The necessity to effectively manage the development of new products and services is seen as an organisations life-blood. This module concentrates on the process, techniques and tools that are used by managers during this conceptual period to enable crisp and appropriate decision making. It then focusses on the tools and techniques for implementing a managing a change project, and finally, tools and techniques for evaluating the success of a change project.

The module firstly identifies typical models of projects, their organisational structure, and the role of stakeholders. Progressing to a project brief, and how the project is defined in terms of key resources, and their subsequent control systems that will finally lead to the projects termination and successful handover. Wherever possible, computer-based systems will form part of the tool kit used for the various stages of project analysis.

Key components of a project
Project life cycle
Project personnel; owner, steering group, sponsor, manager, coordinator
The functions of project governance
Project plans; risk logs, monitoring records
Cost benefit analysis
Project budget information
Project planning tools and techniques
Time management techniques
Risk analysis tools and techniques
Project monitoring and communication
Managing resources
Evaluating the success of a project

It is also designed to cover the following sections of the Apprenticeship Standard for Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship:

Project Management:
How a project moves through planning, design, development, deployment, and evaluation
Risk management models and reporting, risk benefit analysis and health and safety implications
Plan, organise and manage resources in order to achieve organisational goals
Identify key outcomes, develop, and implement plans and monitor progress, and provide reports as required
Proactively identify risk and create plans for their mitigation
Initiate, lead and drive change within the organisation, identifying barriers/ challenges and how to overcome them
Use widely recognised project management tools

Your project report will include an examination of a recent or ‘live’ project that you are/have been involved in. You will discuss the decision-making process, planning and implementation stages, discuss the evaluation of the project’s success, risk management approaches, obstacles and challenges and its implications. You will discuss tolls used and evaluate their effectiveness. (Learning outcomes 1-4)
You should include a range of appendices highlighting our personal involvement in the project, any management tasks undertaken by you, communications sent by you and any subsequent feedback you have received. You should refer to these appendices in your project report.

Scheduled learning and teaching activities: 32 hours

To consist of:
Face-to-face which will include group work, formal teaching, case study analysis, guest speakers and students will be encouraged to share their workplace experiences with others
On-line live webinars to take the form of tutorials involving opportunities for group discussion and presentation, flipped-classroom opportunities, further group work and case study analysis

Guided independent study: 168 hours

To consist of
Accessing additional on-line content such as videos and presentations
Independent reading to consolidate knowledge gained in the formal teaching
Undertaking formative tasks set by the tutor to consolidate learning
Assessment preparation and writing and gathering evidence
Portfolio building

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of project management principles including how to define the project, stages of implementation, stakeholder management and evaluation methods - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, LEARNING

2. Evaluate communication strategies used for managing different stakeholder groups and identify the best approach in your organisation - ANALYSIS, COMMUNICATION

3. Apply basic problem-solving techniques to anticipates challenges and obstacles and deliver a project within the pre-defined resource base - ENQUIRY, PROBLEM-SOLVING

4. Understand risk management methods and apply these to your organisational context - APPLICATION, REFLECTION

Journals: Project Management Journal, International Journal of Project Management, The Journal of Modern Project Management, International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
Association of Project Managers https://www.apm.org.uk/
Project Management Institute https://www.pmi.org.uk/
Journals: Project Management Journal, International Journal of Project Management, The Journal of Modern Project Management, International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
Association of Project Managers https://www.apm.org.uk/
Project Management Institute https://www.pmi.org.uk/

Maylor, H. (2011) Project Management (Fourth Edition), Pearson Education (eBook)
Kerzner, H (2017), Project Management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling, Wiley (eBook)
Chapman C, Ward, S (2011) How to manage project opportunity and risk, 3rd edition, Wiley (eBook)
Fight, A (2006) Introduction to Project Finance, Elsevier/Butterworth (eBook)

The module is only open to those enrolled on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme or the BA (Hons) Professional Management

The necessity to effectively manage the development of new products and services is seen as an organisations life-blood. This module concentrates on the process, techniques and tools that are used by managers during this conceptual period to enable crisp and appropriate decision making. It then focusses on the tools and techniques for implementing a managing a change project, and finally, tools and techniques for evaluating the success of a change project.