Capstone modules

These two core modules are delivered at the beginning and end of the course respectively and explore themes that lie at the very heart of MSc SMP.

Management of Projects

Led by Professor Peter Morris, this module sets out the arguments for a paradigm shift away from the restrictive tools-based view of project management, and towards the more inclusive and context-based 'management of projects' approach.

The module provides opportunities to learn across project-based sectors. Critically, the Management of Projects focuses on the acquisition of management knowledge and the application of learning in a project context.

Aims of the Module

• To Introduce the management of projects (and programmes) as a core and coherent discipline.
• To underpin the entire SMP course and provide a backdrop for strategic management thinking.

Module assessment: compulsory (15 credits)

Method of assessment: unseen written examination (50%); coursework (50%)

To gain the module credits, a student must achieve an aggregate mark of 50% or higher in the elements for assessment.

Tomorrow's Company

This module provides a high-impact, horizon-stretching and thought provoking close to the course. Led by Dr Andrew Edkins, Tomorrow's Company challenges students to identify a range of trends and scenarios that may be critical to the future mission of the industry. The module will then explore how leaders might use this information to implement new strategies to prepare for these possible futures.

Aims of the Module

• Focus upon the strategic realization of the need to adapt organisations, their composition, performance and approach.
• Deliberately stretch students’ abilities to foresee the future.

Module assessment: compulsory (15 credits)

Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Project lifecycle topics

These four modules deal with management issues that come to the fore at particular stages of a project's development and delivery.

Exploring Project Requirements

This module explores the range of challenges that projects must overcome if they are to provide the client or sponsor with the range of benefits sought. After examining the fundamental challenge of understanding a client's objectives, this module will go on to consider parallel challenges within sectors such as construction and IT/IS systems. 

Aims of the Module

• Explore the client drivers behind the types of complex project that SMP students are involved in, and are expected to go on to play leading roles in.
• Examine the specific interests and processes involved in the briefing and early stages of complex projects in differing sectors.

Module assessment: optional - choice of assessment in this module or Project Operational Legacy (15 credits)
Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Management of Design

This module tackles the design stage of projects from a systems' perspective where significant value can be generated, but where problems frequently arise. Those involved in design are specialists: having been trained and educated to ‘think design’ they have specialist processes, tools and techniques. Appreciating the design challenge and what it entails will allow those involved in managing and leading projects to be able to assist and avoid hindering the creative process.

Aims of the Module

• Provide a systems-based insight into the ‘black-box’ of design.
• Explore the drivers and constraints of design, the way value is understood and managed during the design stage, and the product of good design.

Module assessment: compulsory (15 credits)

Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Project Operational Legacy

The types of projects that SMP students are likely to be involved in, either currently or in future, are complex and probably long-lived. Operational and legacy issues are paramount to the client or sponsor. This module considers how the initial aims and objectives of a project can lead to operational and legacy consequences, both predicted and unforeseen.

Aims of the Module

• Provide an overview of strategic ‘facility’ management.
• Explore the service and operations management challenges, and the ways in which these knowledge bases can benefit a project.

Module assessment: optional – choice of assessment in this module or Exploring Project Requirements (15 credits)

Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Governance and Control

Projects rely on excellence of both governance and control. Project governance is associated with corporate governance, which itself is intrinsically linked to corporate responsibility to shareholders and owners, and the wider set of societal stakeholders. This module explores the core topics of risk and uncertainty, as well as specific ‘hot’ topics in selected project sectors.

Aims of the Module

• Examine the strategic framework that exists around any project that sets the aims and objectives, environmental context and project culture.
• Explore the interrelatedness of this strategic framework and the management systems that are used to provide control measures.
• Appreciate that the framework and control measures are part of inherent corporate and project risk management.

Module assessment: compulsory

Method of assessment: unseen written examination (50%); coursework (50%)

Key knowledge areas

These four modules encompass topics that permeate the management of a project throughout the its lifecycle.

Supply Chain Management

This module strikes at the core of modern projects, where various parties - whether internal to one organisation or external players - come together to add value by providing the project solution. How is value understood and subsequently how are supply chains or networks formed? How are they managed? What are the key insights needed to release the power of the supply chain? This module is driven by such questions.

Aims of the Module

• Develop a strategic appreciation of the interplay of supply chains and the principles of both lean and agile management paradigms. 
• Enable students to analyse procurement situations in various project contexts and create appropriate procurement strategies.

Module assessment : compulsory (15 credits)

Method of assessment: unseen written examination (50%); coursework (50%)

Economics and Finance

This module considers the economic context and front-end investment issues associated with complex projects, unveiling the rich world of economic theory that underpins many management actions. Topics covered range from the role of the economically rational man to the importance of discounted cash flow analysis.

Aims of the Module

• Improve students' capacity to better evaluate project and corporate contexts.
• Allow superior project investment decisions to be made through use of the tools of economics and finance.

Module assessment: optional - choice of assessment in this module or Strategy and Marketing (15 credits)

Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Relationships and Marketing

This module tackles the many issues that surround projects and project-based organisations when they come to develop a strategic approach to their management and establish their marketing presence in a business-to-business (B2B) environment.

Aims of the Module

• Increase awareness of the contexts in which projects and firms exist.
• Enable students to better manage tension and conflict in the strategy creation process.
• Equip students to develop corporate and project strategies in the context of macro and micro stakeholders, appreciating core competencies, the role of relationships in project environments, and the need for emotional intelligence.

Module assessment: optional - choice of assessment in this module or Economics and Finance (15 credits)

Method of assessment: coursework (100%)

Managing Innovation and Technology

Projects operate in dynamic environments where external developments can have profound effects. This module explores both the excitement and tension derived from innovations and technological advances. Being able to harness both of these positively will yield great potential benefits; however, there is both risk and uncertainty in embracing anything 'new'. This module looks at a number of relevant technological advances and considers how these and other innovations can be managed. 

Aims of the Module

• Consider where innovation comes from in project environments, and who may resist these innovations.
• Provide selected examples of the technologies used in a range of projects.
• Encourage students to analyse projects and components, including their specific requirements, characteristics and contexts, and think creatively about alternative production possibilities.

Module assessment: compulsory (15 credits)

Method of assessment: unseen written examination (50%); coursework (50%)

To gain the module credits a student must achieve a 50% or higher aggregate mark in the individual elements (exam and essay).