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Module Descriptors

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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 15/06/2022 08:32:11

Title of Module: Project Management Fundamentals

Code: QUAL11013 SCQF Level: 11
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)		 Credit Points: 20 ECTS: 10
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences
Module Co-ordinator:Andy  Durrant

Summary of Module

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles, concepts and theories of project management for postgraduate students.

Coverage is informed by the Association for Project Management (APM) project management body of knowledge and includes: project definition and stakeholder management, business strategy and investment appraisal, work breakdown, effort estimation techniques and biases, risk management, network analysis, time and resource-limited scheduling, monitoring and schedule compression techniques, earned value analysis, and theories of organisational behaviour, motivation, teamwork, job design, conflict and leadership.

Worked examples will be provided and exercises will be undertaken throughout to enable students to develop critical thinking and also practical skills using key numerical and analytical techniques.

Students will be assessed by means of a class test and a collaborative project planning coursework.

Undertaking this module should develop a range of graduate attributes. Students will be encouraged to further develop their research and critical faculties by researching topics of interest. As part of the coursework, students will also have an opportunity to work together to solve problems and build on their communication skills.


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:
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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1check markTerm 2check markTerm 3check mark

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Demonstrate an understanding of the background, body of knowledge and current developments within project management.

L2. Define a project and determine the project scope, stakeholders, feasibility and risk ownership.

L3. Develop a critical understanding of the project life-cycle, its phases, processes, tools and techniques.

L4. Give a critical evaluation of the human, motivational and organizational issues of project management

L5. Identify project risks and procurement routes to manage them.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 11.

K&U of project management, background, development, bodies, standards, methodologies and research topics.

K&U. of project scope and objectives (cost, time, quality, sustainability and safety), stakeholder needs, WBS, quantitative and non-quantitative feasibility techniques, such as project return on capital, payback period, break-even, and DCF techniques such as NPV, IRR and AEC.

K&U of the project life-cycle, project planning using alternative diagrammatic techniques, Gantt charts, critical path calculations and cumulative resource needs; resource scheduling and costing; project management software.

K&U of project risk categories and the use of Monte Carlo Simulation. Procurement routes and main types of contract and their approaches to risk apportionment.

K&U of motivation theories and project organization types and team working; concepts such as KPIs, best practice, re-engineering, value engineering and analysis; project portfolio management; earned value analysis.

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 11.

Develop the outline, feasibility, and costs for a new project.

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 11.

Ability to examine dynamic problems in the abstract and thus analyze them and obtain a planned and controlled solution.

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills SCQF Level 11.

Numeracy skills developed by means of various project management techniques.

Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others SCQF Level 11.

Develop individual and group autonomy, time management, initiative and self learning.

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:
Co-requisitesModule Code:
Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
The Learning & Teaching Strategy for this module is based on the general strategy for the MSc Project Management.
Classes are delivered on a weekly basis. Lectures will introduce and exemplify key theoretical and critical concepts. Tutorial sessions will be given to further develop students’ understanding. Students will be given sufficient time and support to work on the coursework and prepare for the class test.
For Distance Learning students and hybrid/belnded deliveries, full use will be made of the VLE. That is, all teaching material will be made available on-line and students will be guided through the material. Email and video-conferencing will be used to support students. The class test will need to take place at a designated remote site under UWS protocols.
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below: 		Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery24
Tutorial/Synchronous Support Activity12
Asynchronous Class Activity0
Independent Study164
200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

Core Resources: All material published on the Moodle VLE module website, including notes, slides, exercises, specimen solutions, linked articles and videos.

Extension Resources: Consultation of the under-noted resources is recommended and reference to these resources may be of benefit:

Graham, N. (2015) Project Management for Dummies, 2nd ed., Wiley.

Haniff, A. and Salama, M. (2016) Project Management, Goodfellow Publishers Ltd.

Heldman, K. (2018) Project Management JumpStart, 4th ed., Sybex.

Meredith, J. and Mantel, S. (2015) Project Management: A Managerial Approach, 9th ed., Wiley.

Verzuh, E. (2015) The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, 5th ed., Wiley.

APM Body of Knowledge (2019), 7th ed., Association for Project Management.

International Journal of Project Management, Elsevier.

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardEngineering
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelCivil Engineering and Quality Management
ModeratorHazhar Farris
External ExaminerL Supramaniam
Accreditation Details
Version Number

2.16

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Assessment Category 1: A 2-hour class test (50%).
Assessment Category 2: A planning document for a business project (50%).
Students must achieve a minimum 50% aggregated mark and 40% in each of the two elements of assessment (exam and planning document).
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Class test (written)check markcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck mark502

Component 2
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Dissertation/ Project report/ Thesis check markcheck markcheck markcheck mark500
Combined Total For All Components100% 2 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
The programme leaders have considered how the programme meets the requirements of potential students from minority groups, including students from ethnic minorities, disabled students, students of different ages and students from under-represented groups. Students with enabling support needs (including additional learning needs) will be assessed/accommodated and any identified barriers to particular groups of students discussed with the Enabling Support Unit and reasonable adjustments would be made for classes.
UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.

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