Project Management and Communication Course Descriptor

Course Overview

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the principles, practices and methodologies used in project management. Students will evaluate and critique a number of industry-standard project methodologies. There is a particular focus on sustainability in terms of societal, economic, and environmental impact. The appropriateness of the project method will be assessed depending on the predictability of outcome, scale, time-frame, resources and complexity of tasks. It also gives students the knowledge and skills tools to be effective change agents in modern business through effective project management and communication. This will involve a range of communication methods used in business and the digital sectors. The course examines the breadth and diversity of stakeholders and their levels of engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Techniques and strategies for negotiating and influencing a breadth of stakeholders in order to implement technological change will be explored. Students will consider different theoretical principles to communicate complex concepts effectively with a range of different stakeholders.

Course Aims

• To develop knowledge of the project lifecycle and project constraints.
• To develop the knowledge and skills required for stakeholder management throughout the phases of the project lifecycle.
• To evaluate and apply the negotiation and influencing techniques, suitable for a diverse range of stakeholders.
• To assess and apply project management techniques.
• To acquire the skills to communicate in a structured and persuasive manner, suitable for a range of stakeholders.

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 course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage you in your studies.

The scheduled teaching and learning activities for this course are:

Lectures/Labs: Contact hours are typically a mix of weekly lectures and lab sessions, totalling up to 50 scheduled hours:

• Version 1: All sessions in the same sized group, or
• Version 2: most of the sessions in larger groups; some of the sessions in smaller groups

Faculty hold regular ‘office hours’, which are opportunities for students to drop in or sign up to explore ideas, raise questions, or seek targeted guidance or feedback, individually or in small groups.

Students are to attend and participate in all the scheduled teaching and learning activities for this course and to manage their directed learning and independent study.

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 150

Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment are used as part of this course, with formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching activities delivered via the VLE.

Summative

Further information about the assessments can be found in the Course Syllabus.

Feedback

Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments or via the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).

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

• Roeder, T. (2013). Managing Project Stakeholders: Building a Foundation to Achieve Project Goals. Somerset: Wiley
• McCarthy, A. and Hay, S. (2015). Advanced Negotiation Techniques. California: Apress; New York : Springer
• Paquette, P. and Frankl, M. (2016). Agile Project Management for Business Transformation Success. New York : Business Expert Press
• O’Hair, D. and Dixon, L. D. (2002). Strategic Communication in Business and the Professions., Boston : Houghton Mifflin
• Weiss, M. (2015). Presentation Skills : Educate, Inspire and Engage Your Audience, New York : Business Expert Press

Journals

Learners are encouraged to read material from relevant journals on business best practices and industry standards as directed by their course trainer.

Indicative Topics

Note: Comprehensive and current topics for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students. The indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Fundamentals of Project Management
• Project Lifecycles
• Scope Management
• Cost Estimation and Budgeting
• Schedule Management
• Risk Management
• Communication Management
• Business Communication
• Project Evaluation and Control
• Agile Project Management Methods

Version History