School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
MN50198 Project management |
| Credits: 3 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
|
Aims:
* To develop an understanding of the principles, practice and importance of project management in modern organisations; * To expose students to the latest thinking and research in project management; * To critically examine key methods for managing projects; * To develop in student an appreciation of the need to deliver projects on time, to budget and to specification (conformance) as well as an understanding of the implications of exceeding these (performance). Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, the student should be able to: * Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of key theories in project management relating to project initiation, implementation and closure and to assessing risk and quality in projects; * Develop the role of project management in their organisations; * Use selected methods and techniques, which have been developed out of the wide body of knowledge and by practitioners in pursuit of best-practice in project management; * Analyse problems and issues associated with project management; * Apply a contingent approach to project management. Skills: Intellectual skills * the facility to apply subject-specific knowledge into a range of complex situations, taking into account the overall implications for the other areas of the business (T,F,A); * a critical awareness of current issues and frameworks in management (T,A); * the ability to acquire and analyse data, information and situations; to evaluate relevance and validity, and to synthesise it in the context of topical business problems (F,A); * an understanding of appropriate research and methodological techniques that allow detailed investigation into topical business issues and ability to use these skills to produce professional, critical reports in business and management (T). Professional Practical skills * evaluate the current standing of an organization and practically contribute to the attainment of their company's strategies and objectives (T); * operate effectively both independently as well as within teams and assume leadership roles where appropriate (F); * be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects at professional levels (T,A). Transferable/Key skills * ability to conduct in-depth research into management and business issues (T,F,A). Personal/Interpersonal * the facility to communicate including presenting and marketing themselves and their ideas; preparation and production of effective business plans and reports (A). Content: Among the topics are: The nature and context of project management, its structures (focusing on 4D & 7S models of the subject) and evolution are introduced. Key topics then include strategy deployment through projects and project strategy, from strategy to planning, overview and detail models of planning, project execution and control, and process development. |