Project 1: Course Code: SIM335 Managing Project

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Faculty of Business and Law

	Module: SIM335 Managing Projects


Contribution to module assessment: 100%

This is an individual assignment - complete both tasks 1 and 2

Background: The assignment is intended to bring out the benefits and limitations of different approaches to project planning and control by relating these to the circumstances in the cases outlined. It is also intended to allow students to demonstrate their learning and competence in respect of the management of resources generally, but in particular elements of scope, schedule, quality, and cost.

Task 1 (40% marks) 700 words (+/- 10%) each short answer question requires a response in a few sentences (paragraph) for the questions awarded up to 6 marks and two-three paragraphs for questions awarded up to 8 marks.Project is a series of activities leading to a specific goal that ideally has to be completed given the resources allocated.

1) What are the core principles/characteristics of any project and why are they important? (7 marks).

2) How would you define the scope of a project? (6 marks).

3) Using the information below to provide the following answers

3a) draw the network diagram (6 marks)

3b) list the network paths (8 marks)

3c) determine the critical path (3 marks)

4) What method(s) would you employ for cost management and why? (5 marks).

5) How would you assess and manage the risks of a project? (5 marks).

Activity	Duration	Dependency
Start	0 days
A	5 days	Start
B	2 days	Start
C	3 days	A, B
D	5 days	Start
E	6 days	Start
F	4 days	D, E
G	2 days	C, F
H	5 days	G
I	7 days	G
J	3 days	H
Finish	0 days	I, J

Task 2: (60% marks)

Superfine is a newly formed manufacturer of face masks in Hong Kong with 150 employees, among them 110 being workers. Currently, Superfine owns one factory in Hong Kong. In the first half of 2020, business has been good with tremendous demand for face masks both in Hong Kong and overseas. By August, there is a clear trend that market demand for its face masks is getting weaker. The senior management of Superfine recognizes the need to develop new face mask products. Because of that, the CEO of Superfine, Jackie Mak, has just employed you to be the project manager to work on a new product development project to develop fashion face masks for the Hong Kong and overseas markets. You soon realize that: (a) most of the office staffs of the company are young (around 35 years old) and inexperienced, and (b) though the company is financially healthy, it has very little knowledge of the fashion face mask markets in Hong Kong and overseas. Now, you are required by the CEO to produce a management report (in 2,300 words) to examine the following project management topics, with some preliminary planning figures and recommendations on these topics, so as to inform subsequent discussion on how to actually launch this new product development project:

1. Project objectives

2. A project plan with milestones

3. Project financial appraisal

4. Project team formation and team-building

5. Project quality monitoring

Assignment presentation and assessment

The answers to both tasks are independent and should be addressed separately.

Task 1 answers to six questions–(700 words) – completed as an individual task

Task 2 a report that is produced for task two (2300 words) – completed as an individual task

For your convenience both tasks should be submitted as one document, which contains both individual tasks.

The criteria for assessing the task tworeport will be:

Report presentation (20%) (12 marks)

The extent to which the assignment represents an effective report. This will be judged on:

Appearance: Is a word count included at the end of the report? Is it within the specified amount? Is the text double spaced?

Structure: Does the report follow the conventions of the format? Does it have a clear introduction, explaining how it answers the questions? Do the sections of the report develop ideas in a logical sequence? Are diagrams or other subsidiary information shown in appendices?

Spelling and grammar: Are all words spelled correctly and is the meaning of sentences clear?

Referencing: Have appropriate references been included in the report. Has a recognised referencing system been used for notation? (see relevant section in the Guide to Basic Study Skills)

Use of relevant theory (40%)(24 marks)

Has the right theoretical content been chosen as the basis for answering the questions? Is there evidence of the use of course notes and books? Is the theory that is selected significant to the questions?

Analysis (40%)(24 marks)

This measures the extent to which students develop a structured argument for the points they make, by combining relevant theory with the information provided in the questions.

Any work submitted is subject to the University's rules and procedures governing infringement of assessment regulations.

Grading Criteria SIM335 Managing Projects Individual Assignment

First Class (70 – 100%)

A creative and original response to the question.Critically reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and experiences. Answer written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically.

Upper Second Class (60 – 69%)

Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application of theory and experience to the question answered. Ability to inter-relate concepts and ideas.Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and limitations. Answer systematically structured and coherent.

Lower Second Class (50-59%)

Evidence of knowledge of concepts and theories.Attempts to relate and balance theory and practice. Main issues addressed appropriately. Mainstream texts and lecture notes used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments weak in places.

Third Class (40-49%)

Evidence of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and theories.Limited attempts to relate theory and practice relaying on personal opinion or assertions.Limited evidence of reading.Presentation and structure weak in several places.

Fail (0 – 39%)

Some knowledge of main concepts and theory but major omissions and / or misunderstandings.Style and structure weak and overly descriptive.Considerable limitations in ability to perceive the relationship of theory and practice.Limited reading.

SIM335 Managing Projects

SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 2020)

Task 2

Criteria	70% +	60-69%	50-59%	40-49%	<40%
Use of relevant theory Indicative weighting = 40% of 60 mark (24 marks)	The report identifies all the relevant theories to answer to complete the task. The theories used are described in detail. There is clear evidence that course notes, books and other sources are used. Theories used are significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.	The report identifies most of the relevant theories to answer to complete the task. On the whole, the theories used are described in detail. There is clear evidence that course notes and books are used. Theories used are largely significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.	On the whole, the report identifies the relevant theories required to answer to complete the task. The theories used are sometimes described in detail. Overall, there is clear evidence that course notes and books are used. Theories used are significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.	The report identifies some of the relevant theories to answer to complete the task. The theories used are partly described. There is some evidence that course notes, and books are used. Theories used are sometimes significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.	The report fails to identify the relevant theories to answer to complete the task. The theories used are not described. There is no evidence that course notes, books or other sources are used. Theories used are not significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.
Analysis Indicative weighting = 40% of 60 mark (24 marks)	There is evidence of extensive research from a variety of sources to provide better understanding to the background of the task. A structured argument is taken for the points made by combining relevant theories with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions are clear and link into the requirements of the task.	There is evidence of some extensive research from a variety of sources to provide better understanding to the background of the task. A structured argument is taken for the points made, often by combining relevant theories with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions on the whole are clear and link into the requirements of the task.	There is evidence of some research to provide better understanding to the background of the task but sources are not extensive. There is some structured argument taken for the points made. The relevant theories are not always combined with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions are not clear and have only limited linkages into the requirements of the task.	There is evidence of limited research being conducted to provide better understanding to the background of the task but sources are not extensive. There is limited structured argument taken for the points made. There are only limited combinations of the relevant theories with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions are descriptive and do not link into the requirements of the task.	There is no evidence of research from a variety of sources to provide better understanding to the background of the task. There is no structured argument taken for the points made. The relevant theories are not combined with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions are unclear and only descriptive. Conclusions also do not link into the requirements of the task.
Presentation and Structure Indicative weighting = 20% of 60 mark (12 marks)	The presentation is clear. There are no or few spelling or grammatical errors.The report has been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is provided at the end of the report and is within the limit of 2000 words. The report is text double-spaced. The structure of the project is clear, cohesive and logical. Each section has been clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and these follow a logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are shown in the appendices and properly referenced. Appendices are relevant and are able to provide a better understanding to the report.	The presentation is on the whole clear, there are no or few spelling or grammatical errors. The project has been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is provided at the end of the report and is within the limit of 2000 words. The report is text double-spaced. The structure of the project is on the whole clear, cohesive and logical. Each chapter has been clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and these on the whole follow a logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are shown in the appendices and properly referenced. Appendices are mostly relevant and are able to provide a better understanding to the report.	The presentation is partially clear. There are occasional spelling and or grammatical errors. The project has not always been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is provided at the end of the report but is not within the limit of 2000 words. The report is text double-spaced. The structure of the project is not entirely clear, cohesive or logical. Each section has partially been clearly structured using some sub-headings (signposts) but it is difficult to follow. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are sometimes shown in the appendices but not always properly referenced. Appendices are occasionally relevant and are at times able to provide a better understanding to the report.	The clarity of the presentation of the project is limited. There are spelling and or grammatical errors. The project has not been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. The layout is loose and was difficult to follow. The structure of the project is not clear, cohesive or logical. Each chapter has been limited structured using some or no sub-headings (signposts), which made it very difficult to follow. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are not shown in the appendices and not properly referenced. Appendices are irrelevant and are not able to provide a better understanding to the report.	The presentation is unclear. There numerous spelling or grammatical errors.The report has not been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is not provided at the end of the report and is not within the limit of 2000 words. The report is not text double-spaced. The structure of the project is unclear, inconsistent and illogical. Sections are not clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and do not follow a logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are not shown in the appendices and not properly referenced. Appendices are irrelevant and are not able to provide a better understanding to the report.

Total: 60 marks