School of Architecture

Module Handbook (2022/23)

Module ARC585 (MArch) /ARC565 (Dual MArch/TRP)

Management Practice & Law
(Communication Responsibility & Enterprise)

Semester 1 and 2

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 If you have any difficulty in accessing the information
contained in this document, please contact:

Module leader’s name

Yun Wu

Email : [email protected]

Office: Floor 14 Room 14.8

If you would like to meet me to discuss the module, please email me to

arrange an appointment.

The details in the handbook were correct at the time of going to press. However, the
School cannot guarantee that minor details of the actual programme delivery won’t differ
slightly from those stated in this handbook. Learning and teaching hours are typical

CONTENTS PAGE
1. Module Introduction and Aims 3
2. The Learning Approach 4
3. The Learning Outcomes 5
4. Skills and Employability 6
5. Course Content 7
6. Timetable 7
7. Assessment and Feedback 9
8. Plagiarism 11
9. Academic Support 11
10. Reading and Reference List 12
11. Learning and Research Ethics Policy 13

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1. Module Introduction and Aims

This module forms part of the core curriculum requirement for sixth year MArch
students. The module expects students to reflect on Management and Practice issues
in relation to and in the framework of their major design project.
The module develops students understanding of the complexities associated with
project delivery. It explores their responsibilities as architects during the design stages
which will impact on the performance of the design project and on their responsibility
to appropriately advise their client(s). The module will help students understand the
influences that capital cost, lifecycle costs, health and safety, inclusivity, procurement
and the climate emergency will have on their design proposals and their relationship
with the client, end user and contractor.
Three core themes of communication responsibility and enterprise in an evolving built
environment will be explored. Students are encouraged to be self-critical, reflective
and innovative in their approach to real life issues effecting the built environment and
their design ideas.

The aims of this module are to:

A1 encourage an enterprising attitude towards the profession of architecture and

the role of the architect in society, with particular regard to social and
environmental factors

A2 develop an understanding of the professional responsibility of architects to

clients, building users, constructors, co-professionals in the context of team
work and to the wider society and the environment

A3 to develop an understanding of the impact of decisions regarding the

development, funding, management and procurement have on communities
and the built environment

A4 encourage an understanding of the fundamental ethical, legal, professional and

statutory responsibilities of the architect including, climatic, social and political
responsibilities.

A5 encourage an understanding of the regulations and procedures involved in the

delivery of architectural design proposals, such as land law, building
regulations, development control and health & safety legislation.

A6 encourage an understanding of the financial factors implied by different

building types, construction systems and material choices and how these relate
to design choices

A5 encourage an understanding of the differing procurement choices available to

clients for the delivery of a project and the impact that a procurement choice
may have on the final outcome

MArch ARC565: Core module, 15 Credits

Dual MArch/TRP ARC565: Core Module, 10 Credits

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Changes to modules since last session
The lectures series will return to in-person delivery over the course of three weeks in
January / February. Weekly topic areas will be explored in lecture and interactive
discussion formats, with contributions from external professionals. The intention is to
ensure students are aware of the critical topics to be addressed through their
management report and also signposting to further information sources to support
independent learning. The weekly series will illustrate the complexities involved in
delivering a design proposal and the considerations associated with professional
practice management. The lectures provide contextual information and encourage the
students to understand their own role and responsibility in making choices and how
these choices will influence the project outcome.

The following changes are to be implemented this year;

• The course content will return to in-person delivery, with individual tutorials
remaining online to give access to nationally leading external professionals.

• The lecture material will include signposting to support students’ independent

learning.

• The Project Case Study workshop will expand to include contributions from 3
external practitioners exploring 3 projects contrasting in scale, procurement
route and sector. This will offer more diverse insight into a range of different
project scenarios as well as different practice ethos.

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2. The Learning Approach

Typical notional hours spent in learning in this module:

MArch ARC585

supervised studio)
Problem Solving

Other (includes
Independent
Laboratories

(credits x10)
Field Work

Placement

Learning
Seminar

Tutorial
Lecture

Total
4 2 1 10 - - - 133 - 150

Typical notional hours spent in learning in this module:

Dual MArch/TRP ARC565

supervised studio)
Problem Solving

Other (includes
Independent
Laboratories

(credits x10)
Field Work

Placement

Learning
Seminar

Tutorial
Lecture

Total
4 2 1 10 - - - 83 - 100

The University of Sheffield conforms to the Higher Education convention that 10

credits = 100 notional learning hours, 15 credits = 150 hours, etc.

The University of Sheffield conforms to the Higher Education convention that 10

credits = 100 notional learning hours, 15 credits = 150 hours, etc.

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3. The Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the
following:

LO1 demonstrate an enterprising attitude towards the profession of architecture and

the future role of the architect in society, with particular regard to social and
environmental factors.

LO2 demonstrate an understanding and critical attitude to the role and value of the
architect through the preparation of a project scenario appropriate to existing
and proposed user groups, site and theoretical context.

LO3 demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental ethical, legal, professional

and statutory responsibilities of the architect

LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of financial factors implied by

different building types, construction systems and material choices and how
these relate to design choices

LO5 To demonstrate an understanding of the influence of capital cost and life-cycle

(running) costs on building designs so that the proposed solution is appropriate
to the project scenario and demonstrates an appropriate responsibility with
regards, biodiversity, ecology and the environment.

LO6 demonstrate an understanding of the differing procurement choices available to

clients for the delivery of a project and the impact that a procurement choice
may have on the final outcome

LO7 demonstrate innovative and critical thinking in the application of management

practice and law issues affecting the design project and to speculate upon this
within the context of future practice

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4. Skills and employability

The knowledge and skills you are likely to gain from this module have the potential to
be useful in a diverse range of situations that could be valuable to you in your career
and that are likely to be useful and valued in graduate-level employment, including:

S1 a critical attitude towards the role of management practice and law in future
practice and the skills to implement change in the profession

S2 a knowledge of practice structures and business models

S3 a knowledge of different procurement routes available for the delivery of a

project and the responsibility of the architect to advise the client

S4 a knowledge of the impact of lifecycle / running costs on design and how these
are considered against client objectives

S5 A knowledge of the contractual and legal responsibilities of the Architect to

clients, users and society at large

S6 the ability to critically examine the financial factors implied in various building
types, constructional systems, material choices and the impact of these on an
Architectural Design.

S7 A knowledge of the differing roles that the architect may have throughout the
life of a project

5. Course content
Please refer to the Timetable below which outlines the proposed series of lecture
topics, workshops and tutorials to support the module.

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6. Timetable

Sixth Year structure of lectures for Y6

Relationships, Responsibility & Enterprise

• Introduction and Regulatory Frameworks

Wednesday 18th January
10.00 – 12.00
Module Introduction – Yun Wu
Regulatory Frameworks, with 3 focused topics:
-Responding to the Climate Emergency – Yun Wu
-Accessibility Legislation and Inclusive Design – Yun Wu
-CDM and the Building Safety Act – live online session
with Paul Bussey, AHMM

• Cost and Risk

Wednesday 25th January
10.00 – 12.00
Development costs and working with developers – Michael Bailey,
WiredScore/ex-MAKE
Life-cycle costing/budget costing – Matthew Twigger, Michael Eyres
Partnership
Risk Management and Insurance – Matthew Twigger, Michael Eyres
Partnership

• Contract Choices
Wednesday 1st February
10.00 – 12.00
Overview of JCT contract types and key considerations affecting contract
choice – Yun Wu. Followed by:

Workshop – Project Case Studies

Three worked examples – exploring strategically different project scenarios
A: Circle Square office development (large, commercial) - Joya Zaman, FCBS
– Design and Build
B: Bath Abbey (medium, heritage) - Andrew Wardrope, FCBS
– Traditional
C: Ravine House (small, domestic with invested client) - Claire Kemp, CE+CA
– Prime Cost

• Tutorials
Monday 6th – Wednesday 15th February
Individual online tutorials with studio led internal and external professionals.
The tutorial schedule will be circulated.

• Submission
Wednesday 22nd February 4pm

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7. Assessment Methods and Criteria

Proportions of assessment for this module

Laboratory work

design portfolio)

Total (=100%)
Formal exam

Coursework

Fieldwork

(Includes
Project

Other
- 100% - - - - 100%

The management report is the final complement to the combined thesis report. The
combined report should pull together the three components of, design manifesto, tech
report and management report into one single document to accompany the sixth-year
thesis design project.
The combined thesis report includes the design manifesto, (as submitted) the
tech report and the management report. The intention is to avoid repetition
between reports and allow the management report to draw on the information
provided in the design manifesto and tech report.
The combined thesis should therefore have three clear sections relating to
Design manifesto, Technology and Management.
Students are not expected to update or amend their design manifesto but to use
the introduction and conclusion to frame the combined reports so that it can be
read as a single document with complementary elements. An executive
summary of the overall project can be used to introduce the project its aims and
its context.
Note; The word count for the management section is 2000 words. 500 words for the
executive summary / introduction to the Combined Report should be used to allow for
project development from design manifesto description.

MArch ARC 585:

The module assessment will be in the form of a critical essay, approximately 2000
words describing the Management, Practice and Legal issues and strategies that form
the framework of your thesis design project (Y6). Your scheme should be used as a
vehicle to reflect on the specific Management, Practice and Legal issues of your thesis
scenario, setting these within the context of current and future practice.

Dual MArch/TRP ARC 565:

As for ARC585 but the essay can use bullet points to condense some parts of the
body text. This reflects the reduced credits awarded to this module compared to
ARC585. Please make it clear on your submission if you are on this course.

MALA Integrated Submission:

All MALA students will be expected to clearly articulate their integrated approach of
landscape and architecture within the structure of the report. There is no requirement
for additional word count and the expectation is that this is written within the main body
of text.

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Joint Submissions:
The word count for the management section on Joint Submissions carried out by 2
persons is 3000 words.

Assessment criteria for assessed components

(linked to Learning Outcomes and Skills):

The assessment of the report will consider the following aspects:

1 Understanding of the procurement options available for a project like/similar to

the one discussed. S3, LO6

2. Understanding of the implications of various forms of procurement on project

cost and awareness of issues related to strategic whole lifecycle costing.
S4, S6, LO4, LO5

3. Understanding of health and safety, inclusive design and other professional

and statutory issues relevant to the design proposal discussed, with an
awareness of their potential limitations and possible strategies to overcome
them. S5, S6, S7, LO3

4. An awareness of how issues discussed relate to the wider context of

professional practice. S1, S2, S7, LO1, LO2, LO7

5. An awareness of the differing roles and relationships of the architect. S7, LO1,
LO2, LO7

The report’s overall mark will be a product of the following weightings:

• 40% Critical awareness and discussion of procurement / contract choice and

whole life cycle costing issues relevant to thesis project. It is suggested that this
should be prepared as advice to the client organisation identified for the thesis project;
possibly as a letter to the client with supporting documentation.

• 10% illustration of issues related to professional practice relevant to thesis

project, such as, CDM, inclusive design, climate emergency, fire risks to
demonstrate an awareness of the professional context in which the project is
situated. This establishes the broad context of issues applicable but one issue
should then be explored in more detail

• 40% Critical awareness and discussion of particular issue which is pertinent to

the thesis project. You should decide which individual issue to explore in detail.
This should be explored and discussed to demonstrate how this
particular issue will impact on design decisions and influence the final
design of the thesis project

• 10% Discourse and writing

Submission date: Wednesday 22nd February 2023, 4pm

Please submit your Combined Thesis Report via Blackboard

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8. Plagiarism and Information Skills
The University takes PLAGIARISM very seriously.
“Plagiarism (either intentional or unintentional) is the using of ideas or work of another
person (including experts and fellow or former students) and submitting them as your
own. It is considered dishonest and unprofessional. Plagiarism may take the form of
cutting and pasting, taking or closely paraphrasing ideas, passages, sections,
sentences, paragraphs, drawings, graphs and other graphical material from books,
articles, internet sites or any other source and submitting them for assessment without
appropriate acknowledgement.” (The University of Sheffield Unfair Means Guide,
2010)

The basic principle underlying the preparation of any piece of academic work is
that the work submitted must be your own original work. In addition to the examples
given above, 'work' can be defined as data, statistics, tables, calculations, pictures,
diagrams, charts, plans, maps, computerised data, computerised print out, ideas
gained through group work, an essay plan or poem layout. (The University Library
Information Skills Resource 2013)

Students are reminded that the Library provides a tutorial on plagiarism:

https://librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/shef-only/info_skills/plagiarism.html

There is also a suite of tutorials on information skills, including referencing which can
be accessed from the Information Skills Resource home page:
https://librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/index.html

9. Academic support
Advice about FEEDBACK, including how to make the best use of the feedback you
are offered, is available in the Feedback Handbook:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/architecture/study/your_learning

University guidance for students about the principles of FEEDBACK can be found
here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.281879!/file/ThePrinciplesofFeedbackStudentguid
ance.pdf

Support for ACADEMIC SKILLS is available from the Student Skills and Development
Centre, 301 Glossop Road:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/services

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10. Reading and Reference List

Handbook of Practice Management

RIBA, Ninth Edition
RIBA Enterprises Ltd. 2013

The Architect in Practice,

10th edition
David Chappell & Andrew Willis

The Architect’s Guide to Running a Job,

6th edition
Ronald Green

The Architect’s Handbook of Practice Management,

8th edition
Nigel Ostime & Daniel Stanford

Architect’s Legal Handbook,

9th edition.
Anthony Speaight

Starting a Practice,
RIBA, Good Practice Guide
Simon Foxwell 2006

Business Model Generation

Alexander Osterwander & Yves Pigner 2010

Marketing Your Practice,

RIBA Good Practice Guide
Helen Elias

Communication in the Design Process,

London, Spon Press
Brown, S. 2001

Construction communication,
Oxford, Blackwell Publishing
Emmitt, S. and C. Gorse 2003

Marketing and communication for architects:

Fundamentals, strategies, and practice
Haupt, E. and M. Kupitza, 2002

Management teams: why they succeed or fail.

Amsterdam; Boston, Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2004
Belbin, R. M.

Solutions for collaborative working in construction and FM,

Teamwork2002: Virtual First Ltd.
Cannell, M. 2003

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 Managing the Brief for Better
Design Spon Press, UK. 2001
Blyth A and Worthington J

Funky business: talent makes capital dance

London, Financial Times Prentice Hall 2002
Nordström, K., J. Ridderstråle

Which Contract: Choosing the appropriate building contract, 6th edition.

RIBA, 2019
Sarah Lupton and Manos Stellakis

Tendering & Contract Administration

The Aqua Group Guide to Procurement, 3rd edition.
2007 Blackwell Publishing

Construction Contracts: Questions and Answers, 2nd edition.

David Chappell

Keeping Out of Trouble,

RIBA, Good Practice Guide
Owen Luder 2006

11. Learning and Research Ethics Policy

The School’s Learning and Research Ethics Policy complies with those of the
University. Details can be found on the School website here

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