MEEN40800

Projects are the primary means by which organisations achieve their strategic and operational objectives. Projects are undertaken in all sectors of industry and the broader economy, not only in manufacturing and service organisations but also in government institutions, in “not for profit charities” and humanitarian groups. Excellence in project management is seen as a critical competitive factor in a global market characterised by increasing demands for innovation in products and services, cost reductions and speed of delivery; while also operating within increasing legal, regulatory and resource constraints. The knowledge and skills required to be a successful project manager are many and include a range of both technical and social-leadership skills.
An effective set of project management processes is the primary mechanism used to meet the needs of customers and stakeholders. This module introduces students to the project management life cycle, its phases, processes and tools, with reference to the 10 knowledge areas in the “Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK)” of the Project Management Institute. Thus, by the end of this module students will understand and be able to execute the key steps to ensure that a project is initiated, planned, managed, monitored and controlled successfully.
Project management also involves “the much messier, often contradictory and paradoxical world of project implementation”. The module will describe the socio-technical nature of projects and the importance of effective leadership, team building and good stakeholder relations. Core concepts will be applied in assignments to simulate how they are used in business settings. A broader conceptual framework for project management approaches will be also described as related to project complexity and uncertainty. The appropriate application of conventional or disciplined project management, agile or learning approaches, or some hybrid, can thus be critically assessed.
The learning approach will result in an in-depth knowledge of the project management field; encourage students to think logically about project management strategies and activities; provide practical experience of project management through the application of tools for assignments; facilitate an understanding of the important social and leadership dimensions of projects through cases and discussions; acquire creative thinking skills including critical analysis of project management frameworks; and promote class discussion, group work and personal development.