BCM6322 Managing Projects Assignment Briefs T2 2024-25 | Amity University

BCM6322 Assignment Briefs 

1. Purpose of the Assessments

To assess understanding of key principles and theories in Project Management and the ability of the students to apply these principles and theories to business and management.

2. Assessment Tasks

There are two assessment tasks for this module.

Each task is an individual assignment.

2.1 AS1 Presentation, weighting 30% of the mark (LO1)

Create a 15 minute visual presentation in MS PowerPoint describing the application of effective Agile project management processes, methodologies and knowledge areas. Describe how agile project management relates to project success/failure and when agile project management practices are unsuitable.

You are asked to:

1. Define the concept of Agile Project Management and its differences to the Waterfall project execution method.  
2. Identify the conceptual building blocks of Agile that make its process so attractive to software developers and many other project managers in- and outside of the IT community and when  Agile project management practices are unsuitable.
3. Critically explain the typical stages of the agile project lifecycle.
4. Drawing on academic sources, what are the benefits, challenges, limitations and potential impacts on organisational performance of Agile?
5. An increasing number of managers recognize the need for agile execution. Put forward at least four recommendations and a maximum of six recommendations for integrating and synchronizing the systems of Waterfall and Agile and scaling Agile to larger projects.

2.2 AS2 Individual report, 3000 words, weighing 70% (LO2, LO3)

This assignment is the second of two assessment tasks for this module. It is an individual assignment which accounts for 70% of the final grade given.

The assignment will hone s tudents’ report writing skills and the application of those skills to the exacting discipline of proposal writing, a skill of growing importance for employability in the contemporary economy. 

Task: 

Write a proposal to project manage the construction of a cutting-edge ecological office in the city of your school.

Consider how best to carry out this project and address the following 8 sections in your proposal:

1. Summary: A short 150 words description of the contents and structure of the proposal.
2. Project Method, Scope & Deliverables:  Justification of the method - Waterfall, Agile or Hybrid – that will be used to implement the project. An outline of the boundaries of the project, and a description of how the project will be broken down into measurable deliverables with regards to the triple constraints of Time, Cost and Specification. Collect primary data by visiting and referencing appropriate websites.
3. Project Schedule: Produce a high-level Gantt chart or AON network diagram of project tasks and milestones showing work break down structure, timing, and precedence. Collect primary data by visiting relevant websites. Critically reflect on the advantages of PERT or CCPM for this particular project. 
4. Project Resources and Management Strategies - the budget, personnel, the team structure and management style of the project team. Critically reflect on the effects of remote working among some members of the project team and how to motivate them. Collect realistic cost and budget data by visiting appropriate websites.
5. Risk and Issue Management Plan: A list of factors that could derail the project and a plan for how issues will be identified, addressed, and controlled. Critically reflect on numerate and non-numerate forms of risk management.
6. Control Strategy - Review the various forms of control strategy; select with critical evaluation the most appropriate control strategy for the project development.
7. Communication Plan: A plan for how team and stakeholder communication will be handled over the course of the project in respect of the communication objective/s for each category of stakeholder, the main communication method or channel that will be used in each case and the frequency of contact.
8. Conclusions - a review of the process which will be undertaken and likelihood of success bearing in mind that many such projects are delivered late and over budget.

Where appropriate, the proposal will include the use of detailed Layout and Flow Design examples. Charts should also be used regarding Work-Flow, Project tasks and milestones.

Word Limit:

The assessment should be limited to 3,000 words (+/- 10%). If the word count is less than 2,700 words or more than 3,300 words you must revise the text keep within the limits. 

Style requirements: except for the titles and subtitles, you should not highlight text, which must be in Arial size 11, without indentations. The main title should be highlighted in font size 16, and the subtitles highlighted in size 14. Additionally, the space between lines should be one and a half and the space between paragraphs should be twelve point. The work must be submitted in report, not essay form, and requires an Introduction, the main body with subtitles and a conclusion.

3. Sources

It is expected that the Reference List of the report will contain at least fifteen sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should include peer reviewed academic papers from three refereed academic journals and five academic books.

4. Specific Assessment Criteria (Marking scheme)

Please note that the General Assessment Criteria will also apply.

AS1 Presentation: Marking Scheme

Presentation slides to be uploaded on Moodle. 
Quality of Slides (20/100)
Quality of Presentation (30/100)
Content (50/100)
Total: 100 marks available

Please note that the General Assessment Criteria will also apply.

AS2, Individual Report Marking scheme

Work will be assessed on its relevance, content, depth, structure and expertise as set out in the grid below. 

Content, Relevance and Depth: 

Work should demonstrate understanding of the key elements of a feasibility study, project proposal and project life cycle. 
Work should demonstrate sensitive awareness and understanding of the political, environmental and legal issues involved in complex project planning and proposal writing.

Referencing:

The quality of your academic referencing is very important. You must use the Harvard Referencing System and follow its protocols.

Structure:

The writing will be assessed on the organisation of material; clear, logical flow of argument; and referencing of the relevant literature
Breakdown of marks:

1. Executive Summary: students must correctly specify the purpose of the proposal and highlight the major points that are going to be discussed.  (5/100 marks)  
2. Project Scope & Deliverables: students are to demonstrate an understanding of the project constraints, limitations and assumptions and analyse all the outputs, tangible and intangible. (15/100 marks)
3. Project Schedule: students are required to correctly outline what the project entails, which resources will be utilised and when the project will be finished. (20/100 marks)
4. Project Resources: students must specify the different elements necessary for the project to be completed. (15/100 marks)
5. Risk and Issue Management Plan: students should provide an analysis of the process for identifying, logging, monitoring and resolving risks and issues that may arise during the implementation of the project. (15/100 marks)
6. Control Strategy. Students should identify the means and method by which the project will be controlled, (15/100 marks)
7. Communication Management Plan: students should outline the types and expectations of the communications required for all stakeholders. (10/100 marks)
8. Conclusions:  the salient points of the proposal and likelihood of success. (5/100 marks)

Total marks awarded: 100

5. Submission Procedure 

Your assignment must be word processed and presented in a report format with simple sub-headings. The word count should be as specified in the assignment above±10%. Tables, diagrams, the reference list at the end and appendices are excluded from the count.  

The Assignment report should have a front sheet showing your name, your student number, the module name, the module number, the assignment title, the module tutor's name, the date and the actual word count of your submission.  

All assignments will be submitted, graded and fed-back electronically via TURNITIN. A draft submission will be permitted before the final hand-in date to enable you to benefit from formative feedback and refine the content your report .

To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area of the Module Moodle site. It is important that you submit your work to the correct module Moodle site, and that your work is submitted on time.

Feedback on assignments in general will be provided to the whole group when marked assignments are returned. Feedback on assignments for everyone will be provided electronically via TURNITIN.  

A student may obtain an individual appointment to discuss feedback with the tutor.

6.Submission Deadlines

Assignment AS1: upload slides by midnight 31st March 2025. In class presentation: 4th April 2025
Assignment AS2: Report due date: midnight 2nd May 2025

 7. Assessment Guidance

The quality of your presentation and academic referencing is very important. You must use the Harvard Referencing System.
Within your assignment your tutor will be looking for content that addresses the key elements of the assignment brief.

8. Academic Practice

Amity University [IN] London policy will apply in all cases of copying, plagiarism or any other methods by which students have obtained (or attempted to obtain) an unfair advantage.
Support and guidance on assessments and academic integrity can be found from the following resources:
Moodle / Policies and Procedures 
Moodle / Student Corner

9. Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes being addressed through these assignments are:

LO1 Critically analyse project planning approaches and techniques

LO2 Critically evaluate project management skills and control techniques.

LO3 Develop and critically evaluate project planning for a given scenario

BCM6322 General Assessment Guidelines for Written Assessments Level HE6