Introductory description

Organizations are increasingly operating in volatile, uncertain, and complex environments and with increasing awareness of the importance of sustainability and integration with the natural environments. In order to cope with these changing circumstances, many are using programmes and projects as vehicles of adaptation and delivery.
Research shows that organizations are investing large amounts in programmes and projects, yet the levels of success are often disappointing. It is known that one of the contributing factors to these failures (partial or complete) is ineffective practices in the strategic analysis, planning, and initiation of programmes and projects.
There is a strong emphasis on understanding the context of the programme or environmental projects (including those that integrate with the built or natural environment) and the extent to which this can be influenced or shaped by the initiation and agreed planning processes and outputs. It includes exploration of stakeholders’ perceptions of benefits, risks and uncertainty, their decision-making processes, their criteria for measuring success of these enterprises, and connection of all of these to the strategies for the successful management of projects or interlinked environmental projects.

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.

1. Definitions of Projects, Programmes and Portfolios (P3M)
2. Programme and project success and the complex factors affecting perceptions of project success and failure
3. Project lifecycles and methodologies
4. Company and Project Organisation
5. Characteristics of different projects in different contexts and environments (Type, Scale, Complexity, Uncertainty, Volatility, Ambiguity and Risk)
6. Tools and techniques for the planning management and control of time, cost, performance and risk
7. Leadership, communication and stakeholder analysis and engagement
8. Formulation and Management of project teams through the life-cycle
9. Selection of appropriate methodologies and tools
10. Project Management Exercise(s)
11. Case Studies of project management from different industry areas. (environmental case study exemplar)

Learning outcomes

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

• 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and ability to analyse and operate within the complex context in which programmes, environmental projects (or to projects that integrate with the built or natural environment) are initiated, managed and evaluated including risk, programme, resource, health and safety, legal or policy considerations, change control, and financial management.
• 2. Interpret the requirements for the effective management of projects of different types, scale, complexity, and risk within the organisation and environment including balancing views of potentially conflicting drivers related to environmental, social and financial constraints, and demonstrate critical analysis in the design, development or management of environmental projects.
• 3. Select and apply appropriate stakeholder engagement, communication, project planning, management and control approaches and techniques in different circumstances and critically evaluate their use.
• 4. Contribute to the formulation and management of diverse project teams throughout the project life-cycle and critically evaluate team performance.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

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

1. Initiate and plan programmes and projects for success;
2. Select and apply a wide range of models/frameworks to analysing strategic and environmental context and drivers of programmes and projects;
3. Employ environmental methods, tools, techniques and practices used for the interpretation, monitoring, and mitigation of environmental harm, including health and safety, risk assessment and environmental management;
4. Understand the role of management systems, quality assurance, continuous improvement, and innovation in providing sustainable solutions;
5. Employ a range of methods and techniques applicable to project planning, initiation and set-up, benefits management, business cases, stakeholder analysis and engagement, communication, advanced risk management, issue and change control, requirements elucidation and capturing, programme, portfolio and project organisation and governance.

Transferable skills

Problem definition, problem-solving, critical thinking and reasoning, value of diversity and range of perspectives
Dealing with volatility, complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity
Planning skills, risk management, time management
Team work and leadership, decision-making and biases
Communication skills, diversity and intercultural communications and communication with wide range of stakeholders,
report writing and presentation skills, research skills, digital literacy