RBP020L055S Advanced Project Management Summative Assessments | UoR

Instructions for Summative Assessments RBP020L055S

There are two summative assessments. One is an MCQ timed through Moodle assessment, and the other is to be written in the form of a report, with a brief abstract, table of contents, headings, subheadings and bibliography, etc. An executive summary is not required.

Assessment 1: Timed MCQ Assessment

You are required to review a set number of questions and select the most appropriate answer/answers.

The questions are based on the module learning outcomes and the associated learning content that has been undertaken.

Assessment 2: Case Study Analysis

You are required to choose from the following project case studies, all of which are relatively well documented online and in textbooks. Note that some are great successes, some are terrible failures, and some could be argued either way depending on your perspective. All are well documented, but do make sure you focus on the way project management processes were (or were not) followed, and do not use up large word count on engineering or technical descriptions, as this is not an engineering module:

• Space Shuttle Challenger testing and launch 
• Crossrail implementation on London’s tube network
• The Shard UK design and build
• Boeing 787 development
• The Thames Tideway Upgrading London’s Sewer System

Students belonging to the MBA Healthcare group can also consider one of the following projects an alternative to the 5 above:

London North-West University Healthcare NHS Trust

• This is a project concerning the digitisation of patients' records.

Google Healthcare Data Engine

• This project goal is to allow access to more complete patient records to make diagnoses more quickly and accurately.

Options

Environmental Projects (UK, Europe or World): Energy, Utilities, Flood and Coastal Erosion

There must be a major project undertaking to base your development on.

Alternative options: 

1. If you have access to adequate sources of information, you are free to approach your tutor to suggest an alternative case study for your work, particularly if you have personal experience of it. Such requests will only be granted if the Module Convener believes the subject may be appropriate and that the information available is public domain and can therefore be verified and referenced.  Please discuss initially with your seminar tutor, who will initially indicate if appropriate and sufficient material is available.

2. If you are studying through one of Roehampton University’s partner institutions around the world, your tutor may give you additional project options from, or relevant to, your local environment.

Your job for this assignment is to analyse and critique the success or failure of the project, specifically in terms of its project management capability and to tell us what you have learned from this. For example, Burj Khalifa was an engineering success story but as a project, can it, and should it, be seen as successful? In this particular case, how does it compare to ‘The Shard’ in its approach to development and construction techniques?   Do not get distracted by the detail of the engineering processes or technical design. These may be important, but your focus MUST be on the application of the project management process throughout the project’s lifecycle.  Specifically, analyse the case’s approach to risk management and stakeholder management. You will draw on the perspectives of project management best practice and academic literature and demonstrate your understanding of how the case does or does not reflect this best practice. The tasks and marking criteria are as follows:  

1. Discuss and critique the project team’s approach to the management of project risk (20%)
2. Analyse the approach to stakeholder management (20%)
3. Decide to what extent you believe the project (or some aspects of it) should be seen as a success. Critique and compare your view with that of others (media, investors, employees, etc.) and justify your position. Having reviewed risk management, stakeholder management and the success or failure of the project, what lessons can be learned. (25%)
4. From above (and wider project investigations in a similar field), what can you offer to help the profession of project management in its applied application to projects?  Specifically, if you were writing an article for the Association of Project Managers, what would you highlight to the readers to help them in their careers and to do their own jobs better? (25%). Note this is separate from section 3 above.
5. Overall quality of writing, presentation and academic standards (referencing syntax, etc.). (10%)
This is an individual report and should be approximately 3,500 words, not including references, diagrams, tables, appendices and headings.

To help you, the following is a suggested template structure for your report, although this is not prescriptive and you are free to use a different structure if you prefer:

• Title Page
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
• Brief Introduction to the Project – what, why, where and when
• Risk Management – approach to project risk management, major risks to project success, how specific risks were dealt with, etc.
• Stakeholder Management – who were the major stakeholders, why important, and how were they managed?
• Success Review – in what way was the project a success or failure – justify from multiple perspectives. What did you learned from the project you are reviewing? This could be a separate heading: Lessons learned?
• Project Management Professional Application – this is worth 25% of the marks, so spend some time on this and demonstrate depth of understanding. (see below)
• conclusions
• References
• Bibliography 
• Appendices (if needed)