NCHNAL589 Information Technology Project Management Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course covers the tools and techniques used to manage information technology (IT) projects. Topics include project planning, scheduling, and budgeting and project management tools (PERT/CPM/Gantt). Discusses all phases of IT projects from proposal evaluation through post implementation reviews. Offers students an opportunity to plan and develop a project that provides a practical application of the topics covered in class. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of IT project management using industry-standard cloud-based technology e.g. using ServiceNow training.

Course Aims

• Train students in the tools and techniques used to manage IT projects.
• Train students in project planning, scheduling, budgeting and project management tools.
• Train students in how to develop project planning documents.
• Allow students to explore project processes that provide a practical application of topics in this course.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year.

This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

• On-line learning
• On-line discussion groups
• On-line assessment

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Learning and teaching (6 days x 8 hours) = 48 hours 
• Independent study = 102 hours 

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 150 hours 

Assignments (see below) will be completed as part of private study.

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide students with developmental feedback. 

Summative

Assessment will be in two forms:

Feedback

Students will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Students will also attend a formal meeting with their Academic Mentor (and for apprentices, including their Line Manager). These bi- or tri-partite reviews will monitor and evaluate the student’s progress.

Feedback is provided on summatively assessed assignments and through generic internal examiners’ reports, both of which are posted on the VLE.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

• Schwalbe, K., (2019), Information Technology Project Management, Boston, Mass.: Course Technology Cengage Learning
• Castillo, F., (2016), Managing Information Technology, Cham: Springer International Publishing
• Hughes, B., (2012), Project management for IT-related projects, Swindon: BCS

Journals

Students are encouraged to consult relevant journals on IT project management. 

Electronic Resources

Students are encouraged to consult relevant electronic resources on IT project management. 

Indicative Topics

• Projects, Program and Portfolios in the Organisation
• Project Initiation and the Project Charter
• Project Scope