Project Management - 2019 entry

In a competitive business environment, industrial companies struggle to improve their record of completing their projects on time and in the planned budget. The temporary nature of projects stands in contrast with business as usual which are repetitive and permanent functional activities. In practice, the management of these two systems is different, and requires the development of distinct technical skills and management strategies. Project Management is concerned with the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. This module aims to develop your skills and knowledge in the area of project management, including initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria.

This module aims to give you an understanding of modern project management field, and related advanced topics such as project management strategies, critical chain project management, risk management, agile and lean project management and program management. Few relevant case studies from different industries will be analysed and discussed. You will improve your project management knowledge and skills by analysing industrial projects. Through practical project work and interaction with industry, you will also improve your professional communication and presentation skills.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module maps to learning outcomes: SM1m, SM3m, SM1fl, EA1m, EA3m, EA1fl, D2m, D6m, ET1m, ET1fl, ET2m, ET2fl, EP1m, EP8m, EP10m, EP3fl, EP11m, EP4fl, G1m-G4m, G1fl - G4fl

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online:
https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/studentinfo/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at: http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM1m, SM1fl, SM3m, EA1m, EA3m, EA1fl

1 select and apply modern project management methods to example situations;

2 understand modern tools and techniques of project management;

3 use learnt project management science tools and techniques to solve practical problems.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: D2m, ET1m, ET1fl, ET2m, ET2fl, EP1m, EP8m, EP10m, EP3fl

4 apply generic project management methods and techniques to different industrial/commercial situations;

5 reveal advanced problem-solving skills and adapt such skills to solving increasing complex industrial/service problems;

6 analyse business needs and identify suitable project method approach to meet project requirements.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge D6m, EP11m, EP4fl, G1m-G4m, G1fl - G4fl

7 prove experience in project management skills, through case studies and assignments, in terms of setting targets, scheduling and progress control;

8 illustrate experience of team work skills through group discussions and problem solving;

9 demonstrate experience in making presentations and communicate your work to technical and non- technical audiences;

10 exhibit advanced independent learning skills.

- Introduction in project management, history of project management;

- Project management functions;

- Project management processes and phases;

- Critical chain project management;

- Risk in project management;

- Agile and lean project management;

- Organisational structure by project and organisational change;

- Programme management.

Re-assessed by examination (referral) or examination plus coursework (deferral).

For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 50% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Basic Reading:

ELE - http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module: