152.

752 Project management

Paper Guide

Semester Two 2010

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ALBANY Mrs. Lorraine Skelton

MASSEY UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

152.752 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

PAPER GUIDE
SEMESTER TWO 2010, ALBANY

This paper is supported on Stream.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This paper consists of a critical academic and practi ioner focused review of modern project t management at an advanced level. It is a 30 credit paper that can be put towards a number of postgraduate qualifications. The paper assumes no prior knowledge of project management but assumes a reasonable knowledge of business practice. It is open to graduates whatever their academic or working background. The paper discusses how one can gain formal certification as a project manager. The paper consists of two major sections: 1. Managing a project Projects from an internal perspective 2. Managing by projects Projects from an organisational perspective The distinction between modern and traditional project management is covered in the paper. The paper considers personal projects previous students have found personal project disciplines to be a useful life skill. Learning Outcomes Students who successfully complete this paper will be able to: Understand the basic principles of project management Be able to apply the techniques learned to the management of projects

2. COURSE COORDINATOR Mrs Lorraine Skelton Contact Email Department of Management and International Business lorraineskelton@xtra.co.nz

I am happy to answer simple queries by email but more complex matters concerning course content and assessment are best addressed out of lesson time. Appointments can be requested individually by email to find a suitable time.

3. LEARNING RESOURCES In order to meet the aims and objectives of the course, and thereby achieve a successful outcome, you will need to be a self-motivated and active learner. Bear in mind that a 30 credit paper assumes an average of around 25 hours of self-study per week. We cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time, and many issues are complex, but adequate preparation will mean you find the subject matter stimulating as well as challenging. This involves: (a) Independent reading. It is not enough to rely on lectures alone. To get the most out of the sessions you should selectively read the key material for each lecture referenced in the lectures. For the written assignments you will need to read much more widely in order to offer a coherent analysis of the key issues and evaluation of debates. (b) Participation in class. Please request clarification for any points that are not clear and contribute where you have relevant project or business experience for the points under discussion. Let us now briefly review the two primary learning resources in turn, the lectures and academic journals. 3.1 Lectures The lectures provide the basic structure for the course. Take a look at the lecture schedule in the appendix. The architecture of the course is organised around a series of themes. Hence the lectures may focus on discrete topics but the series forms a coherent whole in which understanding of one part will help you better understand others. The first function of a lecture is to present an overview of the main material for each topic. However, project management is a relatively complex and rapidly growing field of study, and it is not possible (nor desirable) to attempt to cover everything within the lectures. Instead, these resources should be taken as a guide to the core areas and key concepts that you need to learn, and a stimulus to further reading. You are strongly encouraged, indeed expected as postgraduate students, to extend your learning beyond the material directly presented in the lectures through your own research. Second, the lecture sessions act as an important vehicle for students to raise questions and engage in discussions with each other, as well as with the lecturer. Group discussion can be a very useful way of learning, since students come from different backgrounds, are likely to prepare in different ways and thus bring different, ideas to the session. Teaching thus involves prior reading, active listening (take notes, ask questions) and participation (join in reasoned, evidence -base discussion). These are important transferable skills that are useful for managers as well as students. A weekly 3-hour class will be held on Thursdays 6-9pm in Room QB1. Missing lectures is likely to impede your progress and, without valid reason, is a discourtesy to the lecturer and your colleagues.

3.2 The academic journal literature This is an important source of knowledge at postgraduate level because: Articles often explore specific issues more comprehensively and in -depth than general textbooks, and recent articles are often more up-to-date; Published academic papers have been through a process of peer review (assessment by the editor and two or three leading academic experts in the area), providing a level of rigorous and focused quality assurance.

So, while textbooks are good sources for introducing key concepts and theories, and providing an overview of the main agreed research findings, journal articles are more likely to offer the latest ideas and high-quality results from research. Depending on your undergraduate degree and the University you attended, you might not have had to use journals extensively for your courses or assignments in the past. This is not the case here. To get even more out of the lecture sessions, ideally you should read one or two important articles beforehand. But when it comes to the written assignments, you will be required to critically engage a much broader set of published papers in relevant journals. In this course, some useful journal articles will be referenced for you for most lectures. However, this is by no means an exclusive list and you will have to find others by doing library research. Being able to generate a list of relevant readings in an important postgraduate skill in itself. The best way to explore the academic literature is by purposive searches (e.g. by author or keywords, or using the citations Index), in the library s article databases. This is almost certain to produce a wider range and better quality of material than googling alone. In addition, you may also want to try browsing recent issues of relevant journals such as the International Journal of Project Management (IJPM) or Project management Journal (PMI), whether physically or online. Note that the more important mainstream management journ also carry als articles relating to project management. Your ability to find and utilise the most relevant articles is an important determinant of your essay and report grades. Library and online-research skills are therefore essential (and again will be very useful to you throughout your working and personal life). If you feel that you need help or training in this area, check out the student learning services (http://owll.massey.ac.nz/) or consult the library staff for advice. Of course, the generation of relevant material is only the start. You will need to know how to engage and evaluate academic articles in order to identify their main strengths and limitations. This too is an important skill which will be necessary to build your argument in the written assignments. Hence we might sometimes focus on a particular article in class to examine issues such as: What is the papers point of departure (e.g. a gap or controversy in the literature)? In empirical papers, what methodology was used, and with what implications? What is the main argument of the article, and do you find this convincing? How might you use it in an assignment?

3.3 Other sources of information Popular and practitioner-oriented magazines and journals can also be a useful source of current material. An example is the PM Network published by the Project Management Institute. But remember to take care how you assess the objectivity etc. of non-academic material, or indeed the practicality of academic material. Student Learning Centre If you feel that you might have problems with basic study skills or writing skills, contact the Student Learning Centre, which runs courses for students throughout the year. It is located in the Study Centre Building, room SC 1.18. There is also a Writing Consultant available to assist you (by appointment). Please call Geraldine Tomlin at 414-0800 extn 9143 for more information. 4. Course Assessment The assessment will comprise: Assignment One, worth 30% (due before 12pm, 20 August 2010) This assignment addresses LO1. Assignment Two, worth 30% ( due before 12pm, 24 September 2010) This assignment addresses LO2. Project, worth 40% (due before 12pm, 29 October 2010) This assignment addresses LO1 & LO2. Full details of each assignment are available on Stream. 4.1 Assignment submission Assignments are submitted electronically on Stream , please ensure an electronic copy of the honestly declaration is attached to your electronic copy. A copy of the honesty declaration is on stream for you to use. All assignments will be marked online. NO paper copy of your assignment needs to be submitted. All assignments must be submitted by the due date. An extension may be granted in exceptional and verifiable circumstances (e.g. illness) but this must be agreed by the Course Coordinator at least 24 hours prior to the due date. 4.2 Plagiarism This paper has been selected for inclusion in the Massey University plagiarism detection programme. This means that the electronic copy of your assignment is submitted to Turnitin as an automatic part of the assessment process.

Many of you are aware of the increasing difficulties educational institutions are having dealing with issues of plagiarism. This problem impacts on students as it disadvantages honest students, undermines the credibility of the qualification, and takes up huge staffing resources that could be better spent elsewhere. Massey has purchased a licence to a product called Turnitin, which is one of many tools available to deal with the problem. Plagiarism is defined by Massey University as: Presenting as ones own work the work of another, including copying or paraphrasing of another s work without acknowledging it as another persons work through full and accurate referencing. It applies to material presented through written, spoken, electronic, broadcasting, visual, performance or other medium. Any form of plagiarism is considered to be Academic Misconduct and is viewed seriously by this University. The electronic version you submit will be compared with material available on the world wide web including many electronic books, journals, newspapers, cheat sites (or paper mills), web pages and previously submitted assignments. Ensure that you correctly acknowledge the authorship of any material in your assignment this is not your own work. 4.3 Assessment criteria. In the essays and the report, you will need to secure a mark of at least 50% to pass. Markers look for professionally presented work displaying a thorough understanding of the topic; a strong argument supported by sound evidence (appropriately referenced); and an ability to evaluate material. Assessment will be based on clarity of presentation and substantive content. The former includes correct use of spelling, punctuation and grammar and appropriate length; clear, legible presentation (including a 4-5cm margin on the left hand side of the page). In terms of substantive contact, you need to construct a careful, directed and logical argument showing mastery of the subject area. We look for evidence of a thorough exploration of the topic; understanding of major themes; a focus on key issues (avoiding irrelevant or peripheral material); critical evaluation of material used; and conclusions which follow logically from analysis. You need to demonstrate understanding and application of sufficiently extensive reading. It is also vital that you pay particular attention to your use of supporting evidence (see below). Ensure that all sources are correctly cited and carefully acknowledged and appear in a References sec tion at the end of the essay or report.

4.4 Essay writing guidelines The following are some essay writing musts : 1. Approaching the essay. Read the question very carefully and make sure you understand it. Make a plan list the main points you will cover in your focused discussion. 2. Structuring the essay. Make sure that your essay includes: a. An introduction stating the purpose of the essay, briefly giving a background / context to the topic, defining any key terms and concepts used in the essay, as well as providing a brief statement of the structure of the essay; b. A discussion, focussing on different but relevant aspects of the topic; c. A conclusion that does more than simply summarise what has already been said on the basis of what you have read and written, you must come to a verdict relating to the question set. 3. Developing an argument. Critically engage the relevant academic literature, i.e. analyse and assess it, rather than read and repeat it. Support your ideas and propositions with evidence and examples. Pay attention to describing and explaining contingencies and sources of variation in the issues under consideration, and avoid generalisations. 4. Presentation. Check spelling and grammar. Some use of bullet points is permitted. As a general principle, use quotes sparingly (eg. Where an author has used a particularly telling phase) and only in support of your argument. If you wish, it is acceptable to write in the first person (I.e. using I ). The format for citation and referencing in this course is APA. Failure to use this format correctly could result in a grade penalty being applied. NB: Consult the student advisory service PWLL (http://owll.massey .ac.nz) if you are unsure about any matters of style or substance concerning essay writing. 5. Finally, double-check to avoid the risk of plagiarism. The three golden rules are NEVER copy text; avoid paraphrasing other sources; and make sure you reference source material well (see note on plagiarism above).

APPENDIX 1; Summary Lecture Schedule Semester Commences Week 1 Thursday 15th July

Projects, processes and routine operation Course Outline Project Management process frameworks Week 2 Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Week 3 Project Management Overview and Leadership Week 4 Phases of a Project Initiation, Planning, Controlling, Executing, Closing Week 5 Network Diagrams August 20 Assignment one due Week 6 Project Management: Self Study Gantt Charts Mid Semester 23rd August to 6th September Break Week 7 Project teams Team Dynamics Drivers and Barriers Week 8 Risk, Cost and Communication September 24 Assignment two due Week 9 Project Management organisations Project Management Research Week 10 Project Information Systems and Control Week 11 Project Audit Project Termination Week 12 Project paper discussion October 14th Last Lecture October 29 Project In