MSc Management of Projects

The project organisation is a nexus of conflicts between individuals, teams and organisations which require resolution for the successfully delivery of projects. Successful resolution mandates negotiation. Students will develop skills in negotiation and conflict resolution in three specific domains relevant to project organisation; when implementing change, deal-making for sale or supply and when things go wrong or need to change in contractual relationships. These are all scenarios which students will quickly find themselves in when starting employment in any projectized workplace. Therefore being primed with an understanding of the nature of these conflicts and some skills will enable them to participate in, influence and eventually lead in such situations. Delivery will be by short video lectures and in-person lectures with an emphasis on practical activities. Practitioners in the three domains will also present their practical experience and will be able to demonstrate application of the theories used.

Topics covered:  

• Conflict and disputes in project organisation
• Negotiation theory and practice 
• Negotiation for Change management 
• Negotiation for Deal-making 
• Negotiation for contract change and dispute
•  Alternative dispute resolution 

The unit aims to: Develop a critical understanding of contexts for conflict and negotiation in project organisation, specifically change management, deal making and contractual dispute, with a focus on management and avoidance.

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1: Explain conflict and dispute issues necessitating negotiation in project management and project organisation.

ILO 2: Apply theories of human behaviour to understand the nature of intra- and intergroup conflicts in project organisation.

ILO 3: Demonstrate negotiation skills to engage stakeholders during organisational change processes.

ILO 4: Design strategies for negotiating commercial deals to ensure mutual benefit and delivery of project requirements.

ILO 5: Develop ADR processes and apply negotiation tactics to avoid litigation and maintain project relationships.

ILO 6: Create resolutions to conflicts that generate value and commitment from all parties.

- Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution.
- Conflict management, conflict theory.
- Evaluate the factors that influence Negotiation.
- Evaluate the techniques used for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
- Discuss and evaluate the concepts and principles of Mediation .
- The legal framework for Dispute Resolution; via the law of: Contract and Tort.
- The legal framework for Arbitration.
- Law of Arbitration.
- Arbitration Practice and Procedure.
- Game theory and application.

- Dr Peter Fenn

Students complete Socratic method discussions on Blackboard, feedback is given via podcasts; of course the main pedagogy here is that students 'listen' to the discussion and participate. Students also submit a 'traditional' essay coursework via Blackboard; for this individual written feedback is given