MODULE TITLE: - Project Management

PROGRAMME: BA in Business Studies

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Assessment Type: Case Study - [Individual Assignment – Maximum 2000 words]

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS/TASKS

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Indicative Assessment Requirements for the Module;-
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 The assessment weighting for this aspect is 50%. Max 2000 Words - Individual
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Module Learning Outcomes to be Assessed:-
This module is designed to give students an opportunity to be an individual contributor,
working on a project team to define, plan and manage a project. Particular focus is given to
hands-on practice of the processes, developing a project plan, and using project
management software to build and then present the project team results in class with a
debrief of key points.
This module introduces Project Management and identifies the tools and techniques to
resolve problems associated with bringing projects in on time and within an established
budget. Discussion will include topics such as project scheduling, PERT/CPM, resource
leveling, team dynamics and cost estimates. The student will learn how to develop project
proposals and project reports
The student will learn the primary elements of Project Management to such an extent that
he/she is able to develop a detailed project plan for a small or large- scale project.
Additionally, the student will become familiar with negotiation, team building and
quantitative estimation skills.
This module also focuses on both the manufacturing and service businesses and the internal
and external operations involved at all levels of the supply chain in a global environment.
Students will learn how the coordination of all the functions within these operations impacts
on the movement and delivery of goods and/or services to the right place at the right time.
Emphasis is placed on the importance of adopting a “total systems” approach by the firm
and its networks, which enhance the value adding activities of the supply chain and its
logistical application to achieve customer satisfaction. The module also demonstrates the
strategic importance of developing and implementing comprehensive operations for both
these types of business.

1. Learning Outcomes

Upon the successful completion of the module, the student should be able to:

LO1 - Understand the primary concepts and practices underpinning Project management
LO2 - Be able to devise and implement a project management plan
LO3 - Work effectively within a project team
LO4 - Understand the contexts for project management and project planning in a
localized and/or global context
General instructions for all assignments:

 Prepare the assignment in a word processor document to upload on to the portal.

 Your name and student number should be included in the footer of each page of the
assignment document, and all pages should be numbered.
 Start each question (if there are many) on a new page in the document and provide a heading
for each question. Paginate your document so that it is neatly presented.
 The assignment must be submitted on or before the due date specified by the college. There
are penalties for late submissions.
 Collusion and copying are not allowed. Each assignment must be done entirely by you. There
are severe penalties for copying and collusion including loss of marks in the assignment,
failing the entire subject or dismissal from the course.
 Outside materials may be used in assignments but all such material must be quoted and
referenced if included verbatim. In general you should present your ideas and understanding
in your own words.
 All written or essay type questions in this assignment are to be answered in writing using a
word processor. Use a proportionally spaced font such as Times Roman 12 point for normal,
essay-type written answers.
 Referencing: Harvard Style
Part1: Initiation

Scenario

Motor Point (MP) is a small business renting cars in your local area. However, the business has
grown to a greater extent in the last five years. Number of employees has been increased from 25
to 100 in the last 5 years and the turnover from £100k to £500k. It has been planned to open four
additional branches next year. Part of the reason for the company’s success has been their strong
work culture.

The company’s founders wanted to focus on using information technology and innovation to
improve sales further. The current system works fairly well, however, only offline as the
company does not have presence online. This is a major disadvantage for the company and hence
the founder, John believes in e-commerce and wants to go online. After several weeks of
consultations with his senior staff, John decided to implement a system for online renting to
increase the business further and is ready to invest substantially. Davis, the head of MP IT
department, which looks after their local network of computers, printers etc., is very optimistic
that his IT department can setup and provide the necessary IT infrastructure. However, he is also
aware of many solutions like outsourcing the whole system development and SasS (Software as
Service) and HasS (Hardware as Service), which are part of cloud computing.

Tasks

Near accurate time and cost estimation are extremely important for any project to be successful.
Assuming you have been asked to estimate the cost and time for this project, critically evaluate
the applicability and suitability of different type of estimation methods. [400 words]

Part2: Planning

Scenario

You have an important role to play as a team member of this project and should finish it
successfully within budget and on time, not compromising any functional requirements for a
typical e-commerce website. You promote the idea of working with highly talented and
motivated individuals who can work well on self-managed teams.

After several consultations with John and staff at MP over 8 weeks, several functional and non-
functional requirements have been identified and documented. These requirements have to be
analysed and a solution has to be designed, implemented, tested and deployed. Some non-
functional requirements like online security have become very important as online fraud has
become very sophisticated.

Some of the functional requirements are, customers should be able to book their
renting for a car over the Internet, cancel the booking before it has been pickedup and
delivered by the MP staff, edit the delivery address, automatic email generation to
confirm the booking. Several companies already provide this kind of service. You also
plan to serve an national market, providing information on products in several different
languages. This system must be very user-friendly, providing customers, the ability to
search for specific cars, by different makes, models, seating capacity, customer
reviews and so on. Registered customers must be able to pay online or via other
payment methods (including credit card or bank payments, cheque, PayPal etc.), and
provide reviews of their online experience with MP customer services. The system
must also be able to track referrals to the site from corporate partners and customer
referrals, display advertisements and track customer usage patterns.

Tasks

1. Prepare a stakeholder analysis of communication for this project, using the template
provided on portal. Be creative in making up information about stakeholders. [500
words]
2. Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS) for the project. Break down the work to
level 2 or level 3, as appropriate. In addition to the functional requirements listed in
the scenario above, you can add suitable additional functionality as well. [200 words]

Part 3: Execution
Scenario

Your project has been going well until now with no major challenges and your team is
proud of it. It has been two months into the project since it has started, and you have
another four months to go. One of the key staff members, Fernando met with an accident
and has been advised to take bed rest at least for four months. This is a big setback for
you as you cannot afford to lose even a single staff.

Tasks
 3. How can the above unfortunate situation with Fernando be solved? Write a short
report with several alternatives and suggestions to meet up with John. [300 words]

Part 4: Controlling
Scenario

Due to economic recession, John could not promise any extra funds to hire or replace
Fernando and his own work is being piled up. Three months into the project, your project
manager and your team are very concerned about the progress of the project. After
reviewing the progress, it has been decided to have a series of bi-monthly meetings with
all affected staff.

Tasks

4. After the first bi-monthly meeting and consultations with business experts, you have
convinced John that the only way to finish project successfully is to compromise
scope by having only absolute essential functionality. Critically evaluate what
functionality and/or features can be compromised. [300 words]

Part 5: Closing
Scenario

Its one week before your final project presentation. You have been successful in meeting
time and cost deadlines. However, scope had to be compromised. You have been really
helpful in making this project a success. Your project manager has recognized your
project management skills and is recommending you to be a project manager for the next
project, which is starting soon.

Tasks

5. Prepare a lessons-learned report for the entire project. Include input from all
stakeholders in summarizing the lessons learned. Use the template provided on portal.
[300 words]

Assessment criteira
# Criteria Weight Very Poor/No Attempt Poor(20-29%) Average(30-49%) Merit(50-69%) Distinction(70-79%) Excellent(80-89%) Outstanding(90-100%)
(0-19%)
1

2
3 Part 3: 15% Not attempted or No No evidence of any An effort can be seen An effort is evident A significant justification Originality has been An integrated approach and
Execution evidence of any learning learning has taken to identify the possible identifying possible is evident from the list of shown in arriving at unique thought process has
Have all tasks in has taken place place. Very limited solutions in the alternate solutions solutions and report all possible been applied!
the third phase effort execution phase with some alternate solutions
of project been However, no thought justification.
attempted, has been put in to
answered arrive
correctly with at these!
critical thinking
and analysis
4 Part 4:Control 15% Not attempted or No No/little effort can be An attempt to control Main issues like Demonstrates a clear A clear
Have all tasks in evidence of any learning seen. the project, missing strategic importance understanding of the understanding and
the fourth phase has taken place the main issues of and employee questions, tasks and importance of
of project been commitment commitment have addressed critical issues monitoring and
attempted, and the strategic been addressed in the controlling project
answered importance memo, emphasizing main
correctly with but lacks justification issues is clearly
critical thinking evident
and analysis
5 Part 5:Closing 15% Not attempted or No No serious effort or no Makes a clear attempt Clearly understood the Demonstrates a clear Excellent effort is A completely innovative
Have all tasks in evidence of any learning lessons learned to answer all the question and understanding of the evident from the approach!
the last phase of has taken place questions However, a developed scope question and addressed report
project been limited research statement with all positively.
attempted, necessary changes
answered about
 correctly with the functionality,
critical thinking however they are more
and analysis generic rather than
specific.
6 References 10% No evidence of any Minimal evidence of Little attention to Some evidence of Reasonable range of Wide range of Standard and consistent
Accurate referencing referencing referencing and referencing and references in an acceptable, references to books, academic style in referencing
citation and No attention given to citation, but not in a citation, in acceptable academic style but limited online resources in to latest books, online
referencing to citation consistent, acceptable academic format, but to books and online consistent academic resources but no journals
online resources, academic format only limited to online resources style
books and resources
journals
Marking scheme

Part 1: Initiation, marks allocated:15

Task 1:

Near accurate time and cost estimation are extremely important for any project to be
successful. Assuming you have been asked to estimate the cost and time for this project,
critically evaluate the applicability and suitability of different type of estimation
methods.[400 words]

Expected answer Marks

Cost estimation methods 5
Time estimation methods 5
Suitability and applicability of above methods for the current project 5
Total marks 15

Part 2: Planning, marks allocated:30 (15+15)

Task 2:

Prepare a stakeholder communication analysis for this project, using the template
provided on portal. Be creative in making up information about stakeholders.[500
words]

Expected answer Marks

Standard template followed in creating stakeholder register 3
Appropriate attibutes have been listed 7
Any new/creative attributes for stakeholders rather than simple 5
descriptive ones
Total marks 15

Task 3:

Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS) for the project. Break down the work to
level 2 or level 3, as appropriate. In addition to the functional requirements listed in
the scenario above, you can add suitable additional functionality as well.[200 words]

Expected answer Marks

Work Breakdown Structure with atleast 3 levels 7
Appropriate functionality identified and listed in WBS 5
Any suitable additional functionality, but appropriate and relevant 3
Total marks 15

Part 3: Execution, marks allocated:15

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 Task 4:

How can the above unfortunate situation with Fernando be solved? Write a short report
with several alternatives and suggestions to meet up with John. [300 words]

Expected answer Marks

Several alternative suggestions for project work not being delayed 10
Suitable advice with justification 05
Total marks 15

Part 3: Controlling, marks allocated:15

Task 5:

After the first bi-monthly meeting and consultations with business experts, you have
convinced John that the only way to finish project successfully is to compromise scope
by having only absolute essential functionality. Critically evaluate what functionality
and/or features can be compromised. [300 words]

Expected answer Marks

Identifying functionality and/or features that can be compromised 10
Justification 05
Total marks 15

Part 5: Closing, marks allocated:15

Task 6:

Prepare a lessons-learned report for the entire project. Include input from all stakeholders
in summarizing the lessons learned. Use the template provided on portal. [300 words]

Expected answer Marks

Right template has been used 03
Appropriate and relevant questions have been listed and answered 07
Have all stakeholders been included in the report 05
Total marks 15

Refrences: Marks allocated 10

Marks
Standard academic style like Harvard’s 03
Citation 03
Range and relevance 04
Total marks 10

Pleaset note that marks can be awarded based on the assessment criteria given above
under the heading “Assessment Criteria”

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