THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON

Faculty of Business and Law

MODULE NAME: Project Management: Planning and Control

Module Code	Level	Credit Value	Module Leader
BSO2016	5	20	Tilimbe Jiya

Assignment Brief

Assignment title:	AS1 Individual Assignment
Deadline:	Friday 8th May 2020 at 23:59
Feedback and Grades due:	Monday 8th June 2020 at 23:59
Resit Date	Friday 10th July 2020 at 23:59

Please read this assessment brief in its entirety before attempting your assignment.

The Assignment Task

The assignment is worth 50% of the final module grade. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your understanding of project management, planning and control. The assignment is designed to provide you with an opportunity to practice handling more realistic project planning and control problems. Therefore, you are expected to do the following;

1. Explain the key elements of a business case (250 – 300 words) (30 marks)

2. Consider the following information about a project for which the relevant data has been gathered and presented in tables below.

1. From the project data presented in Table 1 below, determine the expected project completion time and critical activities. (20 Marks)

ACTIVITY	PREDECESSOR	DURATION	ES	EF	LS	LF	FLOAT
A	–	7	0	7	0	7
B	A	6	7	13	7	13
C	A	5	7	12	8	13
D	A	2	7	9	11	13
E	C,D	4	12	16	13	17
F	B	2	13	15	13	15
G	F	5	15	20	15	20
H	E,F	3	16	19	17	20
I	G,H	5	20	25	20	25

Table 1: Project Data (Float)

2. Determine the variances for all critical path activities and calculate the variance for the whole project and Standard deviation for the whole project. (20 marks)

ACTIVITY	PREDECESSOR	OPTIMISTIC	MEAN	PESSIMISTIC	VARIANCE
A	–	6	7	8
B	A	2	5	14
C	A	4	5	6
D	A	1	2	3
E	C,D	1	3	11
F	B	1	2	3
G	F	3	5	7
H	E,F	2	3	4
I	G,H	1	4	13

Table 2: Project Data (Variance)

3. Construct a Gantt chart and and a Network Daigram determining the number of staff (resources) on the critical path using the resource requirements in Table 3 below. (30 marks)

ACTIVITY	PREDECESSOR	DURATION	ES	EF	LS	LF	RESOURCE
A	–	7	0	7	0	7	1
B	A	6	7	13	7	13	3
C	A	5	7	12	8	13	1
D	A	2	7	9	11	13	5
E	C,D	4	12	16	13	17	2
F	B	2	13	15	13	15	5
G	F	5	15	20	15	20	6
H	E,F	3	16	19	17	20	1
I	G,H	5	20	25	20	25	2

Table 3: Resource requirements

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes that are being assessed in this assessment are:

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module with guidance, students will be able to:

Subject-Specific Knowledge, Understanding & Application

Demonstrate an understanding of project planning, management and risk assessment.

Apply suitable project management tools or techniques.

Analyse and differentiate a variety of project management methodologies.

Employability & Changemaker Skills

Working effectively within teams to successfully complete a given task.

Communicate information and present complex arguments, clearly and accurately, to a high standard of presentation using oral, written communication or ICT where necessary.

Your grade will depend on the extent to which you meet these learning outcomes in the way relevant for this assessment. Please see the grading rubric at the end of this assessment brief for further details of the criteria against which you will be assessed.

Word Limits (where appropriate)

Not appropriate for this assessment.

In accordance with the Assessment and Feedback Policy, as stated in section 4.40 where a submission exceeds the stipulated word limit by more than 10%, the submission will only be marked up to and including the additional 10%. Anything over this will not be included in the final grade for the assessment item. Abstracts, bibliographies, reference lists, appendices and footnotes are excluded from any word limit requirements.

In line with section 4.41 of the same Policy, where a submission is notably under the word limit, the full submission will be marked on the extent to which the learning objectives have been met.

Assignment Support

You will be introduced to a range of project planning methodologies, and project analysis techniques. You will also review case projects.

Generic Grading Criteria

You will find the generic grading criteria for achievement at University Grading Criteria. Also explained here are the meanings of the various G grades at the bottom of the grading scale.

Assessment Submission

To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area on the NILE site and use the relevant submission point to upload your report. The deadline for this is 11.59pm (UK local time) on the date of submission.

Written work submitted to TURNITIN will be subject to anti-plagiarism detection software. Turnitin checks student work for possible textual matches against internet available resources and its own proprietary database.

When you upload your work correctly to TURNITIN you will receive a receipt which is your record and proof of submission.

If your assignment is not submitted to TURNITIN rather than a receipt you will see a green banner at the top of the screen that denotes successful submission.

N.B Work emailed directly to your tutor will not normally be marked. The only exception to this is when you are instructed to do so because TURNITIN is down.

Late submission of work

For first sits, if an item of assessment is submitted late and an extension has not been granted, the following will apply:

• Within one week of the original deadline – work will be marked and returned with full feedback, and awarded a maximum bare pass grade.
• More than one week from original deadline – maximum grade achievable LG (L indicating late).

At the second opportunity deadline (resits) work submitted late will be awarded a LG grade. There is no opportunity to submit work late for a bare pass.

Extensions

The University of Northampton’s general policy with regard to extensions is to be supportive of students who have genuine difficulties, but not against pressures of work that could have reasonably been anticipated.

For full details please refer to the Extensions Policy. The module leader can, where appropriate, authorise a short extension of up to two weeks from the original submission date for first sits only.

Mitigating Circumstances

For guidance on Mitigating circumstances please go to Mitigating Circumstances where you will find detailed guidance on the policy as well as guidance and the form for making an application.

Please note, however, that an application to defer an assessment on the grounds of mitigating circumstances should normally be made in advance of the submission deadline or examination date.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Unless this is a group assignment,the work you produce must be your own with work taken from any other source properly referenced and attributed. The University of Northampton policy will apply in all cases of copying, plagiarism or any other methods by which students have obtained (or attempted to obtain) an unfair advantage.

If you are in any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism or any other infringement of academic integrity, please read the University’s Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy. For help with understanding academic integrity go to UNPAC and follow the Top Tips for Good Academic Practice on the student hub.

Please note that the penalties for copying work from another source without proper referencing are severe and can include failing the assessment, failing the module and expulsion from the university.

Feedback and Grades

These can be accessed through clicking on the Feedback and Grades tab on NILE. Feedback will be provided by a rubric with summary comments.

Grade Criteria

These are the criteria required to achieve each classification at:

Level 5

An outstanding Distinction	A+	Work which fulfils all the criteria of the grade below, but at an exceptional standard
A very strong Distinction	A	Work of distinguished quality which is based on a rigorous and detailed knowledge base, including major theories of the discipline(s) and awareness of the variety of ideas, contexts and frameworks and wider implications. Work will demonstrate sustained ability to analyse, synthesise, evaluate and interpret concepts, principles and data within field of study in a considered manner, as well as to develop convincing arguments and judgements appropriate to the field of study/ assessment task. There will be strong evidence of competence across a range of specialised skills using them to plan, develop and evaluate problem solving strategies, to challenge received opinion and develop own judgements. Clear evidence of capability to operate autonomously and self-evaluate in situations of varying complexity and predictability, but within defined guidelines will be demonstrated. Outputs will be communicated effectively, accurately and reliably.
A clear Distinction	A-	Work of very good quality which displays most but not all of the criteria for the grade above.
A Distinction	B+	Work of highly commendable quality which clearly fulfils the criteria for the grade below, but shows a greater degree of capability in relevant intellectual/subject/key skills.
A very strong Merit	B	Work of commendable quality based on a strong detailed knowledge base for the field of study, including an assured grasp of concepts, principles and major theories, together with effective deployment of skills relevant to the discipline and assessment task. There will be evidence of considered analysis, synthesis, evaluation and application, and the ability to work effectively with minimum direction to meet defined objectives and develop own judgements. There will be consistent evidence of capability in all relevant subject based and key skills, including the ability to self-evaluate and work autonomously with minimal direction to use effectively a range of techniques in situations of varying complexity and predictability.
A strong Merit	B-	Work of good quality which contains most, but not all of the characteristics of the grade above.
A clear Merit	C+	Work which clearly fulfils all the criteria of the grade below, but shows a greater degree of capability in relevant intellectual/subject/key skills.
A Merit	C	Work of sound quality based on a firm factual/ conceptual knowledge base for the field of study, including a good grasp of relevant theories, together with the ability to organise and communicate effectively. The work may be rather standard and limited in its theoretical grasp, but will be mostly accurate and provide some evidence of the ability to analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply standard methods/techniques, with minimal guidance. There will be no serious omissions or inaccuracies. There will be good evidence of ability to take responsibility for own learning, some capability to challenge received opinion and form own judgements. Evidence of the ability to operate with increased autonomy in situations of varying complexity and predictability, selecting and applying appropriate techniques will be demonstrated within limits. There will be competence in relevant key skills.
A very strong Pass	C-	Work of capable quality which contains some of the characteristics of grade above.
A strong Pass	D+	Work of satisfactory quality demonstrating a reliable knowledge base and evidence of developed key skills and/or subject based skills, but still containing limited evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation or application, or of appropriate detail or skill application.
A Pass	D	Work of broadly satisfactory quality covering adequately the factual and/or conceptual knowledge base of the field of study and some key theories, appropriately presented and organised, but is primarily descriptive or derivative, with only occasional evidence of analysis, synthesis, evaluation or application. There may be some misunderstanding of key concepts/principles/theories and limitations in the ability to select relevant material or techniques and/or in communication or other relevant skills, so that the work may include some errors, omissions or irrelevancies. There will be evidence of ability to operate with some autonomy in predictable contexts, but less evidence of ability to operate in more complex or unpredictable situations. However, there will be evidence of ability to use a variety of standard techniques, and to meet threshold standards in relevant key skills.
A bare Pass	D-	Work of bare pass standard demonstrating some familiarity with and grasp of a factual/conceptual and theoretical knowledge base for the field of study, together with evidence of some ability to employ specialist skills to solve problems within area of study, but only just meeting threshold standards in e.g. evaluation and interpretation of data and information, reasoning and soundness of judgment, communication, application, or quality of outputs. Work may be characterised by some significant errors, omissions, limitations or problems, but there will be sufficient evidence of development and competence to operate in varied contexts taking responsibility for the nature and quality of outputs.
A marginal Fail	F+	Work which indicates some evidence of engagement with area of study in relation to acquisition of knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles and theories, and of specialist skills, but which is essentially misinterpreted, misapplied and/or contains some significant omission or misunderstanding, or otherwise just fails to meet threshold standards in e.g. communication, application or quality of outputs.
A Fail	F	Work that falls well short of the threshold standards in relation to one or more area of knowledge, intellectual, subject based or key skills. It may address the assessment task to some extent, or include evidence of successful engagement with some of the subject matter, but such satisfactory characteristics will be clearly outweighed by major deficiencies across remaining areas.
A comprehensive Fail	F-	Work of poor quality which is based on only minimal understanding, application or effort. It will offer only very limited evidence of familiarity with knowledge or skills appropriate to the field of study or task and/or demonstrate inadequate capability in key skills essential to the task concerned.
Academic Misconduct	AG	Work submitted but academic misconduct proven and penalty given was to award AG grade
Late submission	LG	Work submitted but given an LG grade due to late submission
Work of nil value	NG	Work submitted but work comprises no value
Non-submission/Nil attempt	G	Nothing presented