ULMS Electronic Module Catalogue

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Contemporary Project Management
Code MGTK760
Coordinator Dr F Misopoulos
Operations and Supply Chain Management
F.Misopoulos@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2023-24 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:

 

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours           10

8

18
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 132
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Discussion Board Contribution Reassessment Opportunity: 500-word response on a similar topic Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: No    10       
Discussion Board Contribution Reassessment Opportunity: 500-word response on a similar topic Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: No    10       
Practical assessment Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: Yes    10       
Individual report Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: Yes    70       

Aims

The module aims to:

Provide students with an understanding of project management and its principles in a contemporary project environment;

Develop students’ ability to critically evaluate theoretical and practical perspectives to project management;

Introduce students to a professional working vocabulary, including the terminology recognised by the Association for Project Management (APM) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).


Learning Outcomes

(LE1) Commercially aware.
Students will develop an understanding of the commercial nature of organisations and will use this understanding to underpin project planning and strategic decision-making.

(LE2) Internationally aware.
Students will be exposed to international challenges in project management from the module content and the experiences of their international peers.

(LO1) Students will be able to understand the importance of project management and its relationship to other management disciplines.

(LO2) Students will be able to learn from and use current and recent research in the field while relating theoretical and practical perspectives to project management including sustainability concerns.

(LO3) Students will be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the components and processes in the project management discipline as well as the interactions between these elements.

(LO4) Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of major project management methodologies as proposed by the largest PM Professional bodies PMI and APM, and how these can be applied to ensure the delivery of projects of any scale.

(LO5) Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the role and responsibilities of the principle project participants/stakeholders with a focus on the role of the project manager in the life of a project.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and analyse assumptions about team management, planning and risk. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action.

(LRE2) IT literate.
The nature of the module in terms of online delivery will enable students to develop skills in using a virtual learning/communications environment. Students will also use project management software.

(LRE3) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop their communication skills through group discussions and coursework where they communicate ideas and arguments based on their reading and inquiry.

(LRE4) Numerate.
Students will develop an understanding of how to identify, handle, analyse and interpret appropriate forms of project management data.

(LRE5) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

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.

Self-directed learning hours: 132 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into contemporary project management topics.


Syllabus

 

Introduction to Project Management - key concepts of project management, the strategic importance of projects to an organisation, key terminology of the discipline.

The role of a project manager - roles and responsibilities – demands and skills of successful project managers.

Project Life Cycle and Project Management Methodologies - adaptive vs predictive planning - principles of agile project management and comparison with Waterfall and hybrid approaches.

Organisational structures and project selection - the structure of project management, project teams, project selection techniques.

Project Budgeting - top down vs. bottom up budgeting, work element costing, category budgeting vs. project budgeting.

Project stakeholders – identification and management.

Change Management – implementing change management, overcoming resistance to change.

Sustainability in project management – the triple bottom line.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.