Project management report
A formalised project management approach is essential for project decision-making on actions critical to project success. Furthermore, significant issues and threats must always be identified and their impacts qualified/quantified in terms of time, cost and quality. Following the module’s lectures/seminars coupled with your additional study on the subject, you should be familiar with the practice, theory and contemporary research within the Project Management field. You may also have your own varied professional experience to draw upon in order to help construct a comprehensive critique of this complex issue that ever increasingly permeates the business management.
Assignment Task:
The learning outcomes 1-5 will be assessed through the production of a report of 3,000 words, worth 75% of the final mark for the module. You are asked to compare, contrast and critically evaluate a pair of projects from a single reference class (e.g. infrastructure construction, enterprise automation, new product development, etc).
Consider projects in which you have personally been involved or any projects of your choice on which you are able to obtain a sufficient amount of information/data. Scrutinise the project management approach taken in each of the chosen projects and elicit their salient (positive or negative) features and relevant practices, analysing and explaining the impact these have had on the overall project delivery and/or its subsequent performance. The outcome of such project evaluation is expected in terms of a set of definite rules/success factors (‘Best Practice’) for future projects in the same area or of the similar scope/budget, induced from the array of historical undertakings you have investigated. Your standpoint should be balanced and analysis well-written, generously complemented with suitable references to the relevant, contemporary literature as well as referring to personal experiences, observations and insights where appropriate.
Format of Submission:
You should follow the established report format and all referencing must adhere to the Harvard Referencing System. All figures and tables should be consecutively numbered and captions provided. Do not forget to indicate clearly how many words you have used in your submission. Do submit the hard copy of the assignment to the Business School reception as well as an electronic copy via Turnitin® for plagiarism monitoring purposes. Please make every effort to submit work by the due date indicated above. Students are advised NOT to assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course. Factors such as standard work pressures, holidays, etc. are not regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Assignments received after the deadline (without an approved extension) will be subject to a penalty in line with the College’s policy.
Regulations:
Ensure that you have retained a back-up electronic copy of the assignment submitted. Most importantly, please ensure that you clearly understand the notion of plagiarism and conform to all the University of Lincoln’s regulations in relation to the submission of written assignments. When you submit an individual assessment under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is similar to someone else’s work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together and discuss issues, but it is not advisable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. You should take reasonable care that your assignment is not, accidentally or deliberately, obtained by other students. Note that the content of your reports will be treated as confidential and will only be accessed by the first/second marker and the external examiner.
Marking Criteria:
The analysis should be based on appropriate and substantial research, which must be evidenced in the assignment. A mere composition of the past case studies taken straightaway from certain sources without student’s own substantial elaboration, critical evaluation and synthesis of original recommendations will not be deemed a highly original and contributive work and, consequently, will attract low marks. The report should be properly presented and referenced, acknowledging all sources used and employing the Harvard Referencing System. Along with the usual criteria such as the document’s structure, appropriate use of sub-headings, logical and smooth flow of argument, language style and the correct use of grammar and punctuation, other more in-depth performance indicators will be employed (see next page).
Marking Criteria for Written Assignments
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Skills |
>70% |
60-69% |
50-59% |
<50% |
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Use of literature
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Developed & justified using own ideas based on a wide range of sources which have been thoroughly analysed, applied & discussed.
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Able to critically appraise the literature & theory gained from a variety of sources, developing own ideas in the process.
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Clear evidence & application of reading/theory relevant to the subject; use of indicative texts identified.
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Literature either not consulted or irrelevant to assignment set. |
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Use of theory
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Assignment demonstrates integration & innovation in the selection & handling of theory.
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Insightful & appropriate selection of content/theory in key areas.
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Most key theories are included in the work in an appreciated & straightforward manner.
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Inaccurate or inappropriate promotion of content or theory.
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Critical analysis of theory
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Assignment consistently demonstrates application of critical analysis & is well integrated into the text.
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Clear application of theory through critical analysis & critical thought of the topic area.
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Demonstrates application of theory through critical analysis of the topic area.
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Lacks critical thought/analysis/reference to theory. |
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Conceptualisation |
Able to recognise consistency & reconcile inconsistency between information, using cognitive & hypothesising skills.
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Consistent understanding demonstrated in a logical, coherent & lucid manner.
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Demonstrates understanding in a style that is mostly logical, coherent & flowing.
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Understanding of the assignment is not apparent. |
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Problem Solving
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Able to critically analyse many sides of a complex issue & resolve information conflicts. Uses a process-centred approach to problem solving/needs assessment activities. |
Able to critically analyse simple issues & to recognise conflicts. Evidence apparent of a process approach to problem solving/awareness of needs assessment.
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No evidence of attempt to be critical or to recognise or address informational conflicts. Problem solving/needs assessment is absent. |
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Application of theory to practice |
Topic applied to personal, social & professional practice, relevant & innovative. |
Well-considered & appropriate application of theory to personal, social & professional practice. |
Begins to demonstrate appropriate application to personal, social & professional practice. |
Fails to apply topic to personal, social & professional practice. |
