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NCC

6
Unit:
Project Management

Assignment title:
Red Echo Construction
December 2015

lntroduction
This assignment is weighted at 70% of the overall module mark. lt is anticipated that, for
most students, Task 2 will be performed as group work. However, if this is not possible
then Task 2 can be compleled as an individual evaluation using the specific instructions
for this.

Case study
Red Echo Construction (REC)
As the world economy improves, large organisations involved with infrastructure projects
and construction are reviewing their business models. The demands of different sorts of
construction mean that market specialisation is increasingly the key to success. Large
construction projects, for example, often require innovative materials and technologies to
be employed. At the other end ofthe scale, building houses and offices requires a close
focus on environmental standards for building and local regulations. And today's houses
and offices require increasingly sophisticated technology to be installed to handle
information technology, access and environmental requirements.
Red Echo Construction (REC) are not immune to the globalforces discussed above. The
senior management and board of the company have decided upon a new divisional global
structure, set out below.
Global lnfrastructure Division (large projects such as roads, bridges, tunnels,
airports and seaports)
Consultancy and Pro.iects Division (construction consullancy, civil engineering and
project management)
Building Division (housebuilding, oftice building and similar)

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It has been determined that the divisions will be supported by standardised computer
systems wherever and whenever possible. Accordingly, a programme of new
developments has been planned.

This includes:
new websites lo target and support markets for the three divisions
a standard enterprise resource planning (ERP) system throughout the company
a time recording and management system to support consultancy, engineerlng and
project management activities across the divisions
a worKlow system to support the process of gaining permissions and managing
compliance with regulatory and environmental requirements in multiple jurisdictions
a contract estimating and management system to help control and manage
suppliers and sub-contractors.

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ln preparing this assignment you may base your response on any of the above project
arcas or you may choose any other initialive that supporls the strategy set out above.
Explain any assumptions you make.
(REC represents a large construction business wishing to reorganise its way of doing
business - it is not based upon any real organisation. You may research and employ
information about real-life construction and related organisations to support and illustrate
your response to the assignment.)
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Task 1-eoirarks
lndividual proposal
Choose an lT improvement area and prepare a proposal and project plan (including a
quality plan). You need to cover the context of the project, the benefits of the proposed
solution, the overall poect management approach, the work breakdown structure and the
project timing/sequence. lf you choose an lT improvement area other than the ones listed
in the case study, you should document any assumptions you have made and the sources
of research that have led you to this choice.

You must submit this work as an individual project proposal document addressed to REC
The word count for this proposal document is 1500 words.

Task 2

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Group ol individual evaluation

Most students will perform this task as a group evaluation. lf this is not possible, carry out
this task as an individual evaluation, as set out below.
Group evaluation
Students are assigned to project teams, normally consisting of between 2 and 4
students.
Teams choose TWO (2) projects with different topics or approaches and critically
evaluate altemative project management approaches to lhe proposed projects
(e.9. agile, waterfall, spiral, other). ln the evaluation, different toolsets should be
examined and the mix of tools and techniques that are suilable to be used for each
project determined. Discussion of the use of tools and techniques should be illustrated
using the chosen projects.
Compare the two projects and select ONE (1). Justify your selection and the selection
criteria used.

Groups must submit:

An evaluation document identifying and justifying the most suitable approach, tools and
techniques to be employed for each chosen project.
A submission justifying and detailing the selected project. The tam may choose which
of the following formats to deliver the submission in.
o A single document
o A PowerPoint presentation supported by notes
The word count for this co-authored report is 2000 words.

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lndlvidual evaluatlon
Select ONE (1) project and critically evaluate alternative approaches to the proposed
poect (e.9. agile, waterfall, spiral, other). ln your evaluation, discuss different toolsets and
the mix of tools and techniques that are suilable to be used for this project. Suggest ways
in which an effective project team can be built and motivated. Support and illustrate your
discussions using the chosn projecl.

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lndividuals must submit:

An evaluation document identifying and justifying the most suitable approach, tools and
techniques to be employed for the project, and suggesting ways in which an effective
project team can be built and motivated, You may choose which of the following
formats to deliver the submission in.
A single document
A PowerPoint presentation supported by notes
A podcast
The word count for this task is 1000 words.

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Task3-eouarrs
lndividual appralsal

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Critically evaluate the academic literature relating to project success, specifically with
respect to how risk and quality-planning methods aid success. Discuss how the
success of the project might be evaluated.
Setf-reflect on your leaning experiences in completing the assignment, developmental
needs revealed and ways of addressing them. What further development might you
consider to improve your project management skills and knowledge? lf you performed
Task 2 as a group assignment, what was your individual contribution? Did you
encounter any complexities due to working as a team?
Discuss the importance and relevance of the project (including how it will be evaluated)
to the case organisation.

You must submit this work as an individual report. The word count for thjs report is 1500

words.

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Submission requirements

lf you carry oul Task 2 as group work, you are required to submit TWO (2)

word-processed documents.

A copy of the co.authored rsport produced for Task 2, with a covering page clearly
indicating who has written each section. All members of the group must submit an
identical co-authored report. The word count is 2000 words, not including the
appendices and references.

An individual report, containing:

lndividual proposal (Task 1)
lndividual appraisal (Task 3)
The word count is 3000 words, not including the appendices and references

Students who carry out Task 2 as individual work are required to submit a single
word-processed document containing their work for all tasks. The word count is
4000 words, not including the appendices.
All documents should be properly structured with a table of contents, bibliography
(online and literature sources) and appendices (where necessary). Refer lo the
Assignment Presentation Requirments for more informalion. (See front cover).
Produce clear and specific reasoning and argument to justify answers
Work containing viruses, or work that cannot be run directly, will result in a fail grade
being awarded for this assessmenl.

All documents and slides should be submitted in one .ZlP file per student, using the
following filename format:
Is tu d e nt n u m b e rl Jm o.l u I el Jc o m po ne ntl

For example: 0001 23156789-Pu-GroupAssignment

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Candidate checklist
Plase use the following checklist to ensure that your work is ready for submission
Have you read the NCC Education documenb What is Academic
Misconduct? Guidance for Candidates and Avoiding Plagiaism and
Collusion: Guidance for Candidates a.\d ensured that you have
acknowledged all the sources that you hav6 used in your work?
Have you completed lhe Statement and Confirmation ol Own
form and attached it to your assignment? You must do this.

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Have you ensured that your work has not gone over or underthe
rcommended word count by more than 107o?
Have you ensured that your work does not conlain viruses and can
be run directly?

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