project management report

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Faculty of Business, Environment and Society

Assignment Brief Semester 2

Module Title: Essential Skills for the Project Manager

Assignment Number

1

Module Code: A200SAM Assignment Title Bank Station Capacity Upgrade (BSCU)

Submission Date:

5 th

May 2017 (23:55)

Module Leader Anmoal Thethi

Submission Time and Place:

Submission through Turnitin ONLY

Module Team

Assessment Information This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes and accounts for 100% of the overall module mark. Aim: The aim of this assignment is to assess the following learning outcomes – Learning Outcome

Explore the key variables required to meet project objectives

Understand the different planning tools required to manage a project

Application of project management theory and framework to a practical scenario

Critically reflect on the skills required to manage a project effectively

Part 1 (worth 80% of the module mark) You have been appointed as project manager to oversee the planning, managing and monitoring of the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade (BSCU) Project. Your first task is to prepare a project report (1500 words) through critically evaluating the project and drawing on relevant project management theory and framework to present to your company’s board of directors for approval. In order to write this report please refer to the following project overview document:

https://tinyurl.com/bscu-overview Please note this overview document is just a starting point. You will need to study the additional factsheets found in the ‘Factsheets’ section at the ‘Bank station capacity upgrade’ website, (https://tinyurl.com/bscu-website). Drawing on relevant project management theory, you should critically evaluate the project, focussing your report on two of the

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following areas of project management; you should ensure that your report is underpinned by reference to relevant project management theory presented in academic and professional publications:

1. Stakeholder Management 2. Risk Management 3. Project Planning 4. Process for recording lessons learned

Part 2 (worth 20% of the module mark) Thinking about the discipline of project management and the topics covered in the module, reflect upon the technical and management skills required for the role of a project manager to manage the project. What technical and management skills do you think a project manager should have and how effectively they can integrate it to manage the project successfully? (500 words) Assignment Guidance Parts 1 and 2 of your assignment should be clearly labelled and presented as a single document, submitted to Turnitin. A list of references must be included. Important points to remember:

• All analysis and recommendations should be supported by reference to relevant project management theory presented in academic and professional publications

• Your report should demonstrate project management theory throughout • The case study should be used as the starting point for your analysis • Text within tables is included in the word count • Diagrams, the List of References and items in Appendices are not included in

the word count • CU Harvard referencing must be used • You must ensure you are not plagiarising other published works • Appendices should only be used to support information within the essay

Total word Count: 2000 words There is a 10% word limit tolerance. Maximum/Minimum Range: 1800 to 2200 words. Please note that the ability to write within the word limit is part of the assessment and a penalty of 10% of the mark is applied if the word limit is not within the maximum /minimum range stated above. Please include the number of words on the front page of your assessment. Feedback on your assignment will be provided online through Turnitin and Gradebook within 3 weeks of the hand-in date.

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Criteria for Assessment This table details the weightings of the six criteria by which your work will be assessed:

Please refer to the Marking Scheme (pages 5 to 8) for information on how work is assessed and graded. How to submit your assessment The assessment must be submitted via Turnitin by 23.55 on 05/05/2017. No paper copies are required. You can access the Turnitin link through the module web.

 Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Should you submit work on time but fail the assignment, you will be offered a resit opportunity but the resit mark will be capped at 40%.

 All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero. Please note that a non-submission is not the same as a failed submission; a failed submission counts as an attempt whereas an absent mark does not necessarily allow you to resit the coursework.

 Short deferrals (extensions) of up to three calendar weeks can only be given for genuine "force majeure" and medical reasons, not for bad planning of your time. Please note that theft, loss, or failure to keep a back-up file, are not valid reasons. The short deferral must be applied for on or before the submission date. You can apply for a short deferral by submitting an Examination/ Coursework Deferral Application Form. Application Forms along with the supporting evidence should go to the relevant Student Support Office. For a longer delay in submission a student may apply for a long deferral.

 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.

Criteria Proportion of module mark

Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate application of project management techniques.

40%

Broad research and appropriate selection of information to support analysis and recommendations. Correct usage of Harvard referencing.

30%

Awareness of the Technical and Management skills displayed by project manager.

10%

Evidence of ability to critically reflect on the skill set and evaluate it to manage the project.

10%

Structure, layout, presentation, spelling, grammar and language used.

10%

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GUIDELINES AND BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSIGNMENT Word Count Limit Your word count includes in text citations but not the final references or appendices. If you are more than 10% over or under the word count limit you may lose marks as a 10% penalty applies. The contents of your References and Appendices are not normally given a specific mark (though they may contribute to your overall mark, as detailed in the assessment criteria). We therefore recommend that you only use Appendices for supporting material and not for the substantive part of your work. 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, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/caw. Turnitin 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 or a member of the course team. Return of Marked Work You can expect to have marked work returned to you 2 weeks after the submission date. 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.

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Marking and Assessment Scheme

Mark range

Guidelines

70 – 100%

In order to secure a mark in this range, a candidate must submit an outstanding answer that could hardly be bettered. In addition to the criteria identified below for a mark between 70-85%, an answer scoring a mark of 85-100% would show an excellent level of understanding and critical/analytic skills and originality. For example, such an answer would include new insights into Project Management which are not drawn from the literature but from the student's own critical thinking, and which add something to the existing literature. An report in this range will demonstrate a strong understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating to Project Management. There will be evidence of wide-ranging reading from a variety of valid sources (as described and presented in the marking criteria for 60-69%). The assignment must be written in a clear, well-structured way with a coherent and seamless flow and show evidence of independent, critical thought. It must show extensive relevant reading on the subject and intelligent use of the material to present a well-balanced and well- argued assignment. For example, the student will have considered a range of relevant issues and be able to assess the strength and weaknesses of various approaches/arguments and put forward a confident and articulate view of their own.

60 – 69%

An essay in this mark range will demonstrate a good understanding of the two project management aspects and the skills of the project manager. And also about the theories, concepts and issues relating to Project Management. An assignment in this percentage range will include a balanced discussion of issues central to the question, how these are addressed by different authors or sources and some critical thinking into their relative merits or shortcomings. The answer will be contain few errors and little, if any, irrelevant material. It will show evidence of reading from a variety of sources (i.e. more than 3 or 4) but not so many sources that the discussion loses focus and becomes unclear or irrelevant. All sources should be of some academic merit (e.g. books, journals, reports, media publications). Unreferenced material from non-credible internet sources MUST be avoided. All sources must be included and properly referenced in the references.

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Mark range

Guidelines

The assignment will be well-organised and clearly written/presented overall.

50 – 59%

The answer will demonstrate some reasonable understanding of relevant theories, concepts and issues relating to two project management aspects and the skills of the project manager but also some minor errors of fact or understanding. The assignment will not be based on an extensive range of sources (for example few references are included), or much evidence that they have been read closely or well-understood. For example, the assignment will retell sources rather than analyse them. The assignment may be quite general in part. Some errors may be present and some irrelevant material may be included. The essay may not be particularly well-structured, and/or clearly presented and contain some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A few sentences may be unclear.

40 - 49%

A mark within this percentage range will be given to an essay which: - shows some limited basic understanding of the subject but is

incomplete. For example, if it answers one part of a question but not the rest.

- makes only very general statements - includes some factual errors or misunderstandings e.g. confusion

between different companies or misuse of certain key terms.

- shows limited use of material with limited reading/research on the topic and includes only a very small number of references, not all of which are included in the references

- includes spelling mistakes, is poorly structured with no clear argument and grammar mistakes making it difficult to understand.

- includes some irrelevant material.

35 – 39%

A mark within this percentage range will be given to an assignment which: - includes only a limited amount of relevant material. - shows little evidence of reading/research on the topic. For example,

the essay includes only very few references, and relies only on material or case studies used during the course.

- shows only a very basic understanding of the subject.

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Mark range

Guidelines

- is poorly presented with bad grammar, some spelling mistakes and an incomplete reference list.

- has a poor structure and does not flow e.g. if there is no conclusion or new facts are introduced in the conclusion rather than introduction or main discussion.

- contains some fundamental errors.

20 – 34%

0 - 19%

A poor fail on this assignment means the assignment submitted: - is poor and suggests that the student has spent very little time on it

e.g. if the answer is considerably under the word requirement and/or presented in note form rather than as a fully written up essay.

- bears little relation to the assignment topic. - shows a poor understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating

to Project Management and to the learning outcomes detailed in this document.

- contains some or many fundamental errors and misunderstandings of the academic or other material used. For example many of the facts cited are incorrect.

- uses literature or other material which is largely irrelevant or has no academic value

- is poorly structured and poorly presented. For example, sentences may be hard to understand and contain many spelling or grammatical mistakes.

- contains no references. Work within this mark range shows a complete failure to meet the requirements of the assignment. A mark in this range will be given for an essay which: - is below 500 words in length. - bears no link to the question chosen and shows very little or no

knowledge or understanding of any of the theories, concepts and issues relating to Project Management. The answer may be fundamentally wrong or trivial.

- contains no references and/or evidence of relevant reading. - shows little understanding of the requirements of the assignment

and only a vague knowledge of the subject area.

- includes numerous fundamental errors in the understanding or presentation of the material discussed. There is a general lack of facts/evidence and what is provided is mostly incorrect and/or irrelevant.

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Mark range

Guidelines

- is poorly structured and poorly presented. Spelling and grammar are poor. Many sentences are incomprehensible.

- the examiners do not feel could be described as a serious attempt by any reasonable standards.