MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Strategic Project Organising

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN70391
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Project and programme management practices are becoming increasingly important to organisations across sectors. Project and programmes are the main vehicles by which organisations (public and private) embark on deliberate and proactive strategic change. For example, capability transformation, new product development and infrastructure development are dependent on effective project organising for success. The course will explore how to design and lead the project organisation to achieve that success by providing a range of tools techniques and ways of thinking critically about projects, and project management.

* Required for CIPS accreditation

Pre/co-requisites

BMAN70391 Programme Req: BMAN70391 is only available as a core unit to MSc Ops, Project & SC Mgmt students and as an elective to MSc Business Analytics, MSc Mgmt & Imp of Dev Projects, MSc Data Science (B&M path) and MEng (Hons) Computer Science students

Aims

To introduce students to the fundamental role project organising plays in the strategic management of public and private sector organisations. It will focus on the leadership skills required to lead the project from front end definition through to beneficial use thereby generating value for the investing organisation.

Learning outcomes

Academic Knowledge and Understanding
•    Critical knowledge and understanding of the principles of strategic project organising.
•    Understand the issues associated with project management practices.
•    Understand what skills are required to effectively manage projects.

Intellectual Skills
•    Identify and apply appropriate concepts and frameworks in the analysis of project and programme situations.
•    Critically analyse and assess a project or programme situation and make recommendations for improvement.
•    Undertake critical research of project organising issues in a rigorous manner.

Subject Practical Skills
•    Define, design, plan, and lead project organisation in a wide range of work contexts.

Transferable Skills
•    Development of communication, organisational, managerial, team building, leadership and coping skills.

Teaching and learning methods

Formal Contact Methods

Lecturer 30 hours

Assessment methods

Coursework 1 (50%): Project Charity – Group Report
Coursework 2 (50%): Individual Reflective Report

 

Feedback methods

Summative formal feedback on Coursework 1 and Coursework 2.
Prior to the submission of Coursework 1 student groups will submit a Project Initiation Documents which will receive feedback but not a grade that counts towards the final mark. Prior to coursework 2 student will receive feedback on individual reflective writing based on teaching cases.  
Informal advice and discussion during lectures.
Responses to student emails and questions Written and/or verbal comments on assessed or non-assessed coursework.

 

 

Recommended reading

Core text:
Maylor, H. & Turner, N (2022) Project Management, 5th Edition. Pearson.  

Supplementary text:
As indicated in the electronic reading list

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 30
Independent study hours
Independent study 120

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Christopher Smith Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Informal Contact Methods
 
Office Hours
 
Online Learning Activities (blogs, discussions, self-assessment questions)
 

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