1. Project context and scope. The ICT project initiation phase and the project charter. Environmental analysis and stakeholder involvement. Agreeing goals and deliverables and establishing terms of reference. Identifying and analysing critical success factors. Negotiating for resources. Producing a project charter that is agreeable to all stakeholders.

2. Project management tools. Choosing and using a project management package (e.g. MS Project). Overcoming the problems of integrating a project management package into a typical organisation. Producing project reports and maintaining the project plan.

3. Project framework. Work breakdown structures and outlines. delegation, team building and human resource factors. Task contracts and resource allocation. Organising and motivating the project team. Setting up a project in a project management package.

4. Project estimating. Evaluation and choice of estimating method. Manipulating effort and duration. Ways of overcoming estimating problems and improving estimating accuracy. Interpreting resource data in a project management package.

5. Project scheduling. Producing and issuing a baseline plan. Entering schedule data into a project management package. Use of bar charts, resource histograms and precedence networks. Adjusting the plan and manipulating resource and tasks. Scheduling 'non linear' project models (e.g. RAD, web site and prototyping projects).

6. Project management processess. Risk, change and quality management policies. Project management methods (e.g. PRINCE2, PMBOK), documentation and reporting standards. Risk analysis and contingency planning. Monitoring risk and change in the project plan.

An on-line Module Work Book will be provided which will guide students through a series of tasks which will give structure to independent academic research, work-based investigation and pratical work-based learning.

Independent Academic Research
Students will be expected to undertake around 50 hours of independent academic study during the course of the module. This will be guided by a series of academic tasks such as producing research reports, working through case studies etc and will require access to academic resources.

Work-based Component
Students will need to spend circa 50 hours over the course of the module undertaking their work-based tasks. This will include investigation of how aspects of the academic learning apply to the workplace and development of new skills. Students will have access to a work place based mentor while it is difficult to be prescriptive, mentors will usually devote around 5 hours in total to their mentees either on a one to one basis or in groups if possible. The time will be used to support the mentees in their completion of set tasks.

Academic contact time will be used to provide academic support for students learning on an ad-hoc basis via VLE. Students will be put into study groups (4 students) where possible and there will typically be 8 scheduled 15-minute sessions for each group of upto 4 students.

1 hour of Academic Contact time will be used for two individual 30 minute formative reviews. Where necessary, reviews will be conducted virtually using appropriate tools. Employer Feedback Forms will be completed by the work-based mentor and Self assessment forms will be completed by the student. These will inform the reviews.

(10*0.051:1) (8*0.25:4) (2*0.51:1)

An ASSIGMT weighted at 100%

Coursework Assignment 100% approximately 3,000 words.
A business/technical report based on a case study taking about 40 hours to produce.
It is intended to assess pratical skills - Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4

You will need access to these resources:

The VLE

An ICT Workplace environment . A Work-Based Learning Agreement will be completed for this module to ensure that the student will have access to the required resources within the workplace.

The Internet
Word Processing software for use in the coursebook

Staffordshire University has subscriptions to electronic book services such as Safari Tech Books, Ebrary and Netlibrary. There are titiles in each of the collections that will support stuidents studying this module. Staffordshire University has subscriptions to IEEEXplore, ACM Digital Library, Elsevier Science Direct and Infotrac Computer Database all offering full text electronic access to journals and conference proceedings.

None

Required text:

Graham McLeod and Derek Smith (1196) Managing Information technology Projects, Thompson International , ISBN 0-7600-4944-0

Recommended text:

O'Connell, F. (2001) How to Run Successful Projects III: The Silver Bullet. Addison Wesley, ISBN: 0201748061
(this text provides the basis for the study and application of ITPM techniques).

CCTA (2002) Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2. The Stationary Office Books,Cleland D. (2001) A Guide to the Project Managment Body of Knowledge 2000. PMI. ISBN 0113308914

(These texts include two PM methods that are found in industry, making an knowledgeable evaluation and comparison posible in an IT environment).

Phillips, D. and O'Bryan, R. (2003) It sounded Good When we Statrted: a Project Manger's Guide to Working with People on Projects. John Wiley and Sons Inc, ISBN 0471485861

(This text examines the human factors of PM and the role of people in projects).

Chatfield, C. (2003) Microsoft PressInternational, ISBN 0735619557

(This text provides a systematic basic introductory tutorial to a common PM package).