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This module enables students to start developing their understanding of the theories and application of principles of management, specifically in the field of project management as an academic field and professional discipline in its own right. It includes theoretical framings as well as practical tools and protocols for the management of projects – for construction of buildings and infrastructure. It introduces projects as one-off endeavours as well as longer term ‘programmes’ of activity, such as those seen in frameworks and term contracts.

This module therefore deals with the history, principles and theories of project management, taking in procedures that project managers use to ensure delivery on time, budget and quality, for instance, and focusing on the initiation of students’ analytical and critical skills in understanding project requirements, performance and risks. Consideration of wider sustainability, safety and societal issues expands students’ insight into the role of the project manager in negotiating good, balanced project outcomes. This approach gives students a more rounded appreciation of how projects are delivered – and establishes their ability to articulate how and why projects succeed or fail.

Lectures and discussions in class, as well as software training are informed by selected reading tasks.

Students are required to submit a portfolio at the end of the module. The module leader provides formative feedback on a group presentation, and students receive their first phase of training and experience of project planning using an industry-standard tool for project planning and management (such as Asta PowerProject) – training on this tool continues in a Year Two module (Management 3: New Build Projects).

Aims:

To provide students with a basic working understanding of:
1. the project – its purpose, actors, responsibilities and life-cycle, and key theories;
2. project planning – common approaches to mobilisation, design, delivery and evaluation;
3. how the above concepts manifest themselves within projects in the construction industry,Ìýincluding notable modern examples of success and failure;
4. the differences between managing one-off projects and longer term, programmes; and,
5. current debates about project management practices and the challenges that projectÌýmanagers need to address.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Describe the purpose, structure and life-cycle of a project, including the roles of people,Ìýteams, leadership and culture.
• Appreciate in broad terms how a range of factors influence project performance (e.g. quality,Ìýsustainability), and start to consider what project success and failure look like.
• Articulate how projects are typically configured (i.e. in terms of resources, and budget) andÌýhow risk is managed.
• Discuss in detail the project management tools, standards and protocols that are relevant toÌýthe construction of buildings and infrastructure.
• Identify potential problems and flaws in project plans and approaches (e.g. via critical pathÌýanalysis).
• Apply this knowledge to create a basic project execution plan and a project programme/schedule and project success and/or failure criteria for a simple building project.