Overview

This practical and experiential module has been designed and updated to develop your knowledge, tools, skills and confidence in planning and managing leading edge Sustainable Projects, into the future.

As the commercial world experiences rapid exponential change, due to the advancement of technologies and the acceleration of critical global challenges, such as Climate Crisis, so Project Management practices are evolving. They are transforming and innovating practice to better address problems and develop sustainable solutions – and this module – ICE 2001 - is a module purpose designed to provide the tools to achieve this.

Whatever your job role now or to come, this module will develop Sustainable Project Planning tools and management processes that embed key commercial skills - visioning, innovating, planning, leading, managing, facilitating, achieving set goals and much more. These next level skills, added to your specific work skills, will enhance career development and opportunities, well paid work, continuous learning and ease of movement within industries.

Throughout this module, we will focus on balancing and optimising three key contemporary core project dynamics and methodologies:

•‘Sustainability’ – Consciously applying Sustainable Project Management methods, tools and techniques to achieve defined objectives, while considering the project outcome’s entire lifecycle. This to deliver positive environmental, social and economic impacts.

•‘Waterfall’ Project Management – the classic, century old, ‘Waterfall’ project management methodology – a linear system of working that requires the team to complete each project phase, before moving on to the next one.

•Launched in 2001, ‘Agile’ Project Management is an iterative approach to planning and guiding project processes, breaking project processes down into smaller cycles. Agile project management enables project teams to work quickly and collaboratively, while being able to adapt to changing circumstances and requirements in development. It also enables development teams to react to feedback quickly, so they can make changes, as they progress.

Indicative Content Includes:

Sustainable Waterfall and Agile Project Management styles: -AGILE - Product Discovery and Definition – Product Vision, Product Roadmap, Product Backlog, Product Owner, Product Development and Delivery with Scrum, Sprint Planning, Scrums and Sprints, Scrum Master, Delivery Team, Definition of Done -WATERFALL =Project scoping and specification. The tender process. Work breakdown structure. Preparation of Gantt charts and identifying milestones. PERT method and critical path analysis. Expenditure projection and profiling. Time, Cost and Quality assurance and control, Configuration management. Project Leadership, Project Facilitation and Project Collaboration skills. Project evaluation. Option Appraisal and decision making - Legal, Social and Ethical Issues: Use of standards documents. Health & Safety. IPR, patents, copyright. Company structures. legal responsibilities and business ethics. Roles of regulatory bodies. Confidentiality and non-disclosure. Privacy. Sustainability and the environment. Societal effect of technology. Risk assessments. Data Protection. - Managing and facilitating the process of change. Problem Solving. Understanding and facilitating the Innovation Process. Directional Systems Innovation and Supply-Side Innovation. Understanding the dynamics of Collaboration. - Business: Business Modelling Tax, NI, investment grants and venture capitalists. Economics – the effect of currency exchange rates and interest rates. Marketing and advertising. Accounting practices – Sustainability metrics – Doughnut Sustainability accounting. P&L account, the balance sheet and cash-flow projections. preparation of business plans. Financial appraisal – payback methods and cost/benefit analysis. - Project scoping and planning: Literature reviews, negotiation skills, preparing project plans, writing reports, poster / oral presentation skills.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Equivalent to 40%. Uses key areas of theory or knowledge to meet the Learning Outcomes of the module. Is able to formulate an appropriate solution to accurately solve tasks and questions. Can identify individual aspects, but lacks an awareness of links between them and the wider contexts. Outputs can be understood, but lack structure and/or coherence.

-good -Equivalent to the range 60%-69%. Is able to analyse a task or problem to decide which aspects of theory and knowledge to apply. Solutions are of a workable quality, demonstrating understanding of underlying principles. Major themes can be linked appropriately but may not be able to extend this to individual aspects. Outputs are readily understood, with an appropriate structure but may lack sophistication.

-excellent -Equivalent to the range 70%+. Assemble critically evaluated, relevant areas of knowledge and theory to construct professional-level solutions to tasks and questions presented. Is able to cross-link themes and aspects to draw considered conclusions. Presents outputs in a cohesive, accurate, and efficient manner.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse a project brief and select Agile and/ or Waterfall project process approach for preparing an integrated process to fulfill the objectives on time and within budget.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the financial, time and quality issues surrounding a project and able to prepare a range of financial reporting and forecasting presentations.

• Evaluate the resource issues that may arise while leading/managing a project.

• Identify the implications of the legal, social, ethical and sustainability issues relating to a proposed project and prepare a plan that addresses these issues.

• Understand and develop skills for leading, managing and facilitating project teams.