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SCI20020

Academic Year 2025/2026

Introduction to Project Management and Leadership (SCI20020)

Subject:
Science
College:
Science
School:
Computer Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Joe Carthy
Trimester:
Autumn and Spring (separate)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Project management and leadership skills are relevant to everyone throughout their professional and personal lives. Many people think that only "senior" people in an organisation or society are leaders. However, we are all involved in leadership (with a small L) . This module places an emphasis on leadership skills that everyone can acquire. These leadership skills are directly relevant to daily life as a student and to all careers.

In terms of project management, the emphasis of the module is on real life practical problems and how to address them.

Leadership and project management involves team work and in particular team discussions.. You will work in teams in lectures to discuss and come up with approaches to "dilemmas" that a leader or project manager may face. The entire discussion and conclusions take place in the lecture. After lectures you will provide a synopsis of your discussion and your personal contribution to it. This forms part of your overall assessment portfolio so that you get graded on your contributions as opposed to getting a "team grade".

Participants will also become familiar with Microsoft Project (or similar package) as a tool to help in project management.

Time management is a key skill for leaders and project managers. The course will explore time management and present practical tips for improving your time management skills. In addition a decision making methodolgy will be investigated to provide you with a framework for making decisions in the future.

The module also deals with the thorny issue of how to work with (or for) difficult people.

A number of guest lecturers from industry will present during the trimester. Students feed back that they find the guest lectures to be very inspiring and helpful.

This module has proved very popular with a wide range of students from Business, Law, Engineering, Science, Nursing, Sports Science, Arts and so on. Many students say that this is one of the modules they have most enjoyed and have learned valuable life skills from.

Lecture attendance is MANDATORY as much of the learning is derived from team discussions in the lectures.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

What Will I learn?
- Time management - how to manage your time to get a project completed on time.
- Understand and the key steps in project management
- Understand Stephen Covey's 7 Habits
- Improve your communication skills by participating in team discussions
- Know how to to create a Gantt chart
- Understand the issues and approaches to dealing with difficult people
- Become familiar with some of the principle of behavioural science and how they influence decision making
- Understand the importance of communication and negotiation in project management and leadership.
- Understand and apply a structured process in effective decision making.
- Understand different approaches to planning your career

Indicative Module Content:

Nature of every day leadership. Stephen Covey's 7 habits. Behavioural Science: cognitive biases, influencing people, and decision making methodology. Thinking environments. Conversations and leadership. Negotiation techniques. Time management techniques, prioritisation and use of lists. Career planning as a project.

Introduction to key steps of project management (PM).

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Computer Aided Lab

6
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
There are 2 lectures per week. These take place in an active learning environment where students sit in groups of up to 9. In many lectures a dilemma is presented and is discussed in each group with a short feedback session after the discussion.

A number of external guest lecturers will present their experience of leadership in the "real" world.

Time is set aside at the end of each lecture so that each group can work on their group case study in class.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
BMGT10150 - Project Management, COMP20140 - Intro to Project Management, EEME40080 - Project Management, MEEN40310 - Project Management


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Portfolio: The portfolio consists of (a) reflective writing entries in response to weekly questions; (b) reflective commentary on group discussions and (c) case study commentary Week 12 Graded No
100
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mrs Niamh Byrne McKenna Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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