This module will enable students to understand risk, uncertainty and complexity and apply appropriate techniques to plan, monitor and control work packages and projects. In particular the module emphasis on planning time and resources will be demonstrated through the development of a comprehensive project plan, including a supporting cost control plan and a risk management plan.

(LO1) Develop an appropriate Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) from established project requirements,

(LO2) Plan and evaluate capital and revenue expenditure as well as monitor and control the project budget

(LO3) Develop the resource management plan.

(LO4) Analyze and refine project time and cost estimates to define project baseline, schedule and budget.

(LO5) Understand the importance of controlling project change and implement project control systems to manage change, communications, procurement, risk, quality, resources and complexity

(LO6) Establish an effective communication system which allows for improvements to communication methods as the project progresses

(LO7) Implement an effective quality control process, operating at appropriate, strategic points during the life of the project

(LO8) Develop a documented, comprehensive project plan, (including the controls and plans for communications, risk management, change management, resource management, quality)

(LO9) Conduct processes to gain approval for the project plan

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written communication skills through group discussions and assignments.

(S2) Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or programme of action in their course assessment.

(S3) Numeracy Skills: Students will learn quantitative techniques. Students will have the opportunity to analyse and use financial and statistical data to support business decisions.

(S4) Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, data bases, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course.

(S5) Time management. This involves planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Virtual classroom hours (for online modules)
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is .

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected for reading, research and other individual work to support engagement in the classroom is .

The role of project planning:

Analyse reasons organisations fail to plan;

Analyse the importance of planning;

Evaluate the need for planning.

Defining project scope and developing the work breakdown structure:

Generate a work breakdown structure;

Analyse the principles of work breakdown structures;

Analyse the benefits of work breakdown structure principles for project planning;

Analyse the relationship between the project scope statement and the work breakdown structure.

Tool for planning projects:

Create a work breakdown structure;

Analyse the limits of the WBS in project planning;

Analyse the role of planning in preventing project failures;

Evaluate literature on common planning mistakes.

Structuring the project: scheduling and estimating:

Apply project scheduling methods;

Differentiate between management of critical path and noncritical path activities.

Assessing and pla nning for risk:

Evaluate risk assessment approaches;

Compare qualitative and quantitative risk assessment approaches.

Planning in an uncertain environment:

Analyse impacts of uncertainty and complexity on project planning;

Analyse sources of uncertainty and complexity;

Analyse the challenges and opportunities of stakeholder management in relation to project planning;

Apply stakeholder analysis techniques.

Skills and knowledge in planning:

Develop communication plans;

Apply strategies to challenges involving stakeholder communication.

Professional development: looking forward:

Create an action plan for personal professional development related to project planning;

Critically reflect on your own learning and development throughout this module.