Bachelor’s

Degree
BMP5018
Project
Management
Week 2: Introduction to Project Management
Learning objectives of this session
• Today we will cover the following:
• Week 1 recap
• Review Week 2 Prepare
• Understanding the key concepts of project management
with examples.
• Critical analysis of the difference between project
management and business as usual
• Understanding the importance of project management.
Learning outcomes recap

On successful completion of this Module, you will be expected

to be able to:
Learning Compare and contrast project planning
Outcome 1 approaches and techniques.

Learning Develop and justify a project plan for a given

Outcome 2 scenario.

Learning Appraise project management skills.

Outcome 3

Learning Analyse project management control techniques.

Outcome 4
Module Topics
1. Project planning and design
2. Project management skills
3. Project management approaches and techniques
4. Project roles and responsibilities
5. Project management constraints and risks
6. Sustainable approaches to project management
7. Managing quality and risk
8. Health and safety
Module assessment

Learning
Descriptio Outcome Weightin
Assessment Format Due Date
n s g
Assessed
001 Written Piece Coursework Report 1, 3 50%
2,000 words
Check
Assessme
002 Practical skills Practical Presentatio 2, 4 50% nt Brief
assessment n
What is a project?
• A project is a unique, transient
endeavour undertaken to
achieve a desired outcome
(APM, 2018).
• A temporary endeavour
undertaken to create a unique
product, service or result (PMI,
2008).
• A management environment
created for the purpose of
delivery of one or more
business products according to
a specified business case
(PRINCE2, 2009).
What makes a project different?
• Change: Means by which we
introduce change.
• Temporary: Projects have
defined start and end.
• Cross-functional: Involves team
of people with different skills
working together (temporarily) to
introduce change that will impact
others.
• Unique: Every project is unique
(different team, different
customers, etc.).
• Uncertainty: Projects are of
various sizes and risk.
What is Project Management?
• The practice of using information, skills,
tools and strategies to execute a project
in accordance with certain specifications.
• Key to effectiveness is to recognise an
issue, produce a strategy to address it,
and execute the plan until the issue is
resolved.
• A project will be finished on schedule
and under budget using an effective
management strategy.
• The way in which different areas of a
project are brought together to achieve a
common
Source: goal.
Kerzner (2013)
Activity 1 (20 mins): What is
project management?

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk-Jw
tScIlw&t=68s
(2.17mins)
Discuss ‘What is project management?’
in groups (25 mins)
BREAK 15 mins

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Activity 2 (45 mins): Are
Projects Different from
Business as Usual?
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=KNcVfThaqcA
(10.5 mins)
• Project Basics: Describe when
it's not a project.
• Business as usual: identify
differences between projects
and BAU. Give examples.
Projects are different from
business as usual
• Projects are formulated and undertaken
for the purpose of introducing change
to an existing status quo (e.g., a new
computer system, a bridge, a new
product launch, etc.)
• Open Heart Surgery: to a surgeon
and the patient this may seem like a
project, whereas to the theatre nurse it
may seem like a repetitive operation.
• A factory manufacturing 300 washing
machines a day – the factory will see
this as a project, while each washing
machine is simply business as usual.
• Building a footbridge over a river
that has never been done before is a
project.
What Are Examples of Project Types?

• E.g., product development.

• Multiple departments are involved in
creating the product, marketing it,
selling it and more.
• Design team is different from teams
that manufacture, market, or sell the
product.
• Each teams would work with a project
manager who helps move the product
development from one stage to the
next.
Source: Team (2023)
Importance of project
management
• Defines the project scope
• Controls quality
• Minimises risks
• Lowers project costs
• Promotes teamwork
• Maximises resources
• Encourages continuous
learning
Recap of the session

In this session we covered:

• Understanding the key concepts of project management

with examples.
• Critical analysis of the difference between project
management and business as usual
• Understanding the importance of project management.
Reference List
• Association for Project Management. (2018) What is project management? Available at:
https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/what-is-project-management/. [Accessed: 19 Jul
2023].
• Burke, R. and Barron, S. (2014) Project Management Leadership: Building Creative Teams.
Chichester: Wiley.
• Horine, G. (2017) Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide. 4th Ed. Harlow: Pearson
Education Ltd.
• Khalid, F. (2023) Product development strategy: How founders can build one,
DevTeam.Space. Available at: https://www.devteam.space/blog/product-
development-strategy-guide-for- founders/. [Accessed: 03 Jul 2023].
• Kerzner, H. (2015) ‘Project Management Methodologies: 1.0 versus 2.0’, Project
Management 2.0: Leveraging Tools, Distributed Collaboration, and Metrics for Project
Success, pp. 105-140. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313997996_Project_Management_Methodologies
_10_ versus_20. [Accessed: 19 Jul 2023].
• Maylor, H. and Turner, N. (2022) Project Management. 5th Ed. Harlow: Pearson Education
Ltd.
• Meredith, J.R., Shafer, S.M., and Mantel, S.J. (2017) Project management: a managerial
Reference List
• Newton, R. (2016) Project Management Step by Step, How to Plan and Manage a
Highly Successful Project. 2nd Ed. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.
• Project Management Institute. (2008) A guide to the project management body of
knowledge (PMBOK® guide). 4th Ed. Newton Square, PA: Author.
• Sorrel Gilbert: The Gilbert Principle. (2019) Project Basics: When it’s not a project.
Business as usual: the difference between projects and BAU. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNcVfThaqcA. [Accessed: 19 Jul 2023].
• Team, I.E. (2023) The Importance of Project Management (With Examples).
Available at:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/importance-of-project-
management. [Accessed: 19 Jul 2023].
• Team, T.I. (2023) Project management: What it is, 3 types, and examples. Available
at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/project-management.asp.
[Accessed: 18 Jul 2023].
• Watt, A. (2014) Project Management. 4th Ed. Minneapolis, MN: Open Textbook
Consolidate: Individual Task 1
Individual task 1
Provide responses to the following in your OneNote:
1. True or false? Many projects can be undertaken at the same
time. Justify your answer.
2. Which of these is a project and why?
• Running a marketing department
• A prototype software system
• Running a finance department
• A research paper
• Renumbering the UK telephone system
• Making washing machines
3. List five attributes of what makes them a project.
Consolidate: Individual Tasks 2 &
3
Activity (Task 2) Time
Individual task 2:
Research 15
Research and prepare a poster to
showcase your analysis Poster 20
• Identify 2 best real-world project preparation
management examples and present
your poster next week.
Present 5

Discussion 5

Individual task 3:
• Complete this week’s quiz on Canvas.
Any Questions
+44 (0)203 870 6666
[email protected]

rcl.ac.uk