Introductory description

This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students.

Students to be able to participate in and/or lead project teams and use a variety of project management tools and frameworks to analyse business problems.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction to project management.
Project definition.
Project organization.
Stakeholder management.
Time planning.
Financial planning and control.
Risk management.
Project completion and review.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify and classify project stakeholders and define strategies for interacting with them.
• Define the aims and objectives of a project and how they will be evaluated.
• Review the people issues of a project in a structured way, identify and characterise uncertainties and define strategies for managing them.
• Demonstrate implementation of a project in an organisation.
• Explain how to plan resources in the execution of a project.
• Explain how to prepare a project budget.
• Critically appraise the various project management techniques and principles.

Indicative reading list

Atkinson, R. (1999) ‘Project Management: Cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria’ IJoPM,17(6):337-342.
Lilley, S., G. Lightfoot & P. Amaral M. N. (2004) Representing Organization: Knowledge, Management, and the Information Age. Oxford: OUP.
Palmer, C. G. S. (1996) ‘Risk Perception: An Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Worldview and the Risk Construct’ Risk Analysis,16(5):717-723.
Rees-Caldwell, K. & A. H. Pinnington (2013) ‘National culture differences in project management: Comparing British and Arab project managers' perceptions of different planning areas’ IJoPM, 31(2):212-227.
Slack, N., A. Brandon-Jones & R. Johnston (2013) Operations Management (7th edn.) Harlow: Pearson.
Slack, N,. A. Brandon-Jones, R. Johnston & A. Betts (2015) Operations and Process Management (4th edn.) Harlow: Pearson.
Wadell, D. & A. S. Sohal (1998) ‘Resistance: a constructive tool for change management’ Management Decision, 36(8):543-548.
Zwikael, O. & M. Ahn (2011) ‘The Effectiveness of Risk Management: An Analysis of Project Risk Planning Across Industries and Countries’ Risk Analysis, 31(1):25-37.

Subject specific skills

Use a system for planning and control of project progress. And justify their choices.
Carry out a network analysis.

Transferable skills

Demonstrate oral communication skills developed through case study discussion.
Demonstrate problem solving skills developed through analysing business problems.
Demonstrate group working skills through in class case study analysis.