STUDENT GUIDE

MODULE : PROJECT MANAGEMENT

COURSE : DIPLOMA IN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

August 2020
This course material is designed and developed by PSB Academy. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise stored in any information storage or retrieval system of any nature without the
prior written permission of the PSB Academy.
© All rights reserved
INTRODUCTION

Projects are an increasingly important aspect of modern business. This module outlines the
importance of project management and its relations to the strategic goals of the organisation,
covering relevant theories, terms and concepts. These are reinforced by case studies
covering a wide variety of project types and industries. Students will learn about the project
life cycle and how a successful project can be built from pre-implementation to completion.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this Module, the student will be able to:

Learning outcome 1: Define the aim and objectives of a project, and examine the
project management environment within an organisation

Learning outcome 2: Identify the effects of projects on individuals and stakeholders

Learning outcome 3: Develop an effective project team within an organisation

Learning outcome 4: Select, apply and evaluate project management tools,

techniques and methodology for the effective and successful implementation of a
project

Project Management Page 1 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
CONTENTS

Topic 1: Introduction to Project Management

Topic 2: Structures and Frameworks

Topic 3: Project Selection

Topic 4: Cost Estimation and Budgeting

Topic 5: Time Planning

Topic 6: Resource Management

Topic 7: Project Evaluation and Control

Topic 8: Risk Management

Topic 9: Project Completion and Termination

DURATION

3 hours per session. Students are advised to be prepared for each session by
spending twice as much of the class contact hours on self-study and group project.

ASSSESSMENT

There are two assessments for this module:

1. Group Project 40%

a. Group Report (20%)

b. Peer Evaluation Report (20%)

2. Final Examination 60%

Total 100%

Project Management Page 2 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
GROUP REPORT

PURPOSE

This assignment will provide an opportunity for students to:

• study, analyse and reason critically on the selected issue/topic
• demonstrate their understanding on the concepts and theories acquired from the
module
• read widely, including materials on the Internet, magazines, newspapers, journals
and books, and draw on relevant concepts and theories

DESCRIPTION

Think of an issue, challenge or idea that concerned a project. Share this in the
essay, and convince the reader why it is so important that we should also care
about the issue to the same extent. Outline the key issues to consider from pre-
implementation to completion of the project, using relevant theories, concepts
and examples.

Please note that plagiarism and cheating in any form will be penalised.

Each report shall include on the cover page of the report the module title, student’s
name and date of submission.

The report is to be typewritten with 2,500 words on A-4 size paper with double spacing,
11pt font (Arial) and margins of 2 cm on all sides. All pages must be numbered. The
report shall include a table of contents and the paragraphs of the report are to be
numbered.

Readings: Students are expected to read ahead of the session plan the required
textbook relevant chapters to write their report.

Students are to submit the project on or before the deadline as determined by the
lecturer. Any late submission will be awarded zero marks.

Project Management Page 3 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
Grading Criteria

The Group Report will be graded based on the following:

Criteria Marks
A. Report Presentation
1. Organization of Report 20
 Format
 Contents sequence
2. Tables / Charts / Diagrams / Illustrations
B. Analysis
1. Research / Findings / Calculations 20
2. Interpretations 20
3. Application of concepts 20

C. Conclusion
Recommendations 10
D. In-text referencing and Reference list 10

Total 100

The report marks (group report and peer evaluation) will constitute 40% of the overall module
grade.

FINAL WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Students are required to sit for a two-hour written examination. The final examination
will cover all topics taught in the module.

Project Management Page 4 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 1 INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• identify the definitions of a project and the task of management within a range
of projects

• demonstrate the importance of successful project management to individuals,

organisations and economies

• recognise the development of the modern subject along with some of the
challenges and limitations.

TOPICS

1. Basic definitions

2. Why are projects important?

3. Project life cycles

4. Employability skills

Project Management Page 5 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 2 STRUCTURES AND FRAMEWORKS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• describe the environment that a project operates in and some of the

challenges facing project managers

• assess the managerial complexity of a project and the implications of this for
the project manager and the organisation.

TOPICS

1. Stakeholder management

2. Organisational structure

3. Organisational culture

TOPIC 3 PROJECT SELECTION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Describe the approaches to project selection

• Apply financial models to assess the attractiveness of a project

TOPICS

1. Approaches to project screening and selection

2. Financial models – payback period, net present value, discounted payback

method and internal rate of return

3. Portfolio management
Project Management Page 6 of 13
Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 4 COST ESTIMATION AND BUDGETING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Understand various cost concepts

• Estimate the cost of a project

• Create a project budget

TOPICS

1. Cost concepts

2. Cost estimation

3. Creating a project budget

Project Management Page 7 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 5 TIME PLANNING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Use the basics of product, task and organisational breakdown and recognise
the limitations of these

• Arrange tasks in a simple project into a sequence, and calculate the project
duration and critical path

TOPICS

1. Project scheduling

2. Developing a network

3. Duration estimation

4. Constructing a critical path

Project Management Page 8 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 6 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Identify the resource constraints

• Develop a plan for resource levelling

• Manage resources in multiproject environments

TOPICS

1. Resource constraints

2. Resource levelling

3. Manage resources in multiproject environments

Project Management Page 9 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 7 PROJECT EVALUATION AND
CONTROL

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Identify the elements of a control system appropriate to a particular project

• Determine the key performance measures of project control with particular
reference to the human factor

• Select appropriate tools and techniques to enable such control.

TOPICS

1. Control cycle

2. Monitor project performance

3. Earned Value Management

4. Human factors in project evaluation and control

Project Management Page 10 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 8 RISK MANAGEMENT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Recognise the nature of risk

• Apply the four stage process to managing risk

TOPICS

1. What is project risk?

2. The nature of risk and risk management – four stage process

Project Management Page 11 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy
TOPIC 9 PROJECT COMPLETION AND
TERMINATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, students should be able to:

• recognise the mechanisms for project closure

• provide justification and method of early project termination

TOPICS

1. Project closure – natural termination

2. Early project termination

Project Management Page 12 of 13

Copyright © PSB Academy