1. Systematically evaluate your organisation’s (and wider industry) methods for planning, monitoring, controlling and closing projects, and relate those findings to the wider strategic context.

University Learning Outcome: Knowledge and Understanding, Learning

2. Select and apply appropriate project-management tools and techniques throughout the complete project lifecycle, demonstrating effective implementation in your own practice.

University Learning Outcome: Application

3. Critically appraise the strategic role that projects and project-management methodologies play in delivering organisational value and change.

University Learning Outcome: Problem solving¿, Analysis

4. Reflect on, and demonstrate, the development of agility and drive for results in your leadership practice, communicating those insights clearly to relevant stakeholders.

University Learning Outcome: Reflection, Communication

As part of this module, you will complete two connected pieces of assessment that follow a live, strategic project from concept through implementation.

Work Based Dissertation proposal (10 minutes, 10 %)

Identify a strategic issue or opportunity within your organisation, evaluate how existing change-management processes will support or constrain your initiative, and pitch an implementation plan that details scope, resources, budget and timeline using recognised project-management tools. You have 10-minutes including time for brief questions.

This element demonstrates Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.



Work Based Dissertation and supporting work-based evidence (10,000 words, 90 %)
Analyse how you managed the consultative project in practice. Document the implementation process, challenges encountered, mitigation actions, stakeholder-communication strategies and the measurable impact on the wider organisation. The appendices must consist of naturally occurring evidence such as project charters, work-breakdown structures, risk registers, change-request logs, meeting minutes and stakeholder updates that substantiate your analysis.

Work-based evidence (appendix, ungraded)
You are expected to provide naturally occurring documents that substantiate your dissertation. Acceptable evidence may include, but is not limited to:
* project or product documents,
* team minutes,
* reflective accounts,
* professional discussions,
* witness testimonies,
* customer communications,
* or other material drawn from normal duties rather than created solely for assessment.

The purpose is to demonstrate authentic application; materials should be drawn from your normal responsibilities rather than created solely for assessment. The supporting evidence will not be graded separately.

This element demonstrates Learning Outcomes 3 and 4.

This module examines how organisations plan, resource and deliver projects that drive strategic value. Working with a live assignment from your own organisation, you will evaluate established and emerging project-management frameworks, apply a full-lifecycle toolkit, and analyse how leadership behaviours influence delivery in uncertain contexts. Classroom analysis is balanced with workplace application so that concepts are tested in real time and the results reflected upon.

Key themes include:
* project initiation, business-case justification and strategic alignment
* planning and control tools—scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality and stakeholder management
* implementation, monitoring and change control in complex environments
* post-project evaluation, benefit realisation and organisational learning
* leadership, agility and ethical decision-making across diverse project settings
* research design, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method
* ethical considerations when conducting workplace projects not subject to traditional university ethics processes

Learning within this module maps to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
* 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Learning within this module maps to the following principles of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
* Fair and ethical leadership
* Embedding EDI considerations in strategic policy and resource allocation

By the end of this module, you will be able to critically appraise how project-management practices create organisational value, apply the most appropriate tools across the full project life cycle, and demonstrate, through reflective and ethical leadership, how effective project delivery advances your organisation’s strategic objectives.

Delivery follows the blended pattern adopted across the Executive MBA:

* Face-to-face sessions – group work, formal teaching, case-study analysis and guest speakers; participants share workplace experience to enrich peer learning.

* Online live webinars – tutorials featuring discussion, flipped-classroom tasks, further case work and student presentations.

* Guided independent study – additional online content (videos, presentations), independent reading, formative tasks, assessment preparation and evidence gathering.

Core texts

Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S. (2023) Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice. 16th edn. London: Kogan Page.

Creswell, J. W. and Creswell, J. D. (2023) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 6th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Huemann, M. and Turner, J.R. (eds.) (2024) The handbook of project management. 6th edn. Abingdon, Oxon and New York, NY: Routledge.

Iltis, A. S. and MacKay, D. (eds.) (2024) The Oxford Handbook of Research Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kerzner, H. (2025) Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling. 14th edn. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley

Maylor, H. (2022) Project management. 5th edn. Harlow: Pearson.

Meredith, J.R., Mantel, S.J. and Shafer, S.M. (2021) Project management: a managerial approach. 11th edn. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Project Management Institute (2021) A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). 7th edn. Newtown Square, PA: PMI.

Turner, R. (2018) Gower handbook of project management. 6th edn. London: Routledge.

Journals: Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Research, Strategic Organisation, Strategic Management Journal, Global Strategy Journal, Journal of Global Strategic Management
Harvard Business Review: www.hbr.org
McKinsey: https://www.mckinsey.com/
Deloitte: https://www2.deloitte.com