project management
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344SAMLecture8-CWBriefing.pptx344SAM Project Management L8: Coursework Briefing
Lecture Content
By the end of this lecture, students should be able to:
Understand the requirements for the coursework
Consider the characteristics of an effective, well written academic report
Clarify any concerns related to the coursework
Project Initiation Document – Case Study
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.
Project Initiation Document - 2300 words
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
An initial assessment of risks and opportunities and the response strategies proposed.
An outline project plan (Gantt chart), supported by a justification of your proposed approach.
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.
Project Initiation Document – What to include?
The project’s scope – requirements, objectives, what is included in the project? Exclusions? Assumptions? Constraints?
Stakeholder assessment – who are the key stakeholders? Their power and interest? Are they in favour of the project or against it? How should the different stakeholder groups be managed? Consider both internal and external stakeholders.
Risk and opportunities – what are the most significant risks/opportunities? Why? What’s their likely impact and probability? Propose appropriate response strategies and actions.
An outline project plan (Gantt chart). Minimum of 10 tasks, showing task dependencies, milestones. Include a written justification to support your plan.
Project Management Theory
Support your analysis and proposals with relevant project management theory
For help with creating a Gantt chart, see 344SAM Moodle page Self-Study “Week 3 - Gantt Charts”. Use Gantt chart software – MS Project, Project in a Box or Gantt Project
Recommended 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 |
Word limit: 2300 +/- 10%
Reference lists
Check your format:
Newton, R. (2009) The practice and theory of Project Management: creating value through change, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Sense, A.J and Antoni, M. (2003) 'Exploring the politics of project learning'. International Journal of Project Management 21(7), 487-494
See CU Harvard Referencing Guide
Book title in italics
Journal title in italics
Use author’s initial only
Year of publication in brackets
To note
The reference list should be presented in alphabetical order and include each source once.
Everything in the reference list must be cited in the report and everything cited in the report must have a corresponding reference list entry.
You must clearly demonstrate that you have researched the project AND project management theory by referencing ideas from your research.
You must include a citation for ALL sources of information used in the assignment – this includes adapted tables/models, information from websites, books, journals, etc.
Do not plagiarise!
Word limit
There is a 2300 word limit (+/- 10%) stick to it
State your ‘words used’ on the first page
Checks will be undertaken on scripts
Tables etc are excluded BUT do not use tables as a way to add excessive extra words
References
As a guide, you should use a minimum of 10 separate sources, including a minimum of 3 textbooks / 3 journal articles
(do not over rely on websites)
Marks allocation
| Coursework element | Marks |
| 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% |
Research and selection of project management theory to support the assignment (25%)
There is inadequate evidence of research to support the development of your PID.
There is either:
an over-reliance on websites, or
Insufficient sources used which demonstrates a lack of academic research (minimum requirement on the brief was 10)
You have clearly researched beyond what has been presented to you in class, and have integrated this into your work extremely well (PM theory). Not only have you provided a well constructed list of references, but it is clear in your work that you have understood the research you have undertaken, which includes peer-reviewed journal articles.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
Appropriate application of project management techniques (40%)
No / very little evidence of understanding project management tools and techniques. Some irrelevant material has been presented, and / or fails to demonstrate logic.
A clear and convincing application of tools and techniques is presented, with evidential support of theory. Demonstrates original and creative thinking.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
Clarity and credibility of proposals (15%)
There are few clear links between statements / sections of your work.
The entire work is clearly structured, addresses the topic with confidence and is succinct.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
Gantt chart (10%)
Poorly presented Gantt chart which is either irrelevant to the project, does not carry the minimum of 10 tasks or looks incomplete.
Excellent Gantt chart which highlights all dependencies and tasks flow in a logical order. Well done.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
Structure, layout and presentation, including spelling and grammar (5%)
Poorly presented with errors throughout. There is a lack of structure and / or there are many spelling and grammatical errors. Please ensure you quality check your work before submission.
Excellent presentation of your work. Clear, consistent and quality checked for errors. Looks professional.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
CU Harvard referencing and use of in-text citations (5%)
A poor attempt at CU Harvard Referencing and use of in-text citations. Please refer to the CU Harvard Referencing Style Guide.
Excellent use of in-text citations and referencing is well presented at the end, in alphabetical order by author surname. You have followed CU Harvard referencing guidelines carefully. Well done.
A weak answer
An excellent answer
Characteristics of:
Hand in details
To be handed in no later than 18:00:00 via the Turnitin Submission link on Moodle by 1st December 2017
Draft submissions are allowed to check referencing and paraphrasing.
Build in some contingency time - don’t leave submitting your work until 5 minutes before the deadline!
Being late or failing to submit will result in a zero mark!
Best practice for completing your work…
Use of quotations - example
In terms of risk management approaches, deciding on whether to adopt a qualitative or quantitative method depends on several factors. “Qualitative risk analysis involves considering each risk in a purely descriptive way, to imagine various characteristics of the risk and the effect it might have on the project” (Lock 2013:108). For a mega project such as the Millennium Dome, this would have required extensive resource and time input from a large number of stakeholders in order for it to be conducted effectively. Meredith & Mantel (2013) suggest that quantitative risk analysis is more efficient in managing larger scale projects. However, this requires some experience and knowledge of potential risks and their impacts on similar projects. As the government had insufficient experience in managing projects in the tourism industry before, a qualitative risk analysis would have given the project manager more detailed ‘what if’ scenarios, thereby potentially avoiding some of the issues that emerged.
Introduce
Integrate
Explain
Paraphrasing
Avoid changing a few words to describe what the author is telling you
Re-read the passage until you completely understand what the author is trying to tell you
Cover up the passage, digest the article and write up in your own words what the author is describing
Finally, include citations where appropriate.
Bad example
Original source:
Strategy is a continuous process. Strategy evolves, grows and is modified as a response to changing conditions in both the macro and micro environment.
(Bloggs 2013)
Strategy is a constant practice, and continually changes to react to situations that may occur in different internal and external working circumstances (Bloggs 2013).
Better....!
Original source:
Strategy is a continuous process. Strategy evolves, grows and is modified as a response to changing conditions in both the macro and micro environment.
(Bloggs 2013)
Constant change in the business environment requires organisations to periodically review and update their business strategies. (Bloggs 2013).
So what?
You have understood and paraphrased well…. But what does it mean?
Describe
Critique
So what?
Think of the reader…
Make no assumptions about your audience. Be clear on the points you wish to make
Avoid: Poorly named sections, bad grammar, waffle
Finally
Additional coursework support will be provided in the seminar.
Questions?
Thanks!
Any questions?
