• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Professional Practice

Module description

This module will enable you to develop the skills and behaviours that underpin being a successful Project Management apprentice. Through online and in person learning you will develop key professional practice skills and behaviours including; leadership; collaboration and teamwork; personal and professional responsibility; integrity, ethics and professionalism; inclusivity and innovation and resourcefulness. This module will also enable you to develop your reflective and critical thinking skills so you can identify, evaluate and modify your own behaviours using self-analysis and constructive feedback to demonstrate and adapt your behaviours in your own organisation.

It will also support the academic skills needed to succeed at graduate level.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to influence and improve professional practice in your workplace through the development of specific behaviours. You will be given a theoretical underpinning along with appropriate tools of analysis to enable you to critically examine your existing project management skills and behaviours and build upon them. You will learn to reflect upon incidents within your job role as a project manager as well as developing valuable skills in self-management, leadership, communication and teamwork.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Exemplify drive for results with the ability to inspire and support project team members and manage stakeholder relationships. (B1)
• 2. Practice the promotion of the vision, organisational/project purpose and values (B1)
• 3. Explain how to create an environment for an inclusive and diverse organisational culture (B1)
• 4. Apply collaborative working practices to build rapport and trust, develop networks and maintain relationships. (B2)
• 5. Illustrate how to build and inspire teams, empower and motivate others to improve performance and achieve outcomes. (B2)
• 6. Give examples of how you delegate tasks, set goals and accountabilities, provide clear guidance and monitor progress. (B2)
• 7. Be open, approachable and authentic and be able to build and maintain trust with others (B5)
• 8. Actively seek the views of others and value diversity, internally and externally (B5)

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Apply understanding of the bigger picture and work enthusiastically and creatively to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions to problems. (B6)
• 10. Exemplify a solution focus, not a problem focus, be positive and adaptable, responding well to feedback and the need for change. (B6)

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

Syllabus plan

• Three personal development perspectives: self, others and organisation
• The importance of feedback- models of feedback
• How to be a reflective practitioner- Gibbs, Kolb
• The professional development cycle
• How to value difference and champion diversity
• Collaboration and delegation – models and theories
• Motivation and teamwork – models, theories and critiques
• Building trust in teams
• Problem solving techniques
• Change management
• Building a successful case study

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (ie a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for success: personal development and employability . Palgrave Macmillan
• Day, T. (2018) Success in Academic Writing. Palgrave Study Skills. Palgrave Macmillan
• Miller, D. (2015) Brilliant Personal Effectiveness: What to know and say to make an impact at work. Pearson: UK

 Supplementary text:

• Cottrell, S (2017) Critical Thinking Skills; Developing Effective Analysis, argument and reflection. Palgrave Macmillan:
• Paul, D., Cadle, J., & Thomas, P (2012) The Human Touch: Personal Skills for Professional Success. BCS: UK
• Winstanley, D. (2009) Personal Effectiveness. Excel Books: UK
• Gatrell, C. (2006). Managing Part-Time Study: A Guide For Undergraduates And Postgraduates: A guide for Undergraduates and Postgraduates. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web-based and electronic resources will be posted and made available throughout the module

Key words search

Personal effectiveness, interpersonal effectiveness, self-development, personal development, career management, feedback, Project Management

DA standard: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/media/4685/st0411_project-manager_l6_ap-for-publication_241120.pdf