MNM3MPBE-Managing the project-based environment

Module Provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr Nigel Spinks
Email: nigel.spinks@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Projects and programmes have become an important mode of organising work in many organisations and industries in response to the need to develop and deliver complex once-off goods and services, to manage large change initiatives and to coordinate the activities of geographically dispersed specialist individuals and teams. As a result, a project-based environment is the norm rather than the exception for an increasing number of managers. At the same time, there is increased demand for greater speed and flexibility in many areas of project management. Rather than focus on the management of individual projects, this elective investigates the factors behind the growth of project-based organising, the challenges and opportunities that these developments create, and the different management approaches developed in response. 

Aims:

The Managing in the Project-based Environment module is designed for practising managers to enable them to:  

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  Assess the implications of the growth of the project-based environment 

  
  


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  Evaluate their own and their organisation’s response to the growth of the project-based environment 

  
  

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  Formulate appropriate approaches to managing in the project-based environment 

  
  

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of the module, programme members should be able to: 

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  Describe and explain the growth of the project-based environment 

  
  


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  Describe and evaluate the characteristics of the project-based environment and their implications for management, including operational control, people management and learning and improvement 

  
  

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  Evaluate organisational project, programme and portfolio management and identify improvement opportunities 

  
  


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  Evaluate project governance structures, including the project office, and identify improvement opportunities 

  
  


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  Evaluate approaches to learning and improvement in the project-based environment, and identify improvement opportunities

  
  


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  Communicate their analysis clearly and confidently through a written report 

  
  

Additional outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that programme members will be able to demonstrate their ability to: 

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  Select and apply appropriate theories, models, frameworks and tools to develop a critical analysis of a business situation. 

  
  

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  Collect and analyse appropriate evidential data. 

  
  


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  Work autonomously, managing their study process and prioritising appropriately 

  
  


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  Reflect critically on their own understanding and practices in the subject area. 

  
  

Outline content:

The Managing in the Project-based Environment module covers a range of topics including: 

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  The rise of the project-based environment as alternatives to the organisational forms found in classical management theory.  

  
  


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  Dimensions of the project-based environment, including the institutional context of project management and different types of project environment, including global projects.

  
  


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   The emergence of Agile approaches to project work. 

  
  

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  The implications of the project-based environment for managing people. 

  
  


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  Challenges of managing multiple projects in a co-ordinated way and responses to those challenges, including programme and portfolio management.  

  
  


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  Project governance as an integrative mechanism for aligning projects and corporate strategy.  

  
  


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  Learning and improvement in the project-based environment, including project management methodologies and organisational learning in a project context. 

  
  

Global context:

The module draws on research and practice examples from around the world and includes global project management as a topic area. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This is a self-study module, comprising an online study guide with core and further readings, supported by practice application exercises, a discussion forum and multi-media learning objects, including video. 

Summative assessment- Examinations:
N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One 3,500 individual written assignment with a weight of 100% of the final assessment mark; submission dates according intake schedule. 

Assignments may not exceed the specified word count by more than 20% or fall short of it by more than 10%.

Formative assessment methods:

The module includes a series of practice applications designed to help develop deeper understanding of module concepts and frameworks by applying them to contexts/problems identified by the programme member. An online discussion forum monitored by a Henley based tutor supports these activities. 

Penalties for late submission:

These are in accordance with the mode of study arrangements laid out in the Programme Specifications.  

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx  

Assessment requirements for a pass:

An overall mark of 50% for the written assignment.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment by 100% assignment (capped at 50%); to be submitted within 6 weeks of notification of module failure, date dependent on cohort entry and to be advised by the Programme Administrator.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 30 March 2023