Project Management

  1. Introduction

 

  • Background of company

What your company is doing?  E.g. project company, audit company

Mission/Strategy of your company.  E.g. focus on oversea project, caring company doing CSR

 

  • Scope of report
  • Selection criteria of case study
  • Identify a specific project within the case study
  • Define and give examples of project types
  • Identify what elements should be included in managing the scope plan of the project you have chosen
  • Identify which tools and techniques you will utilize within the project.

 

  1. Selection criteria of case study

 

2.1       Define project types

–      (L2S13, 27, 29)

–      Give examples of each project types

 

2.2      Method to select project

–        Explain project screening process (L2S26)

* Deciding how well a strategic or operations project fits the organisation’s strategy

–        List and briefly describe different methods e.g. Checklist Selection Model (L2S19-21), Financial and Non Financial Methods (L2S15-18)

–        Which method will you use and why?

  1. Project Scope Checklist

 

3.1       Objective of project

–      SMART definition (see prescribed text p.31; PPT L2S8)

–      Specific (limit your scope), Measurable (ways to measure), Assignable (your team, number of people), Realistic (subjective, judge by marker, can judge scale by budget?), Time (duration, start, finish)

–      Explain how this project matches the strategy for organisaiton

 

3.2       Deliverables

  • Conceptual discussion and explanation of deliverables (citations needed)
  • Describewhat you will give client at end of project e.g. UOS MBA will produce knowledgeable Biz graduate suitable for working environment, Birthday party will produce happy people with good memories and pictures for Facebook

 

3.3       Milestones

  • Conceptual discussion and explanation of milestones (citations needed)
  • If you are using software such as MS Project, this can be extracted direct
  • Be specific on milestone dates e.g. by 31 Jul 2014, before 1 Aug 2015. But not end 3rd quarter 2014, before week 31, 2015.  See example below.

 

Table1.4: Milestones

Date Activities
2 Mar 2015 Materials of racking system at the customer’s site
  Training contractual workers
6 Mar 2015 Finishing frames assembling and floor positioning
11 May 2015 Fine-tuning installation, final checking, full load testing, customer training
12 May 2015 Delivering and ending the project

 

3.4       Technical requirements

  • Conceptual discussion and explanation of technical requirements (citations needed)
  • List down KEY requirements e.g. machines, utilities, vehicles, PA system

 

3.5       Limits and exclusions

  • Conceptual discussion and explanation of Limitations (citations needed)
  • List of things not included in this project e.g. Birthday parties excluding door gift, hard liquor; Company outing exclude insurance, entrance tickets

 

3.6       Reviews with customer(Optional)

  • When is customer consulted? Before or after plan?
  • What amendments or input has customer provided?

 

  1. Tools and Techniques in PMP

 

  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

–           Explain in detail the meaning of WBS, work package, usefulness of WBS (citations needed)

 

4.2      Organisation Breakdown Structure (OBS)

–           Explain in detail OBS including the types and classification (citations needed)

–           Explain the type chosen for your project team and justified (with discussion of advantages) – optional, can do in assignment 2.

 

4.3      Network diagram

–           Explain the conceptual of network diagram and purpose (citations needed)

 

4.4      Gantt Chart

–           Explain the conceptual of Gantt Chart and purpose (citations needed)

 

4.5      Budgeting

  • Explain the conceptual details of budgeting including top down and bottom up, variable cost, fixed cost (citations needed)
  • Decide what you will be using for this project and justified your choice (optional, can do in assignment 2)

 

4.6      Risk Management

  • Explain the conceptual details of risk management, including risk identification, risk assessment, risk response development and risk response control (citationsneeded).

 

  1. Conclusions
  • Summary of key findings and recommendations discussed in essay

At least 3 paragraph

(1) Background of company (3 lines)

(2) Case explanation (3 lines)

(3) What to do in PMP (3 lines)

  • NO new points to be brought up

 

References

 

Larson, E.W. and Gray C.F. (2014) Project Management: The Managerial Process, 6th ed. McGrawHill Irwin, Boston, M.A.

 

(Larson & Gray, 2014)

Table of Contents

  • Include page numbering in the table of contents
  • Every section to have proper numberings e.g. 1, 1.1 and not I, II, III
  • Recommend to use auto format in Words (References tab section)

 

  1. Project Scope and Definition

 

  • Introduction
  • This is the detail report following the project proposal report discussion. It involved …. (summary of what you are doing – 5 lines)
  • Structure and layout of report e.g. section 1 … section 2 …

 

  • Objectives
  • The project aims to … . The detail smart definition has been provided in previous report (see annex A – p. 3, section 2.1)
  • No changes because client has agreed after discussion
  • Highlight changes (if any) e.g. clients feedback

 

  • Deliverables
  • Define deliverables (textbook ref.).
  • Details of this deliverables remains unchanged as indicated/provided in annex A – …)
  • No changes because client has agreed after discussion
  • Highlight changes (if any) e.g. clients feedback

 

  • Milestones
  • Same as above

 

  • Technical Requirements
  • Same as above

 

  • Limitations
  • Same as above

 

(Detail examples of this section available in prescribed text pp. 231 – 236)

 

 

  1. Project selection and prioritization

 

Explain in summary how you have done selection and refer to annex for detail


 

 

  1. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

 

Things to do BEFORE WBS (this table is for action, not part of report)
–          Draw structure tree of your project

–          At least three level for some branches and 20 activities (end of branch work)

–          Cut out these activities and arrange their sequent

–          Write the flow into predecessor table and decide their duration

–          Enter data into software such as MS Project (MUST by software)

–          Decide on your project team (5 members) and responsibilities of every member

–          Enter data into MS Project (note ONLY 30 days trial)

–          Run the project and adjust accordingly

 

–           Explain in detail the meaning of WBS, work package, usefulness of WBS (citationsneeded)

 

  • Activities of project

 

–           Draw the WBS you have already work out above (explain in box above).   Use software generated copy (if possible), otherwise use manual.

  • Explain in detail what your project activities are, justified their inter-relationship, justified the duration allocation for each activities
  • Example of a WBS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Organisation Breakdown Structure (OBS)

–           Explain in detail OBS chosen – the type and (citations needed).  Note that brief explanation for other types not used.

–           Explain the type chosen for your project team and justified (with discussion of advantages; avoid highlighting disadvantages).

–           Show the structure tree diagram

–           Include Name and Designation of every project team member

 

  1. Integration of WBS and OBS

–           Explain the conceptual detail of integration, responsibility chart (citations needed)

–           Show responsibility matrix chart (MS printout or manual table)

–           Justified the allocation of responsibilities – Responsibility Chart

–           Show integration chart (structure tree chart)

–           Label each cell and then provide detail of cell in table format

–           Note that there will be very little ‘description’ in this section – mainly display of charts.

–           Example of an explanation:

Name : Lim Ah Seng– OBS

Designation : Electrical Technician– OBS

Budget: $30,000– section 8

Duration: 3 Jan – 6 Jan (3 days)– MS Project

Description of activity:  Installation of crane hook; with cable …

 

  1. Network diagram

–           Explain the conceptual detail of network diagram, forward and backward pass, critical path, critical activities (citations needed)

–           Show network diagram (MS printout ONLY)

–           Justify the relationship if not done so in previous section (e.g. WBS).

 

  1. Gantt Chart

–           Explain the conceptual detail of Gantt Chart (citations needed)

–           Show Gantt Chart (MS printout ONLY)

–           No need to justify the relationship as done in previous section, just show the chart as a figure in this section.

 

  1. Budgeting of project
  • Explain the conceptual details of budgeting including top down and bottom up, variable cost, fixed cost (citations needed)
  • Decide what you will be using for this project and justified your choice
  • Show the financial details in table format and justify the spending.
  • Note that there is no standard table, therefore individual students will have their own style of presentation.
  • Tables speak a thousand words and therefore, wide use of tables in report is encouraged.

 

  1. Risk Management
  • Explain the conceptual details of risk management, including risk identification, risk assessment, risk response development and risk response control (citationsneeded).
  • Structure in this section may include the followings (subject to nature of your project):

 

  • Identification of potential risk – using Figure 7.4 p. 209 in prescribed textbook (no need to show figure) Ch7 S10

 

 

  • Risk assessment – must include figures below from prescribed textbook

Figure 7.5 p.211  Ch7 S12

 

Figure 7.6 p. 212 Ch7 S13

 

 


 

Figure 7.7 p. 212 Ch7 S14

 

 

  • Risk response development C7 S15

 

  • Contingency Planning including Figure 7.8 p. 217 (from prescribed textbook)

Ch7 S18

 

 

  1. Conclusions
  • No need

 

 

References                 – In Harvard format

 

Appendix (if any)

 

Prescribed Texts – Larson, E.W. and Gray C.F. (2014) Project Management: The Managerial Process, 6th ed. McGrawHill Irwin, Boston, M.A.

                                Faculty of Business and Law      

Sunderland International Business School (SIBS)

 

 

PGBM 48 – Project Management Assessment Brief

 

 

This is an Individual Assignment

 

Assignment Hand-In Date is TBA

 

All students must adhere strictly to the following assignment submission procedure:

 

1)  All assignments must include a cover sheet that provides the module name and identifying code (i.e. PGBM48 – Project Management) assignment part being addressed (e.g. Part 1 and / or Part 2), registered name, student number, cohort and batch number, location of study (i.e. MDIS, Singapore) and any other unique identifier of the module and/or student (see sample in Annex 1).

 

2)  As part of the University initiative to support the development of academic integrity, assessments will be checked for plagiarism, including through an electronic system, either internally or by a plagiarism checking service and be held for future checking and matching purposes.  Your assignment therefore must be submitted to the MDIS Blackboard for Turnitin checking.  Please note that:

 

  1. i) The assignment submission must be in Word documents or PDF format. If you wish to submit in any other file format, please discuss this with your local tutor well before the assignment submission date.

 

  1. ii) There will be a time lag for you to get Turnitin similarity check. You are therefore advice to factor in such delays and the leadtime needed to do any amendments to your assignment after the Turnitin results so that you will not miss the deadline.

 

iii)  Delay in the generation of Turnitin report is not an excuse for late submission.

 

3)   Download the Turnitin report (according to Annex 2) from MDIS blackboard and submit the PDF Turnitin report to the University of Sunderland Blackboard.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSED

 

Upon the completion of this module assessment, students will need to demonstrate;

 

Knowledge

 

K1. That they can appreciate the requirements for management control and the application of project control processes

K2. A critical understanding of the relationship between, cost and quality in achieving project objectives

 

Skills

 

S1. Skills relating to critical thinking and analysis of managing projects by using software tools

S2. Their ability to apply and evaluate tools and techniques associated with the management of Projects

S3. Their capability to evaluate projects from a financial, human resource and time related perspective

 

 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

 

The module will be assessed by one integrated assignment (The Project) of 5000 words +/- 10% weighted overall at 100%.  The assignment is split into two discrete elements:

 

  1. Charter (1500 words) – 30%
  2. Project Management Plan (PMP) report (3500) – 70%

 

  • The reports must be structured in a formal manner and word processed.
  • The word count excludes those words used in the final reference list, forms, templates, diagrams, figures, tables and charts.
  • All references must be in Harvard style in line with the University of Sunderland criteria.
  • The Gantt chart, Network Diagram, etc., should be produced using Microsoft Project software package (a copy with only 1 month usage license is attached to the inner back cover of your textbook supplied by MDIS)
  • All submitted work will be subject to University of Sunderland’s checks for plagiarism.
  • Students may refer to the marking criteria attached herewith (Annex 3) for insight into the level at which you are working in relation to the assessment for the module

 

 

Assessment Sequence:

 

A GUIDE ON CHOOSING THE PROJECT

 

There is only ONE assignment (consisting of two parts) for this module which is a progressive compilation of a project report for any project that you will select to work on.  You are encouraged to give it a suitable name that describes your project.

 

The key criteria to consider in choosing the project is not ‘what the project is’ but rather, is there sufficient scope to allow you to demonstrate the application of the wide range of tools and techniques introduced throughout each topic area.  The project should NOT be:

  • a wedding, birthday or any family event
  • a project developing an app, game or any IT programs
  • a project implementing a change management initiative.

 

Project concepts with too narrow a scope are difficult to expand upon in demonstrating a full range of tools and techniques. However, projects that are initially perceived as being too large or broad in scope can typically be broken down to produce more than adequate scope for the purposes of this assessment.  For the requirement of this assessment, the project selected should be no less than 20 activities.

 

The project could be from one of the following categories depending on the type of business a student is involved in:

 

  • an organisational project that a student is involved in as the organisation’s main line of business – to manage projects for your organisation or on behalf of others
  • an activity that a student is convinced would benefit from being handled as a project
  • an activity in which a student was involved in the past that was not carried out as a project, but one which you believe would have been managed better as a project. If you use this option you should describe how you would execute this activity now using the knowledge gained through this unit.

 

Note:  You will get maximum benefit from doing this assignment if it is based on real project. However, If you are unable to work on a real project, please discuss with your tutor for suggestions, but the responsibility to choose a project for this assignment is totally yours as a student.

 

All associated reports to the assessments are to be submitted electronically via your institution’s assessment submission process, as MS Word and PDF document.

 

Assessment  Part 1 – Charter (1500 words +/-10%)

 

The Project Charter should explain the background of the organisation where this project will be carried out, the objectives of the project and the importance of this project to the organisation. The Charter include a Business Case, Milestone Schedule, as well as any major problems or anticipated Risks with this project if they are known at this stage.

 

The maximum word length for this part is 1,500 words excluding words used in any charts, templates, forms or diagrams that you have used to apply the knowledge areas.

 

The format of the formal assignment will be:

 

  • Sunderland University Cover Sheet (Annex 3)
  • Table of contents
  • Introduction
  • Project Charter using appropriate headings
  • Reference list (Harvard referencing style is required)
  • Appendix (if any). All forms, charts, tables and diagrams should be included under the relevant sections of the assignment.  The Appendix is NOT graded.
    • NOTE: As this is a piece of academic work, students are required to place descriptive words (with reference) after every heading of the Charter. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of marks for each marking criteria where this is not performed.

 

The following mark distribution will be used for this part of the assessment in conjunction with the specific requirements as set out above:

 

Areas of assessment Description

(See Annex 3 for detail assessment criteria)

Maximum marks
Project Scope Clear and concise Scope statement 20
Business Case Compelling Business case 15
Milestones Clearly achievable milestone schedule 15
Risks Risk identification, assignment and mitigation at the Charter stage only 15
Stakeholders Listing of identified stakeholders 15
Resources Identification of resources required 15
Other items Lessons learned presented along with team operating rules, and sign-off 5
Total marks (scale down to 30% weightage) 100

 

 

Assessment Part 2 – Project Management Plan (PMP )  (3500 words +/- 10%)

 

For Assignment 2, you are required to submit a Project Management Plan (PMP) report illustrating how the project team will apply the following knowledge areas that have been learned in PGBM48 Project Management.  The PMP needs to address the following areas at a minimum:

 

  • WBS
  • OBS
  • Schedule – Gantt chart and Network diagram (with critical path)
  • Responsibilities Chart
  • Budget
  • Risk Management

 

The format of the formal assignment will be:

 

  • Sunderland University Cover Sheet (Annex 3)
  • Table of contents
  • Introduction
  • Project Scope and Definition
  • WBS
  • OBS
  • Integration of WBS and OBS
  • Network diagram
  • Gantt Chart
  • Budgeting
  • Risk Management
  • Project Closure
  • Reference list (Harvard referencing style is required)
  • Appendix (if any). All forms, charts, tables and diagrams should be included under the relevant sections of the assignment.  The Appendix is NOT graded.
    • NOTE: As this is a piece of academic work, students are required to place descriptive words (with reference) after every heading of the PMP. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of marks for each marking criteria where this is not performed.

The following mark distribution will be used for this part of the assessment in conjunction with the specific requirements as set out above:

 

Areas of assessment Description

(See Annex 3 for detail assessment criteria)

Maximum marks
Project Scope and Definition Discussion of SMART, milestones and deliverables 8
WBS A WBS developed to at least the third level 10
OBS Overall description of organisation and justification of structure 10
Integration of WBS OBS Presentation of suitable documents to report on activities and responsibilities 15
Network diagram Presentation of suitable network diagram and explain the conceptual detail of the network diagram with the forward and backward pass.  Network diagram must contain critical path and at least alternative path 10
Gantt Chart Presentation of a full project Gantt chart with start and finish times 10
Budgeting Overall budget developed and then linked to deliverables and development of cash flow 12
Risk Management Presentation of document relating to risk assessment 15
Project Closure Appropriate document and discussion of issue encountered at the end of a project 10
Total marks (scale down to 70% weightage) 100

 

Module Leader: Dr. Sharp Cooper    

Local Tutor: Dr. Siew Ngung Chia       

     

Annex 1

 

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

 

Student Name                         :

UOS Student ID         :

Location of Study       :           MDIS Singapore

Cohort / Batch No.     :

Unit Code & Name     :           PGBM48 Project Management

Assignment Part No.   :           1 / 2 / 1 and 2

Tutors Name               :           Dr. Siew Ngung Chia

Due Date                     :

Date Submitted           :

 

Declaration:

I declare that this assignment is my own original work and has not been submitted for assessment elsewhere.

I acknowledge and irrevocably agree that the assessor of this assignment may, for the purpose of assessing this assignment:

 

  • Reproduce this assignment and provide a copy to another member of faculty for review and comment, including whether the work is an original work; and/or
  • Provide a copy of this assignment to a plagiarism checking service for review so that it may determine whether the assignment is an original work.  The checking service may retain a copy of the assignment on its database for the purpose of future plagiarism checking.

 

I understand the penalties that apply for plagiarism and agree to be bound by these rules.

 

 

 

 

Signed:                                                                                    Date:   ________________

 

Annex 2

 

 


Annex 3 – Generic Assessment Criteria – Post-Graduate

These should be interpreted according to the level at which you are working and related to the assessment criteria for the module

  Categories
  Grade Relevance Knowledge Analysis Argument and Structure Critical Evaluation Presentation Reference to Literature
Pass 86 – 100% The work examined is exemplary and provides clear evidence of a complete grasp of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  There is also ample excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work will be exemplary in all the categories cited above. It will demonstrate a particularly compelling evaluation, originality, and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.
76-85% The work examined is outstanding and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  There is also excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work will be outstanding in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.
 

70 – 75%

The work examined is excellent and is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  There is also excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are satisfied  At this level it is expected that the work will be excellent in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.
 

60 – 69%

Directly relevant to the requirements of the assessment A substantial knowledge of relevant material, showing a clear grasp of themes, questions and issues therein Good analysis, clear and orderly Generally coherent and logically structured, using an appropriate mode of argument and/or theoretical mode(s) May contain some distinctive or independent thinking; may begin to formulate an independent position in relation to theory and/or practice. Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style with acceptable format Critical appraisal of up-to-date and/or appropriate literature.  Recognition of different perspectives.  Very good use of source material.  Uses a range of sources
 

50 – 59%

Some attempt to address the requirements of the assessment: may drift away from this in less focused passages Adequate knowledge of a fair range of relevant material, with intermittent evidence of an appreciation of its significance Some analytical treatment, but may be prone to description, or to narrative, which lacks clear analytical purpose Some attempt to construct a coherent argument, but may suffer loss of focus and consistency, with issues at stake stated only vaguely, or theoretical mode(s) couched in simplistic terms Sound work which expresses a coherent position only in broad terms and in uncritical conformity to one or more standard views of the topic Competently written, with only minor lapses from standard grammar, with acceptable format Uses a variety of literature which includes some recent texts and/or appropriate literature, though not necessarily including a substantive amount beyond library texts.  Competent use of source material.
40 – 49% Some correlation with the requirements of the assessment but there is a significant degree of irrelevance Basic understanding of the subject but addressing a limited range of material Largely descriptive or narrative, with little evidence of analysis A basic argument is evident, but mainly supported by assertion and there may be a  lack of clarity and coherence Some evidence of a view starting to be formed but mainly derivative. A simple basic style but with significant deficiencies in expression or format that may pose obstacles for the reader Some up-to-date and/or appropriate literature used.  Goes beyond the material tutor has provided.  Limited use of sources to support a point. Weak use of source material.
Fail  

35 – 39%

 

Relevance to the requirements of the assessment may be very intermittent, and may be reduced to its vaguest and least challenging terms

 

A limited understanding of a narrow range of material

 

Heavy dependence on description, and/or on paraphrase, is common

 

Little evidence of coherent argument: lacks development and may be repetitive or thin

 

Almost wholly derivative: the writer’s contribution rarely goes beyond simplifying paraphrase

 

Numerous deficiencies in expression and presentation; the writer may achieve clarity (if at all) only by using a simplistic or repetitious style

 

Barely adequate use of literature.  Over reliance on

material provided by the tutor.

The evidence provided shows that the majority of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied.
30 – 34%

 

The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  The evidence provided shows that some of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied.  The work will be weak in some of the indicators.
15-29% The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  The evidence shows that few of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in several of the indicators.
0-14% The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification.  The evidence fails to show that any of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in the majority or all of the indicators.

Ver 1.3 13/02/2008 SJS

P(5.m)

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