Course Brief

The course aims to provide students with skills for planning, coordinating and controlling information system projects. Specific outcomes are: To critically review the major contributors to successful projects. To understand the importance of ensuring that projects are allied to business objectives. To understand the importance of time, cost and quality in project management. To develop an appreciation of the impact that different Stakeholders have on projects. To develop an ability to appreciate different communication channels and how they help with successful project delivery. To understand project management control techniques.
  • This course is offered in 60 hours

By the end of the course students should have achieved these learning objectives
A. An understanding of the prime objectives of project management.

B. The ability to differentiate between a program, project, task, work package and work unit.

C. Ability to plan and implement an information system project in a variety of cases.

D. Critically assess ways in which Stakeholders can be identified and managed to maximise the chances of a successful outcome
E. Determine how projects can be linked to relevant business objectives.

F. Examine different communication channels and how they help with successful project delivery.

G. Appreciate the importance of time, cost and quality in project management.

1. Objectives of Project Management – cost, quality, time.

2. Project Management concepts – program, project, task, work package, and work unit.

3. The role of the Project Manager- case studies in project management.

4. Project planning- Work Breakdown structures, people management, interface co-ordination, conflicts and negotiation.

5. Techniques in Project implementation – Network Techniques: PERT, CPM; Gannt Charts, extensions and applications. Scheduling, resource allocation.

6. Identifying and managing Stakeholders.

7. How the project manager fits into the organisational structure.

8. Risk and Issue Management.

9. Benefits management and realisation.

Concepts will be introduced during lecture sessions and will be supported by individual work involving problem solving exercise and discussions. Each week there will be a 1 hour lecture and a 1 hour practical session. In the lecture students will be introduced to the concepts and issues that Outsourcing raises for business. In the lab sessions students will learn how to develop solutions to a variety of real life Outsourcing scenarios.

Test – 30%
Answer a number of question to verify basic understanding of material.

Coursework – 70%
A substantive problem-type case requiring the application of project management principles and contracting norms to a factual scenario.
From a scenario evaluate the best ways in which to manage a stated project and discuss a number of issues that arise in that scenario e.g. scope creep, staff leaving.

Level: Masters
Credits: 15