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Operations and Project Management

  • Module code: BO5501
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 5
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

The module aims to enable you to develop the analytical skills necessary to make a positive contribution to issues concerning operations and project management, and describe the strategic contribution that effective operations and project management can play within organisations. Your ability to apply theories and methodologies of operations and project management will be assessed using two assignments that will require them to apply practical tools and techniques to real business situations. Formative feedback will be given in tutorials and lab-based sessions.

Aims

  • Enable students to understand the fundamental principles of operations and project management
  • Provide students with a set of tools and techniques to plan, control and monitor operations and projects
  • Provide opportunities to apply operations and project concepts and techniques to case organisations and situations
  • Enable students to make judgements concerning the operational effectiveness of service and manufacturing operations within both the public and private sectors.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of operations and project management
  • Demonstrate an understanding of operations and project management within a number of different organisational environments
  • Apply operations and project management concepts and techniques to a selected organisation or situation
  • Evaluate and appraise operations and project management practices and performance within a number of organisational environments
  • Identify the solutions for overcoming potential problems, risks and constraints in managing operations and projects

Curriculum content

  • Introduction to operations and project management
  • Developing and implementing an operations and project strategy
  • Designing services and products
  • Delivering services and making products
  • Managing capacity
  • Scheduling and executing operations and projects
  • Managing quality and the supply chain
  • Improving operations and project performance
  • Managing risk and uncertainty
  • Leading operations and project teams

Teaching and learning strategy

There will be a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial or lab-based session every week. Lectures, tutorials and lab-based sessions will be supported by regular Canvas postings which will include the following: scheme of work; PowerPoint outlines; case study material; website addresses; and assessment material.

The lectures will introduce students to the core principles of operations and project management in order to provide students with a foundation for analysis and application of such principles within a number of business environments. Tutorials and lab-based sessions will allow students to work in small teams and apply these theories and principles in practice.

Formative feedback will be given to students in these tutorials and lab-based sessions to help them understand how well they have applied concepts and ideas and suggest how they can do this more effectively in the future.

Due to the experiential nature of the learning on this degree, and the importance of professional development enabling students to develop practical skills, learn from and interact with others, attendance is compulsory. Any students not attending a minimum of 80% of their timetabled sessions will be at risk of academic failure or termination from the course.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Operations management seminars Project management seminars Project management Prince2 workshops 27 27 8
Guided independent study 238
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Every session will provide ample opportunities for practice and formative feedback. The students will analyse case studies, film clips and business-related problems both individually and in groups, and will receive feedback from both their peers and the academic delivering the session.

Summative assessment in the module will be a combination of one Project Management in-course individual assignment (50%) and one Operations Management in-course individual assignment (50%).

  • Operations management individual assignment (50%) This will run throughout the third semester after completion of level 4 and will be submitted at the end of the third semester. The maximum word count for this assignment is 3,000 words.
  • Project management individual assignment (50%) - this will run through the third semester after completion of level 4 and will be submitted at the end of the third semester. Students will take the Prince 2 foundation training and examination. The grade achieved in the exam simulator will form the final grade, marked out of 100.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of Operations and Project Management Operations Management in-course individual assignment Project Management in-course individual assignment
2) Demonstrate an understanding of Operations and Project Management within a number of different organisational environments Operations Management in-course individual assignment Project Management in-course individual assignment
3) Apply Operations and Project Management concepts and techniques to a selected organisation or situation Operations Management in-course individual assignment Project Management in-course individual assignment
4) Evaluate and appraise Operations and Project Management practices and performance within a number of organisational environments Operations Management in-course individual assignment Project Management in-course individual assignment
5) Identify the solutions for overcoming potential problems, risks and constraints in managing operations and projects Operations Management in-course individual assignment Project Management in-course individual assignment

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Operations Management in-course individual assignment Coursework 1 50%
Project Management in-course individual assignment Coursework 2 50%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that the element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

K Davis, Project Management (Pearson Custom Publishing)

A Hill and T Hill, Essential Operations Management (Palgrave Macmillan), 2011

Bibliography recommended reading

E S Andersen, Rethinking Project Management: An Organisational Perspective (Pearson), 2008

J L Brewer and K C Dittman, Methods of IT Project Management (Pearson), 2nd edition

J Cadle and C Yeates, Project Management for Information Systems (5th edition, Pearson)

M A Fuller, J S Valacich and J F George, Information Systems Project Management: A Process and Team Approach (Pearson), 2008

A Hill and T Hill, Manufacturing Operations Strategy (3rd edition, Palgrave Macmillan)

A Hill and T Hill, Operations Management (3rd edition, Palgrave Macmillan)

T Hill, The Strategy Quest (AMD Publications), 1994

R Johnston and G Clark, Service Operations Management (Financial Times/Prentice Hall), 2001

H Maylor, Project Management. (4th edition, Pearson)

S Nokes and S Kelly, The Definitive Guide to Project Management: The Fast Track to Getting the Job Done on Time and on Budget (2nd edition, Financial Times/Prentice Hall)

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