1
(i) Face-to-Face courses only
For those taking the face-to-face elective class there will be three assessments:
two group assessments based on cases studies (see case downloads MYPLACE). The first group
assessment will be presented in class (40%) (see note 1) and the second group assessment will be
a 3,000 word (max) written submission (50%) (based on a different case study). The group written
assessment should loosely follow the structure of the individual written assignment described
in Note 2 although a separate literature review is not necessary for a case study write-up. it must be
accompanied by an individual reflection (10% - one for each group member) learning reflection
should be1,000 words max – see note that follows.
To achieve a pass mark attendance, participation in your group is compulsory. Thereafter, the final
mark will be determined by the following factors which will be assessed during the case exercise at
the end of the course and in the final written submission:
Knowledge and understanding of the cases demonstrated by group discussions in class;
presentation of the case; PowerPoint Slide presentation and Q & A session.
Clarity and accuracy of written presentation and ability of the group to work together and
provide a cohesive analysis and evidence of group learning and effort.
See table 1 - [For those students who wish, individual assignments (similar to DL students)
are acceptable in place of a group assignment]
(ii) Distance Learning Students
The distance learning version of the course requires (2) individual essays each assessed at 50%
including a learning reflection in each easy.
An individual essay/ investigation of (2,500 words maximum - see note 2) on a subject taken from
the course topics, personal experience and collected empirical data (cases). The essay must
contain the outcome of individual, independent research on the topic chosen (Literature Review)
and , be supported by an adequate fully detailed reference list. As well as case study evidence and
a comparison of Theory and Practice. Normally the reference list will contain no fewer than 10
suitable academic references. See table 2
Assignment Deadlines: Those attending the intensive course:
For those attending the intensive course, the first assignment will be completed at the end of the
course. The second deadline is usually set 6 weeks after the course ends irrespective if a student
completes a group assignment or an individual assignment. Both second assignment and personal
reflection are due at the same time and should be separate submissions.
Distance Learning students: Because the date which you start the course is uncertain, I
recommend that you discuss deadlines with your course administrator. As I guide, I would expect
you to submit your assignments at the end of the semester in which you started the course. If you
are later that this , please agree your timetable with your course administrator.
See list of assignment topics - Topics for individual essays: (please choose 2 essay topics from
this list)
What is the project completion success rate in my company and the reasons why projects
succeed or fail.
Building virtual project teams – a practical approach
Is there an ‘ideal’ organisational structure for managing projects?
What do practitioners think of PRINCE2?
‘S’ curves: a perspective on theory and practice
Course Assessment Method: 100% Coursework2
Approaches to risk assessment: a case study analysis
What is Configuration Management and how might we use it?
What are the core competencies of a programme manager?- a comparison of theory and
practice (what the practitioners say)
Project Management software: a review of Primavera
(CCPM) Critical chain project management – an appraisal.
Managing multiple projects: a review of the issues
What is Strategic Project Management?: review of current literature
What are the competencies of a project leader?
How to overcome team conflict: art, science or alchemy?
What is meant by 'the politics' - in a project driven organisation?
Programme Management and the difficulties of managing multiple projects
Introduction of a Programme Management Office (PMO)
Managing Virtual Teams in International Projects: a Review of Theory and Practice
Stakeholders Are The Heart Of A Successful Project: anatomy of a real project
Project Structure: Is There An ‘Ideal’ Organisational Structure
What Do Practitioners Think Of PRINCE2 or PMBOK?
Earned Value Management (EVM): A Review Of Theory And Practice
Approaches To Risk Assessment: theory and` practice
All Project Management Is Risk Management?
Configuration Management – What Is Configuration Management?
What Are The Core Competencies Of Programme and Project Management?
The Theory Of Constraints Applied To Project Management: a current date
Matrix Management: The Replacement Of Organisational Hierarchy?
Managing Multiple Projects: A Review Of The Issues
Programme and Project Management In “Your Company”: The Management and
Mismanagement Of Risk
Note on Learning Reflection:
What’s a Personal Reflection?
The whole purpose and outcome of this course is your learning. Learning once focussed on
the role of the teacher or lecturer but is now focussed on you the learner. It was once the
lecturer’s responsibility to ensure that the learning task was achieved and assured, usually by
setting and marking examinations. But how much of what we learn manifested itself in deeper
learning and by deeper I am alluding to not only changes in attitude, “yes I l learned a lot from
that course”, but changes in behaviour such as increased confidence and competence. For
many individuals in a managerial position their aspiration is to reduce complexity within their
organisation so that they can cope. An alternative approach is to accept complexity and deal with
it. For many of us coping or dealing with the complexity of a situation requires constant learning.
Now, the responsibility for learning has passed from the teacher or lecturer to you the individual
learner who must develop skills in managing your own learning. Before you know you have
learned anything you must see learning as a process that requires managing. To encourage you
to do this, I have included the requirement to write a personal reflection at the end of each
assignment. The objective is to have you ask yourself – what have I learned by undertaking this
assignment? Remember everything, for you as a student should be seen as a learning
opportunity. It is said recently that ‘there is no such thing as failure, just feedback.’. No marks
are allocated to your actual reflection but there are good and bad reflections. A good reflection.
like a good movie review provides insight and is clever and thoughtful. The opposite invites
humour.3
Note 1: Marking Group Presentations - The following broad MBA guidelines for allocation of marks
have been adopted:
75% or more - excellent
65% - 74% - very good
55% - 64% - good
50% - 54% - just acceptable
46% - 49% - poor
45% or less - very poor
See table 1 and 2 >>
Table 1 indicates the allocation of marks for your Group Presentation and Write-up:
% A above 75% B (64-74%) C (55-64%) 54% or less
Case-1
Presentation
40
Very well presented,
with logical flow of
ideas and all teams
members contributing;
innovative presentation
Very good group
presentation. Completely
answered the set
questions
Presentation
acceptable but limited
in scope and insight
Inadequate
presentation –
omitted either an
important aspect of a
case or very poor
group dynamics
PowerPoint
Slides
Highly illustrative
showing excellent
insights; demonstrated
excellent links between
theory and practice
Very good illustrative
slides covering
questions. Competently
produced with some
insights into the issues
Basic presentation but
only reaches an
adequate presentation
– usually overly
textual- overly
descriptive
Inadequate coverage
of the issues. Poorly
drawn may contain
errors
Post
presentation
Q and A
Adept handling of
questions showing
excellent grasp of the
issues and innovative
answers
Very good handled of
the questions , gave
clear knowledgeable
answers
Answers did just
satisfy the questioner
Significant gaps in
knowledge exposed
Case 2
Write-Up
(Text to
accompany
slides
50
Well structured with
strong evidence of
independent research
(on the topic) and
innovative thinking
beyond scope of work
Very well structured with
clear evidence of
independent research
Demonstrates a good
understanding of the
relevant concepts and
models, and an
appreciation of the
strengths and weakness
of the analysis.
Some contents clearly
appropriate but
adequate structure
and logical flow -
usually overly textualoverly descriptive
Poor contents; poor
structure; inadequate
insights achieved
Usually a very small
conclusion or a very
obvious and
superficial conclusion
Individual
Learning
Reflection
10
Strong evidence of
individual , personal
thinking, synergy and
reflective learning
Some evidence of
individual synergy and
reflective learning
Acceptable list of
learning points but
descriptive rather than
reflective
Inadequate evidence
of thinking and
reflection4
Table 2 - Marking Guidelines Assessment for individual written essay
Excellent
+75%
Very good
65-74%
Good
55-64%
Just acceptable
50-54%
Unacceptable
46-49%
Structure
And
Organisation
Explicit specification of
proposed organisation that
corresponds with outcome.
Logical structure and
relevant discussion, and
absence of repetition. Clear
and balanced view of
issues.
Coherent and sensible
structure. Clear and
balanced view of the
issues. Relevant and
non-repetitious
discussion.
An acceptable structure
and organisation.
Discussion that covers
the primary issues.
Some limited
weaknesses in relation
to coherence, focus,
relevance or
repetitious.
Evidence of structure
and organisation but
not entirely appropriate
or not sufficiently
maintained. Evidence
of repetitious and
irrelevant material, and
weaknesses of
judgement in the
emphasis given to the
issues and arguments.
Difficult to identify a
coherent structure and
organisation. Irrelevant
and repetitious
discussion.
Knowledge
of theory/
published
work
Demonstrates an excellent
appreciation of the relevant
theory and analysis, and an
ability to relate this to the
relevant literature.
Demonstrates a very
good appreciation of the
relevant theory and
analysis, and the ability
to relate this to the
relevant literature.
Demonstrates basic
awareness and
understanding of the
relevant theory and
analysis.
Demonstrates a limited
awareness and
understanding of the
relevant theory and
analysis
Demonstrates
inadequate
understanding of
relevant concepts,
theory or evidence
relating to the topic.
Research/
Source
Material
(Theory and
case studies)
The coverage of the
literature extends beyond
the recommended readings,
demonstrating the use of
personal initiative and
curiosity. Able to place the
academic literature into
context and reference
sources.
A firm grasp of the
recommended readings,
evidence of some further
reading of relevant
articles, and to refer to
them as appropriate in
the discussion.
Demonstrates a
reasonably competent
coverage of the
recommended reading.
Provides limited
evidence of having
covered some the
recommended
readings. Minimal or
no evidence of further
reading.
Demonstrates
inadequate knowledge
of the recommended
readings.
Analysis
(Key
concepts)
Demonstrates an excellent
understanding of the
relevant concepts and
models, and the ability to
develop and present the
analysis in a logical and
coherent way. Exhibiting
clarity of thought and an
appreciation analysis.
Demonstrates a good
understanding of the
relevant concepts and
models, and an
appreciation of the
strengths and weakness
of the analysis.
Demonstrates a
reasonable
understanding of the
relevant concepts and
models, and some
evidence the ability to
assess the analysis.
A reasonable working
knowledge of the
relevant concepts and
models but
presentation is limited
or indicative that
understanding is
incomplete.
A weak and limited
awareness of the
concepts and models
and errors suggesting
incomplete
understanding.
Conclusion
and
Overall
Perspective
Conclusion that provides a
clear overall perspective;
reflecting the preceding
discussion, an ability to
differentiate between
theory, evidence and
judgement. Evidence of
independent thought Very
clear exposition, with
excellent use of examples
and analogies. Good
choices of words and
phrases..
Conclusion that reflects
and is logically derived
from the discussion.
Demonstrates ability to
differentiate between
objective analysis and
personal opinion. Clearly
expressed with some
evidence of an attempt to
write in a lively and
interesting style.
Conclusion provides a
reasonable summary of
arguments and a
statement that sensibly
differentiates between
personal views and
objective evidence.
Clearly expressed and
easy to read and
understand.
Demonstrates some
ability to draw
inferences from
discussion. Limited or
incomplete summary.
Adequately expressed
for the most part but
poses some difficulties
for understanding.
Fails to produce either
an adequate summary
of the discussion or to
develop any coherent
inferences from the
discussion. Lack of
clarity. Poor choice of
words and sentence
structure. Difficult to
follow and understand.
Note 2: Guideline for Case presentation and write-up 2,500 (max).
Firstly prepare the case on your own and when ready discuss the case as a group. You should see
the exercise primarily as a group exercise with each case as a vehicle to introduce aspects of5
operations strategy and global business group discussion firstly and then class discussion. One group
will be selected to lead the class discussion.
Groups may select any case for their case 1 presentation and everyone will attend the presentations.
Presentation should be formal engaging the whole team using PowerPoint, be accompanied by the
write up of a second case (case-2) , Also, after the presentation groups should invite questions.
Suggested approach for group discussion/ presentation:
Most cases have questions at the end to guide. These questions should be considered first and are a
very useful starting point.
(Beginning)
1. Situational Analysis: describe the organisation as it is today and where possible classify the
issues in the case considered; identify relevant issues extracted from group discussions, a)
external factors b) internal factors and issues, and lead to a clear c) statement of the problem(s)
described in terms of project management theory where possible).
(Middle)
2. Conceptual Analysis: a) current strategy and theory supporting it, clarify as necessary b)
assumptions identified c) impact of these concepts on the problem. What are the major
competencies of this organisation? Is there a trade-off situation? Is the Project management
issue obvious – can you describe it in your own words? Does this organisation behave differently
from expected? Does it demonstrate competency in managing projects? What are its strength
and weakness?
3.
(End)
4. Alternatives, Sensitivity Analysis and Possible future(s): a) consider at least two available
options and suggest the b) rationale for current issues c) consider the future management of
projects – again described in some kind of diagram or model where possible. d) suggest
managerial options e) cautions or possible problems and f) identify future options.
5. Summary of group Learning Points (very important) – what has this case taught us? What
issues has it surfaced? What theories has it informed?
Your group presentation should try to incorporate the efforts of all team members. Remember a group
or a team should show that everyone has contributed. Your presentation should probably have 3
sections. The first is an overview of the case being studied. This should take the form of a one slide
introduction to the organization. The second part should highlight the issues/analysis and when
appropriate answer the set questions included with each case study.
You should also use theoretical models or constructs to provide insights for your audience. The team
could also show that they have carried out some independent research into this case study and
supplement the information provided in the written case. Lastly the last 1 / 2 slides should summaries
the team learning. Your learning should provide an insight into what you have learned both from
theory and the case study.6
Layout and scope of assignment:
Don’t be concerned, I’m not looking for war and peace. I want you to be empathetic towards the
project or programme management topics within the course. With a recommendation from me for
personal investigation and thinking. Why not select a topic and then investigate what happens within
your own organisation.
Writing up your investigation (case)
Firstly, I would advise that you adopt a formal structure for your essay; use present tense and third
person wherever possible. In other words, state ‘It appears that.... .... rather than I believe that
Structure of your essay:
I suggest you use a title and contents page and a summary; also use sub headings
Title: (Create an interesting title not ‘Assignment 2’)
Contents page: (Showing sections and page numbers)
Section 1: Introduction or Context
Section 2: Literature Review – ensure you have at least 6 good references on
your chosen topic (10 would be preferred)
Section 3: Case Study – title of the organisation
3.1 Overview of the organisation
3.2 Possibly - Senior staff views of the issues under investigation
Section 4: Conclusion
4.1 Comparing theory with practice – what you have found
4.1 Learning points summary
References: