Reference no: EM133896002 , Length: word count:3500

Advanced Project Management

Learning objective 1: you will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the skills and competencies needed by project managers and selectively apply the relevant tools and techniques available to address challenges and solve problems involved in managing complex international projects, in line with organisations' strategic direction.

Learning objective 2: you will be able to create, enhance and critique project planning documentation as well as applying soft skills in a team leadership context and recognizing and initiating change in organisations.

Assessment: Case Study Analysis

You are required to choose from the following project case studies, all of which are relatively well documented online and in textbooks. Note that some are great successes, some are terrible failures and some could be argued either way depending on your perspective. All are well documented but do make sure you focus on the way project management processes were (or were not) followed and do not use up large word count on engineering or technical descriptions as this is not an engineering module:

Space Shuttle Challenger testing and launch
Crossrail implementation on London's tube network
The Shard UK design and build
Boeing 787 development
The Thames Tideway Upgrading London's Sewer System
Options
Environmental Projects (UK, Europe or World): Energy, Utilities, Flood and Coastal Erosion
There must be a major project undertaking in order to base your development against.

Your job for this assignment is to analyse and critique the success or failure of the project specifically in terms of its project management capability and to tell us what you have learned from this. For example, Burj Khalifa was an engineering success story but, as a project, can it, and should it, be seen as successful? In this particular case how does it compare to ‘The Shard' in its approach to development and construction techniques. Do not get distracted by detail of the engineering processes or technical design. These may be important but your focus MUST be on the application of the project management process throughout the project's lifecycle. Specifically, analyse the case's approach to risk management and stakeholder management. You will draw on the perspectives of project management best practice and academic literature and demonstrate your understanding of how the case does or does not reflect this best practice. The tasks and marking criteria are as follows:

Discuss and critique the project team's approach to the management of project risk
Analyse the approach to stakeholder management
Decide to what extent you believe the project (or some aspects of it) should be seen as a success. Critique and compare your view with that of others (media, investors, employees, etc.) and justify your position. Having reviewed risk management, stakeholder management and the success or failure of the project what lessons can be learned. Get online assignment help to achieve academic success!
From above (and wider projects investigations in a similar field) what can you offer to help the profession of project management in their applied application to projects? Specifically, if you were writing an article for the Association of Project Managers what would you highlight to the readers to help them in their careers and to do their own jobs better? (25%). Note this is separate from section 3 above.
Overall quality of writing, presentation and academic standards (referencing syntax, etc.).
This is an individual report and should be approximately 3,500 words, not including references, diagrams, tables, appendices and headings.

To help you, the following is a suggested template structure for your report although this is not prescriptive and you are free to use a different structure if you prefer:

Title Page
Abstract
Table of Contents
Brief Introduction to the Project - what, why, where and when
Risk Management - approach to project risk management, major risks to project success, how specific risks were dealt with, etc.
Stakeholder Management - who were the major stakeholders, why important, how were they managed?
Success Review - in what way was the project a success or failure - justify from multiple perspectives. What you learned from the project you are reviewing. This could be a separate heading Lessons learned?
Project Management Professional Application - this is worth 25% of the marks so spend some time on this and demonstrate depth of understanding. (see Below)
Final conclusions
References
Bibliography
Appendices (if needed)