1. Module Information
1.1 Module Title
Project, Programme and Portfolio Management.
1.2 Module Code Number
KB7031.
1.3 Module Level and Credit Points
Level 7 at 20 Credit Points.
1.4 Module Leader
Dr Barry Gledson.
1.5 Assessment Component Number (on Module Specification)
Component 2.
1.6 Assessment Weighting (on Module Specification)
50%.
1.7 Coursework Title
Narrative Literature Review.
1.8 Coursework Specification Author
Dr Barry Gledson.
1.9 Academic Year and Semester(s)
2019/20 Semester 1.
2. Coursework Submission and Feedback
2.1 Release Date of Coursework Specification to Students
30th September 2019.
2.2 Mechanism Used to Disseminate Coursework Specification to Students Instructions and guidance issued via eLP Module Site (Assessment Area).
2.3 Date and Time of Submission of Coursework by Students
6th December 2019 by 23.59, UK Time.
2.4 The mechanism for Submission of Coursework by Students
Via
Turnitin submission upload link for Task 2 Submission, which will be
provided on the Assessment page of the KB7031 eLP Blackboard module
site.
The front cover of the submission is to only contain, and
clearly identify (in this order, on separate lines): the module code and
name; the student number; the word count; the total number of all
figures and tables.
2.5 Return Date of Unconfirmed Internally Moderated Mark(s) and Feedback to Students
No later than 20 working days after the submission date. These marks are likely to be issued by the 17th January 2020.
2.6 The mechanism for Return of Unconfirmed Internally Moderated Mark(s) and Feedback to Students Via Turnitin.
3. Assessment Details
3.1 Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs).
1.
Establish conceptual understanding of the complex scenarios that
multiple and major projects environments and settings have, including
the relationships between projects, programmes or portfolios within host
organisations.
2. Critically appraise existing project management
knowledge and identify areas that can improve aspects of project
delivery for stakeholders through the application of project management,
theory or practice.
3. Critically reflect upon approaches to project
problem-solving on real life projects, in order to evaluate, learn
from, and adopt similar appropriate solutions in future professional
practice.
4. Embrace critical thinking, to systematically identify,
analyse, plan, produce, and then present, original work for academic
review.
5. Embrace academic, ethical, and professional standards,
through practice and conduct, whilst developing understanding of
competence in project management.
3.2 Coursework Overview
Context
statement: Projects are variously executed within or across volatile,
uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, that present
various political, economic, social, technological, legal, or
environmental (PESTLE) challenges. Project management provides a means
of addressing these.
To help better understand this, an individual literature review task is set. It requires a submission that should describe and discuss, from theoretical and contextual perspectives, current knowledge across two self-selected topics related to various Project Management competencies. It is to take the form of a ‘narrative’ (not ‘systematic’) review. This should be done in order to effectively summarize what is presently ‘known’ in these areas, so that you, and the reader, are better equipped to face such challenges in future practice.
Component 2 is worth 50% of the module. It will
be submitted and assessed electronically, and it addresses Module
Learning Outcomes 2, 4, and 5.
3.3 Coursework Tasks to be Completed by Students
Throughout
the module there are discussions on aspects of contemporary practice
around Project Management. In order to further equip you with topic
specific knowledge and understanding, and help you develop your
intellectual skills and abilities in this subject, you are to
individually produce a narrative literature review paper focusing on two
selected topics from the below list, around the art, science, and
discipline of Project Management.
Students should select only 2
of the following topics to structure their narrative literature review
around (Note that this list is based upon the ‘APM Competence
Framework’):
1. Ethics, compliance and professionalism.
2. Team management.
3. Conflict management
4. Leadership.
5. Procurement.
6. Contract management.
7. Requirements management.
8. Solutions development.
9. Schedule management.
10. Resource management.
11. Budgeting and cost control.
12. Risk, opportunity and issue management.
13. Quality management.
14. Consolidated planning.
15. Transition management.
16. Financial management.
17. Resource capacity planning.
18. Governance arrangements.
19. Stakeholder and communications management.
20. Frameworks and methodologies.
21. Reviews.
22 Change control.
23. Independent assurance.
24. Business case.
25. Asset allocation.
26. Capability development.
27. Benefits management.
It
is envisaged that by undertaking such independent preliminary research,
this may act as a prelude, generating future research interest which
could be further developed individually, or in collaboration with peers
or academic staff at the end of the module.
The review is to be properly structured and supported through ‘academic’ research using appropriate and quality references which are cited correctly throughout. It is to conclude with an effective summary recording what is now ‘know’ in these selected areas. A separate references list must also be provided at the end of the document.
3.4 Expected Size of Submission
• The work should be formatted using ‘Arial’ font, of font size ‘11’, with 1.5 line spacing.
• The work shall be a maximum of 2,000 words which excludes the references/bibliography section).
•
Figures (diagrams, illustrations, photographs etc.) and tables are
welcome to support the text, but must be fully incorporated into the
submission, integrated and following the text that fully explains why
they are exhibited. 200 words will be counted for each separate
figure/table used.
• The work must form a structured and coherent
whole. No contents page or superfluous front matter is required. Only a
basic front sheet for the submission is to be provided, that identifies
the student number (not name), the total number of words used (excluding
references section), and the number of figures/tables used.
•
‘Footnotes’/’Endnotes’ will be permitted, as they can offer sufficient
value, providing, their use is minimal, sufficiently concise, and
appropriate – they offer only ‘clarifying’ information, or add
‘adjacent’ value to the sentences already written. In other words, they
are not to be used to ‘hide’ words that would otherwise normally be
expected to be contained within the main body of the text, and their use
will be considered in accordance with the University policy regarding
word limits.