BMGT44510 Project Management MScBus

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module introduces students from any discipline to the project management lifecycle. By the end of this module you will understand and be able to execute the key steps to ensure that a project is initiated, planned, managed and implemented successfully. Lectures last 2 to 3 hours – you are expected to attend all sessions – missing more than 3 may require you resit the module. Project Management tools and techniques will be introduced in the context of commercial projects, to show how they are used in business settings, then classroom workshops and discussions will reinforce the learnings.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should:
1. Demonstrate understanding of knowledge areas and concepts that are relevant for management of projects over their lifecycle 2. Be able to apply variety of project management tools, practices, and frameworks to solve complex practical challenges encountered in the project context
3. Analyze, compare, and contrast alternative courses of action in management of projects and project-based organizations
4. Demonstrate skills of critical thinking as well as high level of oral and written communications skills and team work skills

FORMAT: Active attendance and participation during classes is expected. The module will be 100% assessed on a combination of group and individual assignments as well as in-class participation. There is NO EXAM for this module. For this reason, it is expected that the students attend all lectures during the module – some graded work will be in class time.

NOTE: Depending on input and demonstrated contribution, as well as peer review surveys which may be employed at the end of semester, varying grades may be assigned for individual contributions to group submissions.

PLAGIARISM: No form of plagiarism will be tolerated and grade penalties outlined in the UCD Plagiarism Policy will be applied (may result in Failed mark). Plagiarism includes inclusion of other person’s ideas or works, such as unacknowledged use of any form of published/unpublished source (including books, articles, presentations, videos or other broadcasted material, Internet, another student’s work). Presentation of work, which contains ideas or work of others without appropriate attribution and citation is an act of plagiarism. Please pay attention to scientific policies of ensuring appropriate citations to any readings and use of other material. All work submitted by you or your group must be your own original work, not submitted elsewhere. Any material taken indirectly or directly from other sources is required to be properly referenced. Plagiarism will be heavily penalized. For further details, please see UCD policy for plagiarism: http://www.ucd.ie/registry/academicsecretariat/docs/plagiarism_po.pdf.

Indicative Module Content:

The general structure of sessions planned for this module includes the following, but these may be subject to change:

Introduction & the Project Framework
Time Management
Teams & Leadership
Project Ethics
Project Planning
Project Feasibility & Stakeholders
Testing
Risk Management
Virtual Teams
Portfolio Management
Closing a Project
Why Projects Fail
Module Review

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

140
Total

216
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is intended to set students up with a good general understanding of the discipline of project management. Classes introduce each topic using project examples, presented via slides, video and through in-class discussions about student highlighted cases.

Where possible, tools introduced will typically be used in practical workshops to enable some practice and feedback in the classroom environment, but students are expected to take all materials and build on the 36 hours of classroom time in their autonomous learning time.

Depending on availability, external speakers may be brought in to share their experiences with the class, and in some cases, full and part-time classes will be combined to facilitate such opportunities - typically running the session in question as a 6-9pm evening session.

My classroom is a learning environment, and as such is a safe space for discussion, questions and comment. There are no silly questions - everyone is expected to be present to learn and build on their existing skillsets, and contribute to the knowledge within the room by sharing their own perspectives and points of view.

My teaching philosophy is one of supportive challenge - students will be pushed to excel, and sometimes this will present challenges outside comfort zones, but asking for help is always OK, and never penalized. Constructive critique will be given in the spirit of helping everyone to recognise opportunities for growth and upskilling. I look forward to seeing you in class!

Here are a few comments on the class from past students:

Shubham – 2019

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this module was the tangibility of theory.
Joe’s years of experience as a project manager allowed him to connect each section of the class with a real-life example. This helped me understand the concepts better and showcased how useful theory can be while solving real problems.

John – 2019

The website assignment is really beneficial to you as a person. What other assignment do you do in college which helps you understand yourself better as a human being? Sometimes in life we read or watch something which makes us think differently about life and I would say this project does just that.

Claire – 2019

Compared with every other module, I have undertaken this year, it is evident that continuous learning and improvement is implemented into this module. It is more balanced, comprehensive and runs smoother than anything else I have experienced during my time in Smurfit.

Joe created an atmosphere where students felt valued and their contribution noted. A professor who is engaged and who still cares about their class, and their content is rarer than it should be in third level institutions. This module has raised the standard of my experience in Smurfit.

Nicole - 2019

This is a challenging course in which you will be asked to push yourself, but I can assure you that every aspect of this project will serve to enhance your approach to your future education and career. Admittedly I was unsure as to how this project was relevant to our class, but the knowledge I have gained has beyond surpassed my expectations.

Laetitia – 2019

Doing the learning reflections made me realize how that module is really well built. I have the feeling that nothing is left out or a mere coincidence. It is a good module to learn about project management by experiencing it. It is not just another class with work to hand in, with adaptable deadlines. It is a course where you learn a lot without even noticing it sometimes, as the process is mainly about a reflexive approach on how things were done, and why they were done this way. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Group project presentation - in-class or on Zoom Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

30
Group Project: Group Project Report Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

20
Assignment: Individual assignment Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

40
Assignment: Individual Learning Reflection Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

10

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the group presentations is given in-class after the presentation Feedback on the group & individual reports is via grade and if requested, individual/group written feedback post-results.

Core recommended text: Project Management – The Managerial Process – Gray & Larson, 7th Ed (International). McGraw-Hill Irwin 16th Feb 2017. ISBN – 1259253872 Amazon.co.uk link - https://amzn.to/2FRwVTg
The latest edition of this text describes the different stages of managing projects together with the rationales behind the various activities and disciplines which must be employed. However, any version of the text from the 3rd edition onwards is fine as this is used as an adjunct text to support module themes rather than a book from which the course is run directly.

Other useful texts include :

The Project Workout: The Ultimate Guide to Directing and Managing Business-Led Projects
by Robert Buttrick | 6 Aug 2018. FT Prentice Hall ISBN 978-1138721449 Amazon.co.uk link - https://amzn.to/2JbsKUk
An excellent, really practical book on PM, filled with processes and checklists of real use on day-to-day PM operations.

Project Management, Second Edition (Briefcase Books Series) (Briefcase Books (Paperback)) Paperback – 10 Dec 2013
by Gary R. Heerkens ISBN 978-0071818483 Amazon.co.uk link - https://amzn.to/2XqDDFv
A light, easily readable and accessible text.

The PMI Project Management Book of Knowledge – 6th ed – Sept 2017 ISBN 978-1-119-17967-2
The global standard for project management, this newly updated version introduced AGILE as a central aspect of PM.

PMP: Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide (Sybex) by Kim Heldman ISBN 978-1119420903 Amazon.co.uk link - https://amzn.to/2xtfofx
This text is one of the best study guides for PMP certification, regularly updated, and includes an excellent CD with sample examinations, flashcards etc, or can be bought as an ebook.