Week 12 - Implementation Stage

This week we will consider the implementation stage of the project life cycle, which means will will be thinking about putting our plan into action, and monitoring progress to make sure everything goes "according to plan"...

We will examine some techniques to check progress on our project, using Gantt charts and earned value.

The slides are in the  Implementation tab.

Weeks 10 and 11

In weeks 10 and 11 we will look at teams.  

One of the responsibilities of a project manager is to organise and co-ordinate the work of a team, so we will consider different team structures, team roles as identified and described by Belbin and Handy, and the life cycle of a project team in week 10.  

In the following week, we will consider management styles, motivation and factors identified as contributing to happiness at work (based on an independent survey).

Coursework queries

If you have any questions about the coursework, please submit them as comments here.

Kay

Question: what is this Beta distribution?

Good question.

The Beta distribution is a curve which enables us to identify the optimistic, most likely and pessimistic times, and calulcate the expected time.  If the distribution is skewed (leans more to one side than another) this will have the effect of moving the expected value from the most likely time nearer to the optimistic or pessimistic time.  If the calculation of the expected time is different from the most likely time, this will have an impact on the duration of an activity, and may change the critical path.

Beta distribution and how it is used

Week 9 - more planning tools

This week we will look at some additional tools and techniques available to the project manager, including PERT calculations, Gantt charts, resource allocation and containment calculations as part of dealing with risk.

The slides are in the Tools and Techniques tab (as PDF files and videos).

There are past exam questions as seminar exercises.

Week 8 - Planning tools and techniques

This week we will finish off the planning stage, and then start looking at planning tools and techniques.  This section will last for a couple of weeks.  We will start by looking at network diagrams and critical path analysis.

The slides are in the Tools and techniques tab as PDF files and videos.

There are past exam questions as seminar exercises.

Week 7 - risk analysis in the university

This week we are fortunate to have Sean Connolly, Director of the Strategic Programme Office, as our guest speaker.  Sean will be giving a presentation about how risk is identified and managed within the university, and using real examples to illustrate his talk.  There will be an opportunity to discuss the issues, and consider alternative approaches to dealing with risk.

Week 6 - planning stage

This week we will be looking at the planning stage of the project life cycle.

Why do we need to plan?  How do we plan?

We will look at SMART objectives and consider Work Breakdown Structure in more detail.

The slides are available in the Project Life Cycle tab.

Week 5 - risk

This week we will be looking at risk - what can possible go wrong, and what can be done about it.

If we can identify potential risks, this enables us to plan for what might happen.  We might be able to prevent the risk, or reduce its impact, or have a "Plan B" ready to swing into action if the risk occurs.

There is a video of the slides in the project life cycle tab.

Week 4 - financial feasibility

This week we are looking at feasibility, with a focus on financial feasibility.  We will consider a number of techniques, and calculating the Net Present Value using Discounted Cash Flow in particular.  This allows us to take into account the changing value of money over time, as we need to consider the expenditure and income associated with a project both now and in the future.

The slides are available in project life cycle tab, as this forms part of the conceptualisation stage.
There is a useful explanation of DCF and NPV here: 

 http://www.business-case-analysis.com/discounted-cash-flow.html

Week 3 - conceptualisation stage

This week we are looking in more detail at the project life cycle, and then focussing on the conceptualisation stage.  We will spend a few weeks on the features of the conceptualisation stage, including looking at risk and considering cost-benefit analysis. There is a video of this week's slides in the Project Life Cycle tab.

The coursework case study relates to SMARTS tailors, and the systems they require: SCIMITAR and FROSTIE.  The case study has been uploaded.

Week 2 - project life cycle

In week 2, we are looking at the project life cycle, and how the project life cycle relates to the development life cycle.

There is an online quiz to try in the workshop sessions (only available within the university).

Week 1 - projects and the role of project manager

In week 1, we had an overview of the module, including assessment and the timetable.

We also considered the the definition of a project, and the roles and responsibilities of a project manager.

Timetable queries

If you cannot see your timetable or login to weblearn, please check with your Personal Academic Tutor and/or the Undergraduate Office to ensure that you have been registered for the module.

Welcome to CC5001

This blog contains the teaching and learning materials for the intermediate level module CC5001 Project Planning and Project Management.

You will find the main topics appear as tabs along the top, with an outline of what will be covered each week as well as a video of the slides.

Please use this blog as your main source of information for the module:

• if you have any comments or questions relating to the module, please submit these as comments on the relevant blog post

• you may submit comment anonymously if you wish

• feel free to answer each other's questions if you would like to do so