volunteers /staffing
  • Event finance/budgeting
  • Event promotion/marketing (branding / consumer targets/needs)
  • Contingency planning
  • Conflict management
• Event/ project delivery
  • Set up
  • Delivery
  • Monitor and respond to stakeholder needs / customer/consumer satisfaction
  • Strike down
• Post event evaluation & reflection
  • Financial closure
  • Feedback
  • Reflection

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

It is not logistically possible for students to be re-assessed with a new live (or online/remote alternative) event, therefore the re-sit assessment is modified to include an individual Outline Feasibility Plan and a Self-reflection on event/project management.

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 resubmit the assessment/s as required. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

The re-assessment reverts from group to individual for both aspects for logistical reasons of the live event / project aspects of the module.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Bowdin, G.A.J. and Bowdin, G.A.J. (2023) Events management. Fourth edition / Glenn A.J. Bowdin [and five others]. London: Routledge
• Dowson, R. & Bassett, D. (2018) Event planning and management: a practical handbook for PR and events professionals. 2^nd edn. London: Kogan Page
• Getz, D. (2018) Event evaluation theory and methods for event management and tourism. Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers Ltd
• Goldblatt, J.J. (2014) Special Events: a new generation and the next frontier 7th ed. New York: John
• Jones, M. (2017) Sustainable Event Management: A Practical Guide. Third edition. United Kingdom: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315439723.
• Nadda, V., Arnott, I. and Sealy, W. (2020) Legal, Safety, and Environmental Challenges for Event Management: Emerging Research and Opportunities. 1st edn. Hershey: IGI Global. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-3230-0.
• O’Toole, W. (2021) Events feasibility and development: from strategy to operations. 2^nd edn. Routledge
• Parent, M.M. and Chappelet, J.-L. (2015) Routledge Handbook of Sports Event Management. 1st edn. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203798386.
• Shone, A. (2013) Successful Event Management, A Practical Handbook. Fourth edition. Cengage Learning.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – Faculty to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• AEME
• CIMSPA
• International Journal of Event and Festival Management
• Event Management
• International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management
• Journal of Sport Management 
• Leisure Studies 
• Managing Leisure 
• International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics

Key words search

Event management, project management, feasibility planning, live events