The module aims to:

Provide an opportunity for students to extend their knowledge of Project Management by understanding aspects of managing multiple projects in the form of programmes or portfolio;

Describe the project phase that involves the execution of the plans created during the project-planning phase;

Familiarise students with the tools and techniques used at this stage of the development process of a project;

Acquaint students with the project closure activities.

(LE1) Flexible and adaptable.
Students must develop their flexibility as they are asked in the assignments to seek a solution to unexpected and sudden projects problems.

(LE2) A team player.
Students will work in teams during the simulation game and have to collaborate effectively.

(LE3) A leader.
Students are asked to work in groups and make a presentation. These activities give students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.

(LO1) Students will be able to apply a range of tools and techniques when managing projects, programmes, and portfolios.

(LO2) Students will be able to implement the project plan by authorising the execution of project activities required to produce project deliverables.

(LO3) Students will be able to manage project progress by applying performance reporting, analysis and progress measurement techniques to ensure activities are executed as planned, and manage to obtain final acceptance of deliverables from appropriate stakeholders and facilitate administrative and financial closure.

(LO4) Students will be able to communicate project progress to project team members and other stakeholders, local and/or international.

(LO5) Students will be able to implement quality assurance measures, manage project scope changes and identify needs for corrective action, obtain approvals, perform appropriate actions and evaluate effectiveness.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be working on a simulation game trying to tackle various problems during the development of a project.

(LRE2) Numerate.
Students will be asked to calculate duration times, slacks and project performance metrics.

(LRE3) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

(LRE4) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will work in teams on the simulation game and deliver as a group an overview and evaluation of this.

(LRE5) IT literate.
Students will work with software applications.

(LRE6) A lifelong learner.
Students are required to constantly research the latest developments in project management which enhances ability to critically evaluate arguments and evidence as well as self-reflected learning.

The module will be delivered over an 8-week period, primarily through a series of weekly e-lectures, covering key concepts, theories and case examples. These will be supported by individual online tasks, case studies, blogs, collaborative tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 10 hours

Description: The e-lectures will equate to 1.25 hours/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Students will also participate in eight weekly e-seminars where they will engage in peer discussion of key concepts and application to their own work contexts. Seminars will be conducted via a discussion board with input from the module instructor.

Unscheduled student hours: 8 hours
Description: The e-seminars will equate to 1 hour/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Additionally, students will participate in virtual action learning sets, where they will form small action learning groups and collaboratively choose and then work together on the simulation game.

Unscheduled student hours: 8 hours
Description: The action learning sets will take place over four sessions, equating to 2 hours per session, undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes, tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 124 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into the practice of executing and closing portfolios, programmes, and projects.

Strategy and Project-Programme-Portfolio (P3) Governance

Project Management Maturity and Capability – Models, Project Management Office, Project prioritisation approaches.

Directing and Managing Projects - From Initiation to Planning to Execution, Project execution plan/group, Organising people and resources, Resource allocation tools, Implementing project scope, Control change system.

Resource Allocation – Crashing or expediting a project, Levelling, Smoothing.

Performance Tools and Techniques – Project cost management, Earned Value Management System.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance – Quality planning inputs and outputs, quality management plan, control charts, quality audits.

Project Communication Management.

Project closure - Terminating and closing projects, Learning organisations.

Simulation Game - Lessons learnt from the game.