PAD823

Project Management

Management Sciences
800 level
2 credit units
122 pages
15 units

This course exposes students to key project management skills. It provides necessary knowledge for managing projects, covering the nature and purpose of project management, key functions, and processes. The course also explains project implementation processes and involves visits to organizations for practical experience. Students will learn about cost estimation, project planning, scheduling, and implementation.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 208 hours
Maths: Basic
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of PAD823, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

PAD823 · UNIT 2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION

There will be need for procurement of land. There will also be need for architects to design the hospital. There will be need for structural engineers, civil and building engineers and electrical engineers. Different types of equipment will be sourced for e.g. X-ray machines, laboratory equipment, etc. to equip the hospital.

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What you should be able to do

Explain the nature and purpose of project management
Discuss the key functions in project management
Explain the project management process
Explain project implementation processes
Apply cost estimation techniques
Develop project schedules

What it prepares you for

Careers

Project Manager
Construction Manager
Program Manager
Business Analyst
Management Consultant

Where it is applied

Construction
Information Technology
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Government

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 3:
Unit 1: Network Analysis
Network analysis requires strong logical reasoning and the ability to visualize complex interdependencies between project activities, making it challenging to accurately represent and analyze project workflows.
Module 2:
Unit 2: Cost Estimates: Practical Estimation
Practical estimation involves applying cost estimation principles to real-world scenarios, which requires a deep understanding of various cost components, market conditions, and the ability to make accurate predictions based on limited information.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1:
- Unit 1: The Nature and Purpose of Project Management · 2 hours
  Understand the definition of a project and project management.. Explain the purpose of project management and its importance.. Identify tangible and intangible projects..
Week 2Module 1:
- Unit 2: Project Management Organisation · 2 hours
  Discuss the importance of communication in project management.. Explain the roles and functions of a project manager.. Identify different types of project management structures..
Week 3Module 1:
- Unit 3: Administration Functions in Project Organisation · 2 hours
  Discuss administration functions in a pure project team.. Explain the administration function in a matrix organization.. Analyze the administration function in a hybrid organization..
Week 4Module 1:
- Unit 4: Project Definition · 2 hours
  Explain the project definition process.. Discuss the project cycle from idea to execution.. Understand the importance of financial appraisal in project definition..
Week 5Module 1:
- Unit 5: Project Team Building · 2 hours
  Explain the mechanics of project team building.. Discuss the dynamics of project teams.. Understand team-based structures and their functions..
Week 6Module 2:
- Unit 1: Cost Estimates: Definitions and Principles · 2 hours
  Explain the general nature of cost estimates.. Discuss the definitions and principles of cost estimation.. Understand direct costs, factory costs, and fixed costs..
Week 7Module 2:
- Unit 2: Cost Estimates: Practical Estimation · 2 hours
  Explain cost estimates in practice.. Prepare cost estimates of a project.. Use checklists to guide cost analysis..
Week 8Module 2:
- Unit 3: Financial Project Appraisal · 2 hours
  Explain financial project appraisal.. Discuss various methods used in appraising projects.. Understand traditional and discounted cash flow methods..
Week 9Module 2:
- Unit 4: Commercial Management of Projects · 2 hours
  Appraise the sourcing of finance for projects.. Explain commercial management of projects.. Understand contracts and insurance in project management..
Week 10Module 2:
- Unit 5: Introduction to Project Planning and Scheduling · 2 hours
  Explain factors affecting project planning.. Discuss project planning and scheduling.. Understand the planning time frame and its approaches..
Week 11Module 3:
- Unit 1: Network Analysis · 2 hours
  Explain network analysis.. Apply network analysis to project management.. Understand arrow networks and precedence notation..
Week 12Module 3:
- Unit 2: Principles of Scheduling Resources · 2 hours
  Define scheduling and enumerate project resources.. Discuss the priority rules for scheduling resources.. Understand resource-limited and time-limited scheduling..
- Unit 3: Practical Scheduling of Resources · 2 hours
  Outline areas of practical scheduling of resources.. Discuss practical scheduling of resources.. Understand factors in project resource scheduling..
Week 13Module 3:
- Unit 4: Materials Management · 2 hours
  Explain the purchasing cycle.. Appraise the principle of materials management.. Discuss stores administration..
- Unit 5: Project Implementation: An Introduction · 2 hours
  Explain the process of project implementation.. Discuss project implementation stages.. Understand project authorization and documentation..
- Unit 6: Managing Progress in Projects · 2 hours
  Explain managing progress in projects.. Discuss the management of progress in projects.. Understand management by walk about and project progress reports..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create a detailed study schedule allocating specific time slots for each module and unit.
Practice cost estimation exercises from Unit 2 to improve accuracy and speed.
Develop network diagrams for sample projects to master critical path analysis from Unit 1 Module 3.
Review tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) to identify areas needing further attention.
Form study groups to discuss complex concepts and share insights.
Focus on understanding key definitions and principles from each unit.
Use bar charts to plan and schedule project activities effectively.
Review financial project appraisal methods and their applications.
Practice time-limited scheduling exercises to improve resource allocation skills.
Familiarize yourself with the purchasing cycle and materials management principles.

Questions students ask about this course

What is PAD823 about?

How many units does PAD823 have?

PAD823, Project Management, has 15 units across 3 modules, over 122 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is PAD823?

PAD823 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.

Is PAD823 hard?

PAD823 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does PAD823 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.

How is PAD823 assessed?

PAD823 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with PAD823?

Project Manager, Construction Manager, Program Manager, Business Analyst and Management Consultant.