Faculty of Business and Law

Level: 3 Module: SIM335 Managing Projects

Assignment Code: SIM335 Module Leader: Peter Coleman

Issue date: Friday 4th November 2016 Return date: Friday 13th January 2017

Contribution to module assessment: 100%

Students are required to submit their assignments through JIRA. Only

assessments submitted through JIRA will be marked. Any other submission
including submission to your study centre in hard copy will be treated as a non-
submission

This is an individual assignment - complete both tasks 1 and 2

Background: The assignment is intended to bring out the benefits and limitations of
different approaches to project planning and control by relating these to the
circumstances in the case outlined. It is also intended to allow students to demonstrate
their learning and competence in respect of the management of resources generally,
but in particular elements of scope, schedule, quality, and cost.

Task 1 (40% marks) 700 words (+/- 10%) each short answer question
requires a response in a few sentences for the questions awarded up to 4-
6 marks and a paragraph for questions awarded up to 8-10 marks.

1) What are the core principles/characteristics of any project

and why are they important? (8 marks).

2) The key to a successful project is the ‘scope statement’. What are the critical
steps when forming this ‘scope statement’ (6 marks)?

3) Using the information below, plot out a full project Gantt chart and
identify the critical path? How many days does it take to complete the
project? (6 marks).

Tasks Precedence Time

a - 4 days
b - 6 days
c a 6 days
d b 2 days
e b 5 days
f c 8 days

4) How do you explain the popularity of the payback method, given the limitations
of this method? (4 marks).

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 5) How would you assess and manage the risks in a project? What tools and
techniques might be included in the Risk management process? (6marks).?

6) What quality methods (project evaluation, monitoring and control)

would you introduce to ensure projects are completed successfully to
specification? (10 marks).

Task 2: (60% marks)

Case 2: Dennis Ltd is a consultancy company specialising in the sport and physical
activity sector. The organisations that they are commissioned by includes: local
authorities, charities, and private sector organisations. The company was founded in
2003 and has shown steady growth over the past thirteen years. They trade from
office accommodation (80 square metres) in a major city in England. At present the
company employs 1 General Manager, 5 Lead Consultants, 3 Administration staff,
and 2 Marketing Officers.

Dennis Ltd has provided you as a project manager – to a local authority - relating to a
one off special project. This project is concerned with ensuring the initial opening and
operational requirements of the new leisure facility are identified. Please note this
new leisure facility will already be built to a 21st Century standard. The provision
includes: swimming pool, sports hall, dry and wet changing facilities, two dance
studios with additional health and fitness provision in the form of a state of the art
fitness centre.

As Project Manager, you are responsible for the ensuring the initial opening and
operational requirements of the new facility are identified. You are required to
prepare a report concerning the main issues to be addressed from a project
management perspective (2,300 words). From a project management perspective
outline the activities required to successfully implement this new initiative, ensuring
that it can open on-time, to the correct quality specification and within budget. Again,
you should note that you are taking possession of a purpose-built building and have
to address the issues that would allow the building to be operated by your client. You
should note that the emphasis should be concerned with you communicating your
knowledge of project management.

The analysis should include the skills and competencies required by yourself, the
Project Manager, along with the project management process. Use examples of the
concerns, project life cycle stages, processes, leadership, administration and control
problems associated with a project.

You are required to prepare a report concerning the main issues to be addressed
from a project management perspective (2,300 words +/- 10%).

Assignment presentation and assessment

The answers to both tasks are independent and should be addressed separately.

Task 1 answers to six questions – (700 words) – completed as an individual

task

Task 2 a report that is produced for task two (2300 words) – completed as an
individual task

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For your convenience both tasks should be submitted as one document, which
contains both individual tasks.

The criteria for assessing the task two report will be:

Report presentation (20%) (12 marks)

The extent to which the assignment represents an effective report. This will be
judged on:

Appearance: Is a word count included at the end of the report? Is it within the
specified amount? Is the text double spaced?

Structure: Does the report follow the conventions of the format? Does it have a clear
introduction, explaining how it answers the questions? Do the sections of the report
develop ideas in a logical sequence? Are diagrams or other subsidiary information
shown in appendices?

Spelling and grammar: Are all words spelled correctly and is the meaning of
sentences clear?

Referencing: Have appropriate references been included in the report. Has a

recognised referencing system been used for notation? (see relevant section in the
Guide to Basic Study Skills)

Use of relevant theory (40%) (24 marks)

Has the right theoretical content been chosen as the basis for answering the
questions? Is there evidence of the use of course notes and books? Is the theory that
is selected significant to the questions?

Analysis (40%) (24 marks)

This measures the extent to which students develop a structured argument for the
points they make, by combining relevant theory with the information provided in the
questions.

Any work submitted is subject to the University's rules and procedures

governing infringement of assessment regulations.

Module Leader: Peter Coleman Moderated by: Dr Linda Anne

Barkas

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Grading Criteria SIM335 Managing Projects Individual
Assignment

First Class (70 – 100%)

A creative and original response to the question. Critically
reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and
appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on
reading and experiences. Answer written fluently, with
evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work
systematically and argue logically.

Upper Second Class (60 – 69%)

Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories.
Appropriate application of theory and experience to the
question answered. Ability to inter-relate concepts and ideas.
Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and
limitations. Answer systematically structured and coherent.

Lower Second Class (50-59%)

Evidence of knowledge of concepts and theories. Attempts to
relate and balance theory and practice. Main issues
addressed appropriately. Mainstream texts and lecture notes
used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments
weak in places.

Third Class (40-49%)

Evidence of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and
theories. Limited attempts to relate theory and practice
relaying on personal opinion or assertions. Limited evidence
of reading. Presentation and structure weak in several places.

Fail (0 – 39%)
Some knowledge of main concepts and theory but major
omissions and / or misunderstandings. Style and structure
weak and overly descriptive. Considerable limitations in
ability to perceive the relationship of theory and practice.
Limited reading.

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SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 20016/17)
Task 2
Criteria 70% + 60-69% 50-59% 40-49% <40%
Use of The report identifies all the relevant The report identifies most of the On the whole, the report identifies The report identifies some of the The report fails to identify the
relevant theories to answer to complete the relevant theories to answer to the relevant theories required to relevant theories to answer to relevant theories to answer to
theory task. The theories used are complete the task. On the whole, answer to complete the task. The complete the task. The theories complete the task. The theories
described in detail. There is clear the theories used are described in theories used are sometimes used are partly described. There is used are not described. There is no
Indicative evidence that course notes, books detail. There is clear evidence that described in detail. Overall, there is some evidence that course notes, evidence that course notes, books
weighting = and other sources are used. course notes and books are used. clear evidence that course notes and books are used. Theories used or other sources are used. Theories
40% of 60 Theories used are significant in Theories used are largely and books are used. Theories used are sometimes significant in listing used are not significant in listing the
mark listing the activities required to significant in listing the activities are significant in listing the activities the activities required to activities required to successfully
(24 marks) successfully plan and manage a required to successfully plan and required to successfully plan and successfully plan and manage a plan and manage a major project.
major project. manage a major project. manage a major project. major project.
Analysis There is evidence of extensive There is evidence of some There is evidence of some research There is evidence of limited There is no evidence of research
research from a variety of sources extensive research from a variety of to provide better understanding to research being conducted to from a variety of sources to provide
Indicative to provide better understanding to sources to provide better the background of the task but provide better understanding to the better understanding to the
weighting = the background of the task. A understanding to the background of sources are not extensive. There is background of the task but sources background of the task. There is no
40% of 60 structured argument is taken for the the task. A structured argument is some structured argument taken for are not extensive. There is limited structured argument taken for the
mark points made by combining relevant taken for the points made, often by the points made. The relevant structured argument taken for the points made. The relevant theories
(24 marks) theories with information combining relevant theories with theories are not always combined points made. There are only limited are not combined with information
researched or provided in the task. information researched or provided with information researched or combinations of the relevant researched or provided in the task.
The conclusions are clear and link in the task. The conclusions on the provided in the task. The theories with information The conclusions are unclear and
into the requirements of the task. whole are clear and link into the conclusions are not clear and have researched or provided in the task. only descriptive. Conclusions also
requirements of the task. only limited linkages into the The conclusions are descriptive and do not link into the requirements of
requirements of the task. do not link into the requirements of the task.
the task.
Presentation The presentation is clear. There are The presentation is on the whole The presentation is partially clear. The clarity of the presentation of the The presentation is unclear. There
and no or few spelling or grammatical clear, there are no or few spelling or There are occasional spelling and project is limited. There are spelling numerous spelling or grammatical
Structure errors. The report has been grammatical errors. The project has or grammatical errors. The project and or grammatical errors. The errors. The report has not been
referenced correctly, using the been referenced correctly, using the has not always been referenced project has not been referenced referenced correctly, using the
Indicative Harvard style of referencing. A word Harvard style of referencing. A word correctly, using the Harvard style of correctly, using the Harvard style of Harvard style of referencing. A word
weighting = count is provided at the end of the count is provided at the end of the referencing. A word count is referencing. The layout is loose and count is not provided at the end of
20% of 60 report and is within the limit of 2000 report and is within the limit of 2000 provided at the end of the report but was difficult to follow. the report and is not within the limit
mark words. The report is text double- words. The report is text double- is not within the limit of 2000 words. of 2000 words. The report is not
(12 marks) spaced. spaced. The report is text double-spaced. The structure of the project is not text double-spaced.
clear, cohesive or logical. Each
The structure of the project is clear, The structure of the project is on The structure of the project is not chapter has been limited structured The structure of the project is
cohesive and logical. Each section the whole clear, cohesive and entirely clear, cohesive or logical. using some or no sub-headings unclear, inconsistent and illogical.
has been clearly structured using logical. Each chapter has been Each section has partially been (signposts), which made it very Sections are not clearly structured
sub-headings (signposts) and these clearly structured using sub- clearly structured using some sub- difficult to follow. Additional using sub-headings (signposts) and
follow a logical order. Additional headings (signposts) and these on headings (signposts) but it is diagrams and other subsidiary do not follow a logical order.
diagrams and other subsidiary the whole follow a logical order. difficult to follow. Additional information are not shown in the Additional diagrams and other
information are shown in the Additional diagrams and other diagrams and other subsidiary appendices and not properly subsidiary information are not
appendices and properly subsidiary information are shown in information are sometimes shown referenced. Appendices are shown in the appendices and not
referenced. Appendices are the appendices and properly in the appendices but not always irrelevant and are not able to properly referenced. Appendices
relevant and are able to provide a referenced. Appendices are mostly properly referenced. Appendices provide a better understanding to are irrelevant and are not able to
better understanding to the report. relevant and are able to provide a are occasionally relevant and are at the report. provide a better understanding to
better understanding to the report. times able to provide a better the report.
understanding to the report.

Total: 60 marks