LO1. Evaluate current issues in project management and its application in the business environment.
LO2. Critically evaluate different tools and techniques used in project management.
LO3. Assess the impact of hard and soft skills on the management of a variety of different projects
This assignment is an individual assignment.
This assignment requires you to prepare a Project Initiation Document, supported by a critical assessment of the project management theory, for the following project scenario:
Project Scenario
You’ve recently been appointed as a Project Management trainee with Sport Events Company (SEC) and you have been assigned to assist the team which will manage a University football tournament in Coventry. Also, you are expected to publicise the event that will take place in August 2019. A preliminary budget of £250,000 has been prepared based on 30 University football clubs expected to participate and around 10000 football fans. The location needs to be identified and all the appropriate arrangement needs to be made including merchandising.
Using appropriate project management theory and frameworks, prepare a Project Initiation Document (PID) (2500 words), to present to the company’s board of directors for approval.
Your report is to be split into two sections, as follows:
- The PID should address the following aspects of the project:
a. The project’s scope
b. An initial assessment of stakeholders and recommendations on how these stakeholders should be managed to maximize the chance of achieving the project’s objectives.
c. An initial assessment of risks and opportunities presented by the project and the response strategies proposed
d. An outline project plan (Gantt chart) showing the main tasks and significant milestones, supported by a justification of your proposed approach. The Gantt chart needs to show a minimum of 10 tasks.
Words: 1500-1700
- A review of the relevant project management theory, intended to provide additional credibility and offering theoretical justification for your approach to the project’s scope, stakeholders, risks and opportunities and project plan.
Words: 800-1000
There is no need for you to prepare an outline business case and project budget, as this will be prepared by a colleague.
The design of your project initiation document should take into consideration both the soft and hard skills necessary to ensure the project’s success.
Recommended Structure
Your assignment should be presented as a report, using the following structure:
Project Initiation Document
Introduction
Project Scope
Project Stakeholder Assessment
Risk Opportunity Assessment
Project Plan
Reference List
Word Count
The word count for this assignment is 2500 words. There is a 10% word limit tolerance (maximum/minimum range: 2250 to 2750 words). If your work is more than 10% over or under the word count limit you will receive a 10% penalty. The word limit includes quotations, but excludes the final reference list and appendices. Tables, figures, appendices and the final references list are omitted from the overall word count.
Ensure that all tables, diagrams and models are labelled, include a citation and are discussed in the text.
You must state the number of words used on the front cover of the assignment.
Source Material
You are required to research and apply project management theory in order to successfully complete this assignment. In order to pass, you will need to use a minimum of 10 separate sources, including a minimum of 3 textbooks and 3 journal articles.
Criteria for Assessment
This table details the weightings of the six criteria by which your work will be assessed.
Criteria Weighting (%)
Research and selection of project management theory to support the assignment 30
Appropriate application of theory in Project Scope 10
Appropriate application of stakeholder management techniques 15
Appropriate application of risk management techniques 15
Project plan / Gantt chart 10
Clarity and credibility of proposals 10
Structure, layout and presentation, including spelling and grammar 5
CU Harvard referencing and use of in-text citations 5
Total 100
How to submit your assessment
The assessment must be submitted through Turnitin link by 5th Mar 2019 at 18:00 p.m. No paper copies are required. You can access the submission linke through the module web.
• Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.
• All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason (see below) will be given a mark of zero.
• The University wants you to do your best. However, we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you can’t submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict. If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two weeks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the resit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline.
You will find information about the process and what is or is not considered to be an event beyond your control at https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals-and-Extension.aspx
• Students MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.
• Checks will be made on your work using anti-plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites.
GUIDELINES AND BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
Plagiarism
As part of your study you will be involved in carrying out research and using this when writing up your coursework. It is important that you correctly acknowledge someone else’s writing, thoughts or ideas and that you do not attempt to pass this off as your own work. Doing so is known as plagiarism. It is not acceptable to copy from another source without acknowledging that it is someone else’s writing or thinking. This includes using paraphrasing as well as direct quotations. You are expected to correctly cite and reference the works of others. The Centre for Academic Writing provides documents to help you get this right. If you are unsure, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/caw. You can also check your understanding of academic conduct by completing the Good Academic Practice quiz available on Moodle.
Moodle includes a plagiarism detection system and assessors are experienced enough to recognise plagiarism when it occurs. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences. Please familiarise yourself with the CU Harvard Reference Style (on Moodle) and use it correctly to avoid a case of plagiarism or cheating being brought. Again, if you are unsure, please contact the Centre for Academic Writing, your Academic Personal Tutor or a member of the course team.
Return of Marked Work
You can expect to have marked work returned to you by 26th Mar 2019. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. Marks and feedback will be provided online. As always, marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed his / her review.
Sample Solution
