CEM280: Managing Construction Projects

Module code: CEM280

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Shabnam Kabiri, email: s.kabiri@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Irem Dikmen, email: i.dikmen@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

To provide an explanation of project management techniques and an understanding of how offsite construction is applied through DfMA process and the challenges. At the work package level, the emphasis is on achieving delivery within specified targets relating to cost, time and quality. At the tactical level, the emphasis is on maintaining and developing the businesses whose income is derived from projects. The focus is on the application of ideas to real world situations.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Relate project management tools and techniques to project delivery objectives. 
2. Understand offsite construction and the application of different theories in the dynamics involved in these modes of construction deliveries.  
3. Analysis of the process of design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA). 
4. Recognise the impact of the dynamics of project-based work and develop tactics for the management of team dynamics.
5. Explain the scope and context of the construction sector and understand the position of construction organisations within the sector. 
6. Apply management and organisational theories to a range of practical and contemporary issues in the management of construction work on site.

Module content

The course will consist of lectures and seminars with directed reading. The topics to be covered are: 

• Project management – introduction, definitions and challenges. 
• Selecting projects and bidding strategies: managing the flow of work through the organisation. 
• Project leadership, project managers and team dynamics. 
• Strategic issues: health and safety and logistics. 
• Tactical issues: programme and project control, cost planning and control, quality control, resource management, schedule compression and Earned Value Management (EVM).   
• Off-site construction techniques and the various interfaces. 
• The effects of offsite construction on role enactments in construction projects.   
• Design for Manufacture and Assembly with an application in a UK construction firm 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching is through lectures and seminars, augmented with guided independent study.  

Study hours

At least 34 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies toall full time and flexible modularstudents on taught PGT programmes in SBE

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

The students will carry out two pieces of work, both as group works, during the teaching weeks to apply the theories they have learned in those weeks. Formative feedback will be provided to the students whilst they are carrying out the tasks. 

Reassessment

Additional costs