Computer Science

Project management in the modern organisation is a complex team-based activity, where various types of technologies (including project management software as well as software to support group collaboration) are an inherent part of the project management process. Project management involves the use of resources from within the organisation and contracted from outside. In this module you will learn about the processes, methods, techniques and tools that organisations use to manage their information systems projects. You will gain project management skills by applying systematic methodologies for initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing projects, including PRINCE2 and agile project management methods.

You will also practice useful personal skills including CV writing, presenting and participating in interviews, and you will learn about aspects of IT professional practice through a series of “guru lectures” by leading IT practitioners from prominent organisations.
 

The aims of the module are:

• To introduce you to the fundamentals of project management, as applied by organisations in information systems projects.
• To help you develop effective communication skills, which you will need in many of your modules and in professional practice.
• To give you practice in employability skills that will help you succeed in applying for IT jobs.

To give a flavour of the work done by IT practitioners and the IT-related problems faced by real organisations.

1. outline the foundations of project management and describe the processes, methods, techniques and tools that organisations use to manage information systems projects.
2. identify and use suitable software tools in support of project management.
3. explain the legal and cultural issues pertaining to complex project contexts including external acquisition and working with global teams.
4. demonstrate an appreciation of current issues faced by IT practitioners.
5. apply PRINCE2 at Foundation level.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
 

6. demonstrate an ability to manage a project (typically less than six months, no inter-dependency with other projects and no strategic impact) including the rescheduling for deviations, the handling of review meetings and the management of problems and escalation processes.
7. construct a project plan for a multi-threaded project.
8. create and manage a risk register.
9. take account of basic management considerations: prioritisation, task versus responsibility management, managing up the organisation, people considerations
10. follow a project management methodology.
11. make use of the concept and application of deliverables.
12. demonstrate the use of critical path planning and managing dependencies.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

13. demonstrate good interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.
14. apply for a particular IT job opportunity and participate in the interview process.
15. communicate fluently in writing, with the ability to articulate complex issues, taking into account the reader’s viewpoint.
16. make concise, engaging and well-structured oral presentations, arguments and explanations of varying lengths by using various methods, with and without the use of media, taking into account the audience viewpoint at all times.
17. summarise and critique presentations.

• Communication skills
• Effective writing (academic and professional)
• Presentations: making, summarising and critiquing
• Interpersonal communication: interviewing, teamwork, facilitation
• Employment skills
• Finding an IT job
• Applying for a job (writing CVs and cover letters
• Participating in interviews
• Guru lectures
• Content to be advised
• Introduction to Project Management
• Project management terminology
• Project failures and project successes
• Unique features of IT projects
• What is project management?
• PRINCE2
• The Project Management Lifecycle
• What is the project management lifecycle?
• Project management and systems development or acquisition
• The project management context
• Technology and techniques to support the project management lifecycle
• Project management processes
• Managing Project Teams
• What is a project team?
• Project team planning
• Motivating team members
• Leadership, power and conflict in project teams
• Managing global project teams
• Managing Project Communication
• Managing project communication
• Enhancing team communication
• Using collaboration technologies to enhance team communication
• Project Initiation and Planning
• Managing Project Scope
• Project initiation
• How organizations choose projects
• Activities
• Developing the project charter
• Project Scheduling
• What is project scheduling?
• Common problems in project scheduling
• Techniques for project scheduling
• Managing Project Resources
• What are resources?
• Types of resources (human, capital, time)
• Techniques for managing resources
• Managing Quality
• What is project quality?
• What are the threats to project quality?
• How can we measure project quality?
• Tools for managing project quality
• Managing Risk
• What is project risk?
• What are the threats to project risk?
• Tools for managing project risk
• Project Procurement
• Alternatives to systems development
• External acquisition
• Outsourcing-domestic and offshore
• Steps in the procurement process
• Managing the procurement process
• Project Execution, Control & Closure
• Managing project execution
• Monitoring progress and managing change
• Documentation and communication
• Common problems in project execution
• Managing Project Control & Closure
• Obtaining information
• Cost control
• Change control
• Administrative closure
• Personnel closure
• Contractual closure
• Project auditing

All referred/deferred assessment will be by examination.

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Other Resources:

Module notes given by lecturer(s)

Reading list for this module: