Commercial Procurement and Contract Management
| Module title | Commercial Procurement and Contract Management |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEM3073DA |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
This module will enable you to recognise how organisations can gain competitive advantages and efficiencies in procurement by acquiring superior information flow, streamlining repetitive tasks, and reducing costs. This module will support you in exploring a range of strategies for managing cost, quality, service, and time across supply chain networks that leverage assets to deliver financial targets. You will learn to make ethical and sustainable decisions when it comes to budgeting, cash flow forecasting, risk mitigation, cost efficiencies, and other supply chain processes.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge required to fully understand the role that commercial procurement and contract management plays within the project or programme to enable the best business outcome, in both academic and employment context. This will be achieved be exploring the role and importance of being commercial, understanding and working with procurement, as well as contract management throughout the project lifecycle and how it can assist with the budget management when diligence to processes and systems are adhered to, ensuring that projects are delivered effectively to deliver the optimum outcome. You will also engage in practical, employability-orientated skill sessions focused on: commercial understanding, procurement process and procedure, importance of staying focussed on budgets and strategic outcomes, key resource allocation, understanding how to manage the risks and controls in relation to these aspects. Once completed, you will be able to recognise your own skills and the roles you can perform in ensuring that project delivery outcomes land smoothly having made ethical and sound business decisions for the business areas and stakeholders in a way that fully supports the strategy.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Evaluate how to procure goods and services in a cost effective, process driven manner. (Knowledge 8)
- 2. Critically discuss the management of projects within commercial and contractual policies, practices and relationships terms. (Knowledge 8)
- 3. Evaluate the importance of supply chain management in a project environment. (Knowledge 8)
- 4. Design how to apply the management of the procurement cycle and identify opportunities for maximising benefits through the effective establishment and management of contracts. (Knowledge 8)
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Evaluate and maintain different commercial contract and procurement types to select appropriate options for specific programmes and projects. (Skills 6)
- 6. Recommend and justify benefits of effective contract management for the achievement of programme and project outcomes. (Skills 6)
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Evaluate and be open to seeking and adopting new opportunities underpinned by commercial acumen and sound judgement. (Behaviour 5)
- 8. Recommend how to manage with integrity and take an ethical approach to develop trust with stakeholders. (Behaviour 4)
Syllabus plan
Reach satisfactory agreements with others by using negotiation techniques
- how to identify and assess the interests of all parties involved in the negotiation
- how to develop and evaluate options and alternatives to meet the needs of all parties
- how to define a mutually acceptable negotiation strategy in line with own objectives
- how to reach negotiated agreements with other parties which are in line with own objectives
Obtain the best value possible from suppliers and partners to meet project objectives.
- how to agree procurement requirements, options and processes
- how to contribute to the evaluation and selection of suppliers and partners
- how to contribute to the negotiation and agreement of contractual terms and conditions (including fixed price, cost plus fixed fee, cost plus percentage fee, target cost contracts)
- how to supervise the execution of contracts, address issues and seek redress where necessary
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 60 | 206 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled teaching and learning activity | 34 | 4 masterclass days and 4 webinars |
| Placement | 206 | Project management in the workplace - Work activities including for example project team meetings, discussions, stakeholder engagement, project planning and implementation |
| Guided Independent study | 60 | Reading, research, web based activities on ELE |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Produce an annotated bibliography focussed on the different types of contracts and the underpinning principles of contract law, as relevant to project management. | 1000 words | 2-6 | Verbal with peers in master class |
| Prepare a table of what might need to be considered in deciding whether you make, build or buy externally business solutions. | Equivalent to 1000 words | 1-6 | Written in ELE |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study with Executive Report | 50 | 3000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Voice over presentation | 50 | Equivalent of 2000 words with 15 minute (+/-10%) narrative. | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study with Executive Report | Case Study with Executive Report - Written 3000 words | 1-8 | 6 weeks |
| Voice over presentation | Voice over presentation - Equivalent of 2000 words with 15 minute (+/-10%) narrative. | 1-8 | 6 weeks |
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 (ie a final overall module mark of less than 40%) 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 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Dittmann K, Dirbanis K, & Meier T (2021) Project Management (IPMA) Study Guide for Level D and Basic Certification (GPM), Haufe Lexware
- Merrow, EW (2023) Contract Strategies for Major Projects: Mastering the Most Difficult Element of Project Management, John Wiley & Sons Inc
- Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management Harlow, Essex, Pearson Educations Ltd
- Burke, R. and Barron, S. (2014) Project Management Leadership: Building Creative Teams , J Wiley and Sons
- Newton, R. (2006) Project Management Step by Step, How to Plan and Manage a Highly Successful Project, Pearson Education Ltd
- Kersten Mik (2019 Project to Product: How Value Stream Networks will transform IT and Business: How to survive and thrive in the age of Digital Disruption with the flow, IT Revolution Press
- Smart, Jonathan (2022) Sooner, Safer, Happier: Antipatterns and patterns for Business Agility, IT Revolution Press
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- IPMA Level D Qualification | APM Exams
- Association of Project Management http://www.apm.org.uk/
- ISO 9000 http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_9000
- Prince 2 http://www.prince-officialsite.com/
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) https://scaledagileframework.com/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Bamber, M., Parry S (2018) Accounting and finance for managers: a decision-making approach 2nd edition, New York: Kogan Page (ISBN: 9780749481148)
- Callahan, K.R., Stetz, G.S., Brooks, L.M. (2011) Project Management Accounting: Budgeting, Tracking, and Reporting Costs and Profitability Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons Inc (ISBN: 9786613176158)
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 18/04/2023 |
