BM1004 Project Essentials Module Briefing | UCLan

BM1004 Session Outcomes

• Introduce you to the module
• Examine the module information pack, its contents and the overall module requirements.
• Opportunity to ask questions about the module.
• Gain an insight into the support available on the module.
• Learn about the key dates associated with this module and what steps are required next.

BM1004 Module Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify the techniques involved in the structuring of projects in a specific scenario
• Utilise appropriate theoretical frameworks in a specific Business and Management context.
• Acquire and develop project management skills suitable for the business environment.
• Work collaboratively with peers on a specified project. 

By completing and passing the assessment, you will demonstrate learning outcomes 1,2,3 and 4.

BM1004 Module Delivery

The module will be delivered over 12 weeks of teaching and in 3 phases:

• Phase 1 – Weeks 1 – 2: ‘Elevate’ programme delivery in conjunction with the centre for SME
• Phase 2 - Weeks 3 - 9: This will provide students with the appropriate guidance to support project completion
• Phase 3 – Week 9 – 12: Project team meetings and assessment submission.

BM1004 Module Structure

• Lectures will be more directed in their approach over the course of the semester, and when there is content that you are required to engage with, you will be given a warning.
• An example of this is the technical upskilling required to use the software for the assessment, which will be recorded and made available to you.
• The module team may also direct you to content for you to watch and engage with. This will be assessment-related.
• Keep an eye on the “Announcements” on Teams each week.

BM1004 Module Structure-Workshops

• Workshops will be delivered in face-to-face sessions.
•  Workshops will be delivered by a dedicated tutor, and this will not change over the course of the semester.  Your workshop tutor will also mark your assessment.
• Your workshop will be a 3-hour, content-focused session designed to upskill you on project-related content.
• There will be many activities to support the development of knowledge, and it will be an environment to ask questions and gain any clarity on the content.
• Themes within the workshops will be areas such as: collaborative working, project management, project planning and environmental analysis.

BM1004 Module Teaching Overview

Assessment

1 Assessment

Learning Support....and How to Access It

• The primary source of information will be via the Module Blackboard space.  
• As an enrolled student, you are automatically added to this space and should have full visibility.  If, for any reason, you don’t see it, please let us know.
• Blackboard can be accessed via the Student Hub – this will likely be your homepage. It can also be accessed via uclan.ac.uk (and then clicking the students button) or by typing UCLan Blackboard into your preferred search engine.
• The module will also have a dedicated Microsoft Teams space, and all students have been added to this.  
• The communication via Teams will work similarly to BM1005 during semester 1 in that students will receive a weekly communications update that outlines the content and requirements for the next week of teaching.
• Remember that the module space on Teams is not just one way in terms of communication.  It is really important that students are using it as a way to ask questions, offer comments and also give any feedback on the module.
• Project groups will also have their own private channel to support assessment completion and collaboration. 

BM1004-Assessment

• The assessment will measure learning outcomes 1,2, 3 and 4.
• Remember that learning outcomes are what you need to demonstrate to pass a module.  You do this by completing and passing the assessment – the assessment measures the learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are:

• Identify the techniques involved in the structuring of projects in a specific scenario.
• Utilise appropriate theoretical frameworks in a specific Business and Management context.
• Acquire and develop project management skills suitable for the business environment.
• Work collaboratively with peers on a specified project. 

BM1004 – Assessment: What is required?  

• You have been commissioned by the deputy head for student experience within the Business School to produce a brochure that outlines your plans for the graduation ball that is taking place in July 2026.
• Each brochure must contain 4 sections, and each section must be written by a different member of the project team.
• You will have to make several decisions around the event itself and provide a detailed rationale throughout.
• You will be required to submit your brochure using Microsoft Sway. 

Each brochure will have 4 sections:

• 1/ A detailed overview of the event.  In short, an event plan that outlines what you are going to do and why
• 2/ Event marketing overview with marketing timeline. In short, how will you promote it and why?
• 3/ Event costings overview – how will you fund the event itself?
• 4/ Project implementation plan – the overall management of the event 
• The assessment is a collaborative project, and you are expected to work in self-selected groups of 4.  
• These groups must be communicated to your workshop tutor, and they must be a group of 4. It is your responsibility to get yourself into a group.
• Whilst the assessment is a large piece of work, you will contribute to it individually as well as a group – more on this later.
• This assessment is not only going to test your project management skills, but it will also focus on your work within a project team, as well as your creativity skills.
• Once established in project teams, you will produce a brochure that outlines your event.
• As mentioned, there will be specific sections within the brochure, and it is expected that all brochures contain these sections.
• Each section will be around 1500 words. Each project team member will pick a section to complete.
• Workshops will support the development of the required knowledge to complete the assessment. 
• As previously discussed, the brochure will be produced using Microsoft Sway, and you will be provided with upskilling on this – more shortly. 

BM1004 – Assessment Criteria:

• Assessment criteria are what you have to demonstrate to pass the assessment.  The strength with which you demonstrate will dictate the overall mark that you will receive for the assessment.
• Assessment criteria are what your workshop tutor will mark you on – nothing else.
• For this assessment, there are 3 areas that we will be marking you on:

1/ Presentation of Brochure
2/ Application and Understanding
3/ Project Collaboration 

Presentation of Brochure (30%)
 
Produce a professional-looking fundraising brochure using Microsoft Sway with all relevant sections completed.  Clearly referenced using Harvard standards with a references list.

Application and Understanding (50%) 

Use of reliable theory (from texts, journals, and reliable news) to support understanding of the event and project management process.  Supporting research will have been used to explain the required steps within each section of the report, and students will have identified methods for assessing internal and external situations via the use of appropriate environmental analysis. Within each section, there will be evidence of a supporting rationale for any decisions that have been made around the event. 

Project Collaboration (20%)

Show evidence of structuring the brochure, working collaboratively, and allocating tasks to team members. The finished content of the portfolio will vary between teams, but it is expected that each brochure will have a section on:
 
1/ A detailed overview of the event 
2/ Event marketing overview with marketing timeline
3/ Event costings overview
4/ Project implementation plan 

BM1004 – Assessment Information

• Assessment Deadline – 26th July 2024 at 13:00 (1 pm) – please note that this is the final time you can submit, not the time you submit.
• Assessment Submission – Via the Module Blackboard Space under Assignments and Assignment submission. You will then submit via your workshop group. A template will be provided to support the submission, and a video to support the submission process.
• Assessment Format – Microsoft Sway –  You are expected to complete and include the assessment cover sheet and which is available on Blackboard.
• Assessment length – 6000 words (+/- 10%) 

BM1004 – How will we mark you?

• As mentioned, this is a collaborative assessment and not like a traditional group assessment.
• Your overall mark will be generated from the individual work completed and the work completed within the collaborative setting.
• 80% of your total assessment grade will be derived from the individual work that you produce, and this will take the form of the chosen individual section of the brochure and the other contributions made.
• 20% of the total assessment grade will be derived from the collaborative elements that are discussed within the assessment criteria.
• This allows all students to receive the grade that their individual efforts reflect and are not bound by the work of others. 

BM1004 – Assessment Support

• Over the coming weeks, there are several ways in which you can gain the necessary information and support required for assessment completion.
• Module attendance is key – we will be discussing the key aspects of the project, and this will support assessment completion.
• Interacting and engaging with both of the workshops will elevate your chances of success with the assessment.
• You should all be working on the assessment, adopting a ‘little and often’ * strategy – there is not long until the submission date.
• You will also have the opportunity to gain formative feedback on work completed at specific points between now and the deadline date.
• During the week commencing 18th March, an online session will be made available to talk you through Microsoft Sway. 
• A tutor will also be holding several 1-2-1 and group drop-in sessions to support with Microsoft Sway.
• The workshops will be a mixture of supportive content and then time to work on the project (hence the computer rooms).
• On specific weeks, workshop tutors will also offer the opportunity to gain formative feedback on work completed so far. 

Assessment Completion: Microsoft Sway – what is it?

• Sway is a digital storytelling tool. By adding a variety of content, Sway makes it easy to create a share media, personal stories, blogs and journals.
• Think of Sway as an online version of PowerPoint with a lot more capability.
• You build your content using cards (like slides) and the result looks like a web page. 
• Sway is completely online; you don’t download anything to use.  It is accessed via Sway.com, and to log in, you use your UCLan ID.
• Sway is also completely shareable and can be worked on by multiple people at the same time. 

BM1004 – Assessment Tips: 

• Follow the assessment brief and ensure you include all relevant sections.
• Ensure you have communicated your group of 4 to your workshop tutor.
• Ensure you complete your assessment using Microsoft Sway – there will be plenty of  support available.
• Use the reading list to support with completion of the assessment.
• Ensure your submission meets the assessment criteria.
• The project starts now!