project management

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Template Page 1 of 4

Faculty of Business and Law

Assignment Brief

Module Title: Project Management Assignment Number and Weighting

Coursework One Accounts for 50% of the module mark

Module Code: 344SAM Assignment Title Report

Release Date: 27th October 2017 Module Leader Anna Michalska

Submission Date/Time:

1st December 2017 18:00:00

Submission Time and Place:

Submission through Turnitin ONLY

Assessment Information This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes:

1. Evaluate current issues in project management and its application in the business environment.

2. Critically evaluate different tools and techniques used in project management

3. Assess the impact of hard and soft skills on the management of a variety of different projects.

This assignment is an individual assignment.

Project Scenario

Riders-First Ltd produces carbon fibre helmets for motorcyclists. Carbon fibre is a very durable and light material that can protect bikers’ heads when they fall of their motorbikes. Currently the company’s products can only be bought in the UK and their factory is located on the outskirts of Coventry. Their helmets became very popular amongst young customers as their designs are very modern, light and of great quality. The company offers their products in a very good price range which helps increase their sales figures.

A few months ago, the owners of the company decided to expand their operations to India, where they noticed a great potential for their products, as scooters and motorcycles are the country’s most common mode of transportation.

You have been appointed as the project manager to oversee the opening of a new production line in Bangalore, India. The site has already been found and rented. New equipment has been bought in the UK and needs to be transported to the new location. Staff that will operate the machinery has been appointed, but will require training once the production line is installed. The project needs to be finalised and the production line must be fully operational within the next three months.

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

Assignment Brief Template Page 2 of 4

Your first task is to prepare a project initiation document (2300 words), drawing on appropriate project management theory and frameworks, to present to the company’s board of directors for approval. The plan should consider the following aspects of the project:

 The project’s scope

 An initial assessment of stakeholders and recommendations on how these stakeholders should be managed to maximise the chance of achieving the project’s objectives.

 An initial assessment of risks and opportunities presented by the project and the response strategies proposed.

 An outline project plan (Gantt chart) showing the main tasks and significant milestones, supported by a justification of your proposed approach. The Gantt chart needs to show a minimum of 10 tasks.

 There is no need for you to prepare an outline business case and project budget, as this will be prepared by a colleague, based on the Gantt chart and budgetary estimates.

 The design of your project initiation document should take into consideration both the soft and hard skills necessary to ensure the project’s success.

Structure Your assignment should be presented as a report, using the following structure:

Report section Included in word count

Introduction Yes

Project Scope Yes

Project Stakeholder Assessment Yes

Risk and Opportunity Assessment Yes

Project Plan (justification) Yes

List of References No

The word count for this assignment is 2300 words. There is a 10% word limit tolerance. (Max/min range: 2070 to 2530 words) Tables, diagrams, appendices and references are omitted from the overall word count: Sections contributing to the word count are indicated. You may also include tables, diagrams and models. These do not count towards the word count. Ensure that all tables, diagrams and models are labelled, include a citation and are discussed in the text. Appendices and reference list are also not included in the word count. You must state the number of words used on the front cover of the assignment. Source material You are required to research project management theory in order to successfully complete this assignment. You will need to use a minimum of 6 separate academic sources. An initial reading list will be provided on Moodle.

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

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Criteria for Assessment Marks will be allocated as follows:

Coursework element Mark split

Research and selection of project management theory to support the assignment 25%

Appropriate application of project management techniques 40%

Clarity and credibility of proposals 15%

Gantt chart 10%

Structure, layout and presentation, including spelling and grammar 5%

CU Harvard referencing and use of in-text citations 5%

Total 100%

Word Count The word count is 2300 words There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark (after internal moderation) for work exceeding the word limit by 10% or more.

The word limit includes quotations, but excludes the final reference list and appendices.

How to submit your assessment The assessment must be submitted by 18:00:00 on 01/12/17. No paper copies are required. You can access the submission link through the module web.

 Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care

to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.

 All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero.

 The University wants you to do your best. However, we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you can’t submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict. If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two weeks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the resit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline. You will find information about the process and what is or is not considered to be an event beyond your control at https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals-and-Extension.aspx

 Students MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.

 Checks will be made on your work using anti-plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites.

GUIDELINES AND BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSIGNMENT Plagiarism As part of your study you will be involved in carrying out research and using this when writing up your coursework. It is important that you correctly acknowledge someone else’s writing, thoughts or ideas and that you do not attempt to pass this off as your own work. Doing so is known as plagiarism. It is not acceptable to copy from another source without acknowledging that it is someone else’s writing or thinking. This includes using paraphrasing as well as direct quotations. You are expected to correctly cite and reference the works of others. The Centre for Academic Writing provides documents to help you get this right. If you are unsure,

This document is for Coventry University students for their own use in completing their assessed work for this module and should not be

passed to third parties or posted on any website. Any infringements of this rule should be reported to [email protected]

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please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/caw. You can also check your understanding of academic conduct by completing the Good Academic Practice quiz available on Moodle. Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. Please familiarise yourself with the CU Harvard Reference Style (on Moodle) and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or cheating being brought. Again, if you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your Academic Personal Tutor or a member of the course team. Return of Marked Work You can expect to have marked work returned to you within 10 working days after the submission date. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. Marks and feedback will be provided online. As always, marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed his / her review.