Strategic Quality and Project Management

Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes Learning OutcomesLearning OutcomesLearning OutcomesLearning Outcomes Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the critical factors, principles and techniques of sustainable strategic Quality
2. Critically evaluate how Project Management and Control principles can be applied as a framework to deliver robust change beneficial to the organisation and its customers
3. To critically analyse both quantitatively and qualitatively the key issues facing the successful implementation of Quality systems and Project Management and Control
Module Assessment Module AssessmentModule Assessment Module AssessmentModule AssessmentModule AssessmentModule Assessment Module Assessment Module Assessment
Formative Activities & Assessment
Formative Activities and Assessments are opportunities for you to apply, practice and make sense of the learning materials and content that you have encountered. These may be an individual task such as reading some text or watching a video and documenting your reaction to it, responding to some discussion points on the discussion forum or participating in a ‘live online classroom’ session. The main aim of formative activities is that you receive feedback on your contribution which will help you in preparation for your final module assignment. There is opportunity during the module to engage in formative assessment and this is related to the summative assessment for the module.
In this module, you will contribute to a number of discussions for a set number of weeks, before generating a Wiki which will build each week and help you plan your final assignment.
You are reminded that when contributing to discussion for both your formative and summative assessment that the University of Derby’s rules on netiquette apply. You can read the guide about Netiquette here.
University of Derby Online Learning
www.derby.ac.uk/online 4 of 5
Summative Assessment
Summative Assessments are the pieces of coursework that you complete which contribute towards your final grade in this module. Details of the summative assessment are shown below.

Assessment Weighting
100% Coursework
Individual Assignment: 3,500 words
Assignment Specification
Your end of module assignment is a 3,500 word report. You are a Change Management Consultant specialising in Quality Management. You have been asked to evaluate a quality management system for an organisation with which you are familiar and write a report which includes your findings, recommendations and implementation plan. This should include
1. An evaluation as to how quality objectives are identified and how quality is controlled and managed currently including the extent to which it can be described as strategic quality management. Your evaluation should consider the key features of SQM and how effective the quality management system is at contributing towards organisational goals and objectives. (30% of marks)
2. From your evaluation, identify an improvement which can be made to the system and plan how you would implement such a change. For this plan you should include as appendices a PID which would be used to secure approval for your proposed change and your detailed plan for implementing the change which should include a Gantt chart, network diagram and budget. As a minimum, this should identify activities, dependences, time-scales and resources. (20% of marks) (Your PID can be included as an appendix to your report )
3. Discuss how you would ensure smooth implementation of your change including how you would measure, monitor and control the implementation of your plan. (20% of marks)
4. Analyse the key issues which can impact the successful implementation of quality systems and / or improvements using project management principles. This should
University of Derby Online Learning
www.derby.ac.uk/online 5 of 5
include consideration of the project lifecycle and methodologies which can be used to implement such a change. (30% of marks)
In addition to the module reading and suggested websites, there are a number of web pages where you can access project initiation document (PID) pro-forma’s but you need to ensure that if you choose to use one of these that the information it contains is in your own words and that it is adapted for your choice of project.
AssAssAssessment essment essment Criteria Criteria
In completing the assessment, you need to demonstrate all of the following skills:
? Application of academic concepts
? Critical awareness and analysis
? Synthesis and presentation of key ideas
? Evaluation of complex matters
? Integration of ideas and practice in a cross disciplinary manner
? Presentation (written) of key concepts / ideas
Assignment Guidelines
You must cite the sources of your information within your report (ie where you make reference to models and theories or use another’s ideas) and ensure that you quote correctly where applicable. The standard format that we use for referencing is Harvard. You must also include a reference section at the end of your assignment therefore. A bibliography is not required.
Marking Grid Levels/ Rubric Information
This programme uses the new percentage grading system recently adopted by the University of Derby for all courses. Details are available in your course handbook and at:

http://www.derby.ac.uk/percentage-grades