Faculty
of Business and Law

Level: 3

Module: SIM335 Managing Projects

Assignment Code: SIM335

Module Leader: Michael Cassop-Thompson

Return date: Friday 19th October 2012

Contribution to module
assessment:
100%

This is an individual assignment – complete both tasks 1 and
2
Background: The assignment is intended to
bring out the benefits and limitations of different approaches to project
planning and control by relating these to the circumstances in the cases
outlined. It is also intended to allow students to demonstrate their learning
and competence in respect of the management of resources generally, but in
particular elements of scope, schedule, quality, and cost.
Case 1:. VobienLtd is an organisation which provides consultancy advice to the service
sector. Consultancy the company provides includes advising upon: process and
product innovation, automation of work design, and selection and use of social
media. As part of your job as the Vobien Ltd special projects manager you have
produced a list of activities that need to be addressed to source a technological
solution for monitoring access and egress within a local authorities library
service. The details are shown in the
table provided. Please note: You must use the methodology detailed above table
1 headed “essential methodologyâ€.

Task 1 (40% marks)
1) Draw the network diagram (use activity on the node).
(8 marks)
2) Explain how you determined the timing of activities
and the total float. (6 marks)
3) Explain how you determined the project duration and
the critical path. (6 marks)
4) If the project starts on the Monday 4 February 2013, what is the earliest date it can be
completed using a 5 day working week? Assume no other holidays (explain how you calculated the figure). (4
marks)
5) If the following happened what would be the effect
on the duration of the whole project? Explain the reasons. (6 marks)
a) Activity E is delayed 1 day.
b) Activity P is delayed 1 day.
c) Activity Q is completed 1 day early
6) Explain the limitations of Network diagrams. (10
marks)

Essential
methodology (activity on the node):
·
All the
timings (i.e. earliest start, earliest finish, latest start, latest finish,
total float, duration and activity) must be included within each node of your
diagram. This essential methodology is detailed in the text: Project
Management, Field and Keller (2007. p.
197,p.198 & p. 391)
·
All
timings must be in days – not dates
·
To
complete your network diagram assume that:
o
If task
A has a duration of 4 days (task A, earliest finish would be day 4), therefore,
task B earliest start time will be day 4.
·
This
essential methodology is detailed in the text: Project Management, Field and
Keller (2007. p. 197,p.198 & p. 391),

Table 1

Activity (Tasks)

Duration (Days)

Preceded By

A

4

–

B

3

A

C

7

B

D

2

B

E

5

B

F

3

C, D, E

G

9

F

H

3

F

I

2

F

J

3

F

K

3

G, H, I, J

L

5

K

M

3

L

N

3

M

O

5

N

P

2

N

Q

2

O,P

R

3

Q

Case 2: IBEK Ltd is a SME company
specialising in the supply of specialist auto parts to the motor industry. The
organisations they supply includes: regional, national, and international
companies. The company has been particularly successful since it started
trading in 2007. They trade from a single main warehouse (25,000 square metres)
that also includes office accommodation. At present the company employs 1
General Manager, 2 Assistant Managers, 3 Administration staff, 5 sales staff,
and 6 warehouse staff. They outsource their distribution functions.
As part of a
strategy of expansion, IBEK Ltd have employed you as a consultant to manage a
one off special project. This project is concerned with the opening of a
building which they recently acquired (35,000 square metres). This new building
will allow the company to target and respond to large global organisations
demands for service. Initially, the staffing structure at the new building will
mirror the existing structure at the existing site. This project is concerned
with the ensuring the operational
requirements of the new facility are addressed. Please note: this new facility will
already be built to a 21st Century standard.
Task 2 (60% marks)
As Project Manager you are responsible for the ensuring the
initial opening and operational requirements of the new facility are
identified. You are required to prepare a report concerning the
main issues to be addressed from a project management perspective (2,000
words). From a project management perspective outline the
activities required to successfully implement this new initiative, ensuring
that it can open on-time, and within budget. Again you should note that you are
taking possession of a purpose built building and have to address the issues
that would allow the building to be operated by your client. You should note
that the emphasis should be concerned with you communicating your knowledge of
project management.
The analysis should include the skills and competencies required by the
Project Manager, along with the project management process. Use examples of the
concerns, stages, processes, leadership, administration and control problems
associated with managing the lifecycle of this major project.
Assignment presentation and assessment
The
answers to both tasks are independent and should be addressed separately.
Task 1 (i.e. the network diagram information – (600 words) –
completed as an individual task
Task 2 a report that
is produced for task two (2000 words) – completed as an individual task
For your
convenience both tasks should be submitted as one document, which contains both
individual tasks.
The
criteria for assessing the first task – the network diagram tasks – are detailed
on page 6.
The
criteria for assessing the task two report will be:
Report
presentation (20%) (12 marks)
The extent
to which the assignment represents an effective report. This will be judged on:
Appearance: Is a word count included
at the end of the report? Is it within the specified amount? Is the text double
spaced?
Structure: Does the report follow the conventions
of the format? Does it have a clear introduction, explaining how it answers the
questions? Do the sections of the report develop ideas in a logical sequence?
Are diagrams or other subsidiary information shown in appendices?
Spelling and grammar: Are all
words spelled correctly and is the meaning of sentences clear?
Referencing: Have appropriate
references been included in the report. Has a recognised referencing system
been used for notation? (see relevant section in the Guide to Basic Study
Skills)
Use of relevant theory (40%)(24
marks)
Has the
right theoretical content been chosen as the basis for answering the questions?
Is there evidence of the use of course notes and books? Is the theory that is
selected significant to the questions?
Analysis (40%)(24 marks)

This
measures the extent to which students develop a structured argument for the
points they make, by combining relevant theory with the information provided in
the questions.
Any work submitted is subject to the University’s rules and
procedures governing infringement of assessment regulations.

Module Leader Mr Michael Cassop Thompson Moderated by Mr Ian Carr

Grading Criteria SIM335 Managing Projects Individual Assignment

First Class (70 – 100%)
A
creative and original response to the question. Critically reflecting on
perceived theory and experiences. Wide
and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and
experiences. Answer written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed
capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically.

Upper Second Class (60 –
69%)
Comprehensive
knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application of theory and
experience to the question answered. Ability to inter-relate concepts and
ideas. Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and limitations.
Answer systematically structured and coherent.

Lower Second Class (50-59%)
Evidence
of knowledge of concepts and theories. Attempts to relate and balance theory
and practice. Main issues addressed
appropriately. Mainstream texts and
lecture notes used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments weak in
places.

Third Class (40-49%)
Evidence
of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and theories. Limited attempts to relate theory and
practice relaying on personal opinion or assertions. Limited evidence of reading. Presentation and structure weak in several
places.

Fail (0 – 39%)
Some
knowledge of main concepts and theory but major omissions and / or
misunderstandings. Style and structure
weak and overly descriptive. Considerable limitations in ability to perceive
the relationship of theory and practice.
Limited reading.

SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 2011/12)

Task 1

1.
8 marks. 1 points to be taken off for
each wrong node.
A maximum of 5 wrong nodes, after which the
student gets 0 for the question.
Marks will be deducted for poor
presentation.

Please note: Marks are only
awarded if the methodology for Activity
on the Node – detailed in Project
Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p. 391) is used.
Please note;
Marks are only awarded if the timings are in days – not dates
2.
3 marks for explaining how the timings were determined .
3 marks for explaining how the float was
determined.

Please note: Marks are only awarded if timings for all
activities are included on the network diagram, and the explanation
given. This approach is detailed in
Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p. 391)

3.
3 marks for correct project duration and
explanation.
3 marks for correct critical path and
explanation.

4.
4 marks for correct earliest date (and
explain how the figure was calculated).

5.
a) 1 markfor the correct identification of the effect on the duration
of the whole project, 1 markfor
right reason
b) 1 markfor the correct
identification of the effect on the duration of the whole project, 1 markfor right reason
c) 1 markfor the correct
identification of the effect on the duration of the whole project, 1 markfor right reason

6.
10 marks for the discussion concerning
the limitations of network diagrams
Up to 2 marks awarded (per limitation) for
the identification and explanation of five limitations

Total: 40 marks

SIM335: Management of
Projects (Academic Year 2007/08)

Task 2

Criteria

70% +

60-69%

50-59%

40-49%