Project

Management

Project Management Level 5
Academic Year 2014-15, Semester 1
COURSE WORK ASSESSMENT BRIEF
ASSIGNMENT 1
Submission Deadline:
By 16:00 (GMT), on Monday 8th December 2014

This assessment contributes 60% of the marks for this module

This coursework must be carried out individually, the word limit is 3000 words
(300 words - (the references session is not included in the word count), written
in essay format and using Harvard referencing system.

Please note that work submitted late is penalised by 5 marks for each day late up
to 4 days. Work submitted more than 4 days late will not be marked.

Topic: Project evaluation

There are many projects known to the public, which have received attention by
the media because of their perceived socioeconomic impact.

Your task is:
Select a well-known project that fits the above criterion and demonstrate your
understanding on how project evaluation methods and techniques can be
applied.

A. You will need to conduct a literature research and critically analyse the case
you have selected in order to detail the projects evaluation. The expectation is
that you will identify and discuss issues that have impacted (positive and
negative) the projects whole lifecycle (70% of the assignment grade).

B. You will need to provide recommendations on how effective project
management could have helped to resolve this issues described in your answer.

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Please make sure that you make appropriate references to project management
literature (30% of the assignment grade).

Your detailed essay should include analysis and discussion for the selected
project on the following topics and their associated issues:

Project Vision/Mission;

Project Aims and Objectives;

Stakeholder Management;

Performance Measurement and Management of Quality;

Planning and Scheduling;

Constraints and Risks;

Resources and Project Budget;

Communications;

Project handover and future considerations (operations and whole life-

cycle)

Below are some examples of projects that you may consider addressing for your
assignment:

The Millennium Dome;

The Channel Tunnel;

The UK National ID programme;

The NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT);

NHS Integrated Service Improvement Plan (ISIP);

Wembley National Stadium;

BBC Digital Media initiative (DMI);

European Monetary Union;

Any major sporting event i.e. London 2012 Olympics;

Beagle 2.

Project Management

Assessment criteria

This assignment represents 60% of your overall module mark.

The maximum word count for the assignment is 3,000 words (+/- 10%).

You will also need to take the following into account when completing your
assignment:

Quality of executive summary (does it give a brief complete summary of

your paper for an executive to read?)

Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. what do we mean by Project

Evaluation?)

Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and

citations to the material I have used?)

Clarity of argument

Overall report presentation including spelling and grammar

Adherence to nominated word limit

Word processed (letter size 12, times new roman, 1.5 space), fully
referenced (Harvard Referencing System)

Please remember that marks for assignment will also be awarded in relation to
presentation and structure, and aspects such as use of examples, figures, tables,
illustrations and statistics that indicate wider/independent reading.

Indicative reading

Please refer to the reading list issued at the start of the module. Further material
in the form of articles from refereed journals and web references are available on
Blackboard. www.emeraldinsight.com and www.sciencedirect.com are two good
starting points for refereed publications.

Assessment housekeeping

You are required to follow the Universitys regulations regarding plagiarism and
citing sources and references used. Assignments may not be submitted late.
Marking penalties for late submission will follow the University regulations for
PMC and late submission. Please note that there are changes in the late
submission process this year.

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Grading Descriptors
LEVEL OF
PERFORMANCE
Outstanding

Excellent

Very good

Good

Fair

Adequate
Unsatisfactory
Poor
Very poor
Extremely poor
No attempt

%
CRITERIA
MARK
100- Demonstrates an outstanding understanding of the
90
principles of the subject, the ability to analyse and
synthesise knowledge, consider the application of
theory in practice and to use these skills to develop
an argument which is well structured, clearly
justified, justifiable and relevant to the particular
circumstances of the situation under consideration.
89-80 Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the
principles of the subject and underpinning
knowledge. Has the ability to analyse and synthesis
knowledge from a range of appropriate sources. Is
able to develop a well structured argument which is
clearly justified and relevant to the particular
circumstances of the situation or task in hand
79-70 Demonstrates a sound understanding of the
principles of the subject with a good breadth and
depth of knowledge. Has an ability to compare and
contrast information obtained from a range of
appropriate sources. Is able to apply knowledge to
specific scenarios in an appropriate manner and can
develop a argument which is relevant to the task in
hand
69-60 Demonstrates an understanding of the subject with
evidence of a reasonable breadth and depth of
knowledge. Is able to discuss the application of
theory to practice
59-50 Displays a reasonable understanding of the subject
with evidence of some breadth of knowledge. May
lack the ability to develop a well structured
argument which is sufficiently focused on the task in
hand
49-40 Displays an understanding of the basics but lacks
breadth and depth of knowledge. Work may be
poorly structured and rather general in scope
39-30 Demonstrates only partial understanding of the
basics. Work addresses some of the obvious features
of the task but fails to reach the required standard.
29-20 Inadequate and inaccurate knowledge displayed.
Limited effort and planning evident
19-10 Virtually no relevant knowledge displayed. Only
limited relationship to the task
9-1 Totally inadequate attempt, virtually nothing of
relevance to the question
0