Assignment Brief Academic Year 2018-19

Module code and title: BM522 Project Management Module leader: Dr Eleftheria Panagiotopoulou

Assignment No. and type: CW Assessment weighting: 50%

Submission time and date: Week 7 Friday 30/08/2021 by 2pm Target feedback time and date:

Task requirements

This coursework is a 1500 (+/- 10%) word report designed to assess learner’s ability to demonstrate an in depth knowledge and systematic understanding of
project management theory and tools linked to the planning of projects.

Project Management – Bucks Student’s Union Music Festival

Case Study

Recently graduated, you have secured a Sabbatical Officer’s post with a student union called Bucks Students’ Union, a students’ representation organisation
run by students for students to ensure students view on a wide range of topics and issue is expressed. And you have been assigned to assist the team which
will project manage the hosting of a new musical festival at the local Town Hall this early autumn to celebrate the achievements of her Alumni.
Below is Table A, consisting of all the major tasks, dependencies and timescales required for each task.

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Activity

Main Activities with Predecessors

Nr
Name of the Task Duration Predecessors

1 Budget Approval 1 day -

2 Hire Publicity Director 14 days 1

3 Hire Set Designer 14 days 1

4 Hire Place For Auditions 7 days 2

5 Advertising To Hire Crew and Cast 7 days 2

6 Hire Production & Publicity Crew 28 days 4, 5

7 Set Designed and Built 42 days 3,6

8 Train Production Crew 12 days 3,6

9 Auditions To Hire Cast 2 days 4, 5

10 Cast Rehearsal 84 days 9

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11 Hire Orchestra 7 days 1

12 Music 7 days 11

13 Photograph Cast And Crew & Collect Biographies 35 days 6, 9,11

14 Enter Information Into Computer 1 day 13

15 Printing 5 days 14

16 Develop an Advertising Plan 7 days 6

17 Advertising Media 21 days 16

18 Orchestra rehearsal 4 days 12

19 Order Costumes 7 days 9

20 Costume Parade And Alterations 5 days 7,19

21 Dress Rehearsal 1 day 8,10,18,20

22 Performance 10 days 15,17,21

You are to assume that it is 15th of July 2018, the Monday of the first week of the project. While the project team is being formed, the Project Manager asks
you to prepare a 1500 (+/-10%) word report to be with him on 12 th November 2019 and which he can use to brief Bucks Students’ Union board and other
senior managers of the University. The assignment tasks as follows – see the next page (pg.3)

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The title of the report is ‘Bucks Students’ Union Music Festival case study’
Task 1

1) Compare and critically analyse any THREE project management methodologies/bodies of knowledge. Your analysis should consider the
advantages and disadvantages of using these project management methodologies/bodies of knowledge in contemporary global projects. [30 marks]
Task 2

2) Develop a network diagram manually, AS TAUGHT (activities on arrows) clearly showing the relationship between all the activities listed
above, the dependencies, the likely duration for each activity, the likely completion date (expected total project time). Calculate the earliest
starting time, the latest starting time (EST,LST) and the earliest finishing time and latest finishing time (EFT, LFT) for each activity including
an outline description of the critical path, highlighting the critical activities and the shortest possible time in days in which the project can
be completed as scoped above (give reasons for your choice). [40 marks]
Task 3

3) Undertake a stakeholder analysis for this project. This should clearly identify internal and external stakeholder, group stakeholders
according to their interest and power i.e. stakeholder management matrix, communication strategies, Using the activity list above, develop a
clearly numbered Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for this music festival [20 marks]
Task 4

You are required to prepare a Risk Analysis for FIVE different risks that could affect your project. Analyse the risks involved and develop strategies
for dealing with them. Present your Risk Analysis and Risk Management strategies/mitigations in the form of a table, AS TAUGHT, accompanied by
a commentary of not more than 500 words. [10 marks]

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This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Analyse and critically evaluate project roles, principles, themes and processes using an appropriate industry standard methodology

LO 2 Plan project activities using networks and an appropriate project management software;

LO 3 Evaluate and explain the major factors and performance requirements of project management;

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style as defined in Cite Them Right Online (http://www.citethemrightonline.com). This information is
also available in book form: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2016) Cite them right: the essential reference guide. 10th edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Copies are available via the university library.

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this assignment (see above) and
against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject
area, a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading criteria attached below

Submission details

This assignment should be submitted electronically. Please use the relevant submission point in the Submit your work area in your Blackboard module shell.
You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be

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replaced by the most recent version.
Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided
you have set this up). Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment.
You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on the University website:
https://bucks.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/9546/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have
read and understood these regulations

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before Friday 30/08/2021 by 2pm

Work that is submitted up to 10 working days beyond the submission date will be accepted as a late submission. Late submissions will be marked and the
actual mark recorded but will be capped at the pass mark (typically 40%), provided that the work is of a passing standard. Work submitted after this period
will not be marked and will be treated as a non-submission.

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Marking Scheme A B C D E
70-100% 60-69% 50-59% 40-49% 35-39%

Conceptual Analysis Excellent, high standard and logical Very good analysis of three project Good analysis of three project Adequate. Some depth in the Inadequate. Addresses some
analysis of three project management management methodologies and bodies management methodologies and analysis of three project areas but to insufficient depth in
of Methodologies
methodologies and bodies of of knowledge bodies of knowledge management methodologies and the analysis of any three project
/Quality of report knowledge Very good use of literature to support Good of literature to support your bodies of knowledge. management methodologies and
Excellent use of literature to support your analysis. analysis. Adequate. Considers the use of bodies of knowledge
presentation
your analysis. Very good consideration and reflection on Good consideration of the use of methodologies/BoK in Inadequate. Addresses some
(30%) Excellent consideration and reflection the use of methodologies/BoK in methodologies/BoK in contemporary global projects areas of similarity and differences
on the use of methodologies/BoK in contemporary global projects contemporary global projects Adequate. Some depth in the but to insufficient depth in
contemporary global projects Good use of examples to support. Use of examples to support. evaluation of advantages and consideration of use of
Use of strong examples to illustrate Very good critical discussion of the Good critical discussion of the disadvantages; and Key methodologies/ BoK in
argument. advantages and disadvantages; and Key advantages and disadvantages; performance Indicators (KPIs) contemporary global projects
Excellent, high standard and logical performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key performance Indicators Structure of the report and Inadequate. Addresses some
critical discussion of the advantages Good use of literature to support. (KPIs) presentation are satisfactory areas advantages and
and disadvantages; and Key A good, logical structure is evident. Use of literature to support. Readability is adequate but some disadvantages; and Key
performance Indicators (KPIs) Presentation of the report and readability Well structured. grammar issues. some performance Indicators (KPIs)
Excellent use of literature to support. is very good. Presentation of the report is good. misunderstanding; argument not but to insufficient depth
A well-structured report, with Good references are used to support the Some referencing is used to following a clear thread, Poor attempt made to follow a
professional presentation, excellent discussion. support discussion, with some unconvincing where discernible, Business Report Format.
readability and a good academic writing grammar and spelling mistakes, but with little attempt to summarize the Unsatisfactory presentation of
style. Figures and tables are titled and not significantly affecting gist. work, with some serious errors in
numbered. Table of contents is readability. Limited referencing is used. grammar, spelling and overall
included. clarity of document. Difficult to
Wide range of high quality references to read/follow.
support the discussion. Some structure is evident but
unclear.
Insufficient references to support.

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Activity List, Network Network Diagram done in Excel, or by Network Diagram done in Excel, or by Largely correct Network Diagram Network Diagram contains some Network Diagram illogical and
hand and shows the activity node hand and shows the activity node values; done in Excel, or by hand and anomalies; CP largely correct; OR critical path (CP) not identified or
diagram, and Critical
values; Network Diagram neat and Network Diagram good with some errors shows the activity node values; the Network diagram presented in MS incorrect. Approach used to
Path correct showing relationship between in calculation on ES & LST as well as relationship between activities and Project format. Some questionable shorten project duration not
activities and their dependencies; EFT & LFT. Critical Path correct. Project their dependencies; Network logic on project duration shown, no new network diagram,
(30%)
Critical Path clear & correct; Excellent duration shortened to reflect new diagram largely correct some shortened, with some attempt to no new critical path identified
calculation of Activity EST & LST as completion date and new critical path calculations. Critical Path identified. draw a new network diagram
well as EFT & LFT for each activity. identified. Few errors at clearly justifying Project duration shortened to reflect showing new critical path
Project duration shortened to reflect approach used to shorten duration of new completion date. This
new completion date and new critical project. reflecting in a new network diagram
path identified. Approach used to showing new critical path.
shorten duration of project cleared Attempt made to justify approach
justified, readable and well analysed. All used to shorten duration of project
resources identified for each activity. but with significant mistakes.

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Stakeholder Comprehensive, believable and logical Good but the justification for stakeholder Completes the following Completes at least 3 of the Does not complete at least 3 of
with good use of PM theory and analysis elements may not be clear. stakeholder analysis: identified following: identified stakeholders, the following: identified
Analysis, WBS and
concepts Completes stakeholder However identified internal and external internal and external stakeholders, grouped them into internal and stakeholders, grouped them into
Risk Analysis (30%) analysis to a high standard; identified stakeholders, their interest and power their interest and power at least to external stakeholders, their internal and external
internal and external stakeholders, their and communication strategy missing. a satisfactory standard: Good interest and power, and establish stakeholders, their interest and
interest and power, established Complete and correct WBS. WBS, complete, but query on communication plan to an power, and establish
communication plan for all stakeholders content/logic. acceptable standard. Acceptable communication plan to an
group identified. Excellent complete, WBS, but incomplete. Correct acceptable standard. Poor WBS.
correct and detailed WBS/PBS. diagrammatic form. Very poor attempt at a
developing or drawing a WBS.
Risk Analysis (10%) Risks identified and analyzed, detailed Risks identified and analyzed, detailed Risks identified and analyzed, Risks identified, initial analysis An attempt made at identifying
responses planned, with proximity of responses planned. attempt made at planning conducted risks, but not at risk
risks. responses management.

Quality Assurance Record

Mary Simpson
Internal 28.09.2018 External
Approval: Approval:

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