The aim of this unit is to ensure learners understand the processes and tools used for project management and are able to plan a project, follow the plan and review the project management process. This unit gives learners the opportunity to develop or extend skills such as analysis, synthesis, evaluation and independence. Substantial activity with this unit will be focused on a particular project, however learners will also study general aspects of project management in order to develop transferable skills.
In this unit learners will be introduced to project planning and the methodologies and IT tools available to support it. Having gained an understanding of the process, learners will be able to identify a project from any area and apply project management skills to successfully develop and deliver a service or product. The project must be sufficiently complex to allow planning and management to take place. It must also allow learners the opportunity to manage some resources, in particular and at least, the time allocated for completion.
| Course Code: | NE47 | Fee €250 |
Exam fee:€25 |
| Duration: | Six classes |
Awarding Body |  |
| Start Dates: 2 intakes/yr | January/February | Next Starts Date: 21/11/2011 | |
| Entry Requirement: | Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old |
||
| University Progression Route |
|
||
| Award |
|
||
Learning outcomes:
On completion of this unit a learner should:
Unit Content
Understand how projects are managed
Project lifecycles: stages eg defining and producing specification, planning and designing, collecting
information, implementing, completing and reviewing
Resources: information; people (expertise and responsibilities) eg project managers, product developers,
programmers, systems analysts; equipment or facilities eg software, hardware; finance
Project management tools: general planning and scheduling tools eg Gantt charts, PERT charts; critical path
methods; specialised software packages eg Microsoft Project
Project methodologies: eg Prince2, Sigma, company specific; benefits and drawbacks of formal
methodologies
Project management issues: effects of changing external factors; monitoring progress; taking corrective
actions where necessary; communications; working within relevant guidelines (internal and external)
and legislation; dealing with conflict; impact of project outputs on other systems eg staff, organisational
structures
Be able to plan projects using IT
Project specification: identification of stakeholders; business case requirements; specific objectives or deliverables; benefits and success factors; project boundaries or scope; constraints; consideration of options; other eg ethical issues, sustainable issues, understanding consequences of failure to hit deadlines or produce product; risks and risk mitigation Project plan: purpose; content eg identification of phases and activities, potential for parallel or sequential
processes, resources needed for each activity, timescales, review points eg milestones, checkpoints, deadlines; use of appropriate and available software eg project management packages, spreadsheets, drawing packages, graphics, databases
Be able to follow project plans
Monitoring: routine communications with stakeholders; interim reviews; use of logbooks; routine updating of plan where necessary; others eg accessing additional resources where necessary, reacting to unforeseen circumstances
Functional testing of product/service: test data eg normal, extreme; structured 'walk-through'; test plan or schedule
Be able to review the project management process
Review: against specification; identification of potential additional development
Review of project management: actual dates achieved for milestones compared to planned dates with reasons for difference; actual use of resources compared with planned resources needed; others eg unanticipated external factors that affected the project; validity and effectiveness of the tools used
Unit Assessment
Assessment takes the form of written assignments, observations, in-class tests, verbal assessment and projects
To gain the unit learners must achieve, as a minimum, the Pass grade; the Pass grade is in effect the gaining of the credit for the unit, and this contributes to the overall qualification grade. All units must be passes within the rules of combination to achieve the overall qualification.
The table below shows the number of points scored per credit at the unit level and grade
| Level | Points per credit | ||
| Pass | Merit | Distinction | |
| 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Learners who achieve the correct number of points within the ranges shown in the 'qualification grade' tables below will achieve the qualification Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction* grades (or combinations of these grades appropriate to the qualification).
