MSc in Project Management
Session: 2022/2023 Semester: SEM1
Module Number: 7503BEQR
Module Title: Project Management Fundamentals
Type of Coursework: CW2-Report (weight: 70%)
Module Leader: Dr Waiel SAID
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF – CW2 Report
This module assignment has two components: 1) a presentation, and 2) a report. This
Assignment Brief is focused on the second assignment, the report only (coursework 2; CW2, as
mentioned hereunder in Table 1).
The report should be submitted anonymously and should just contain your student ID number.
Please make sure you do not have your name anywhere on the report pages.
The following dates are for Cohort MScPM8 (with Dr Waiel Said), for Cohort MSc PM9, students
have to confirm with Lecturer: Mr. Mohammed. M. Mousoof:
Table 1. 7503BEQR CW2 Report Assignment, characteristics and submission details.
Submission Date Length Weighting Learning Outcomes
Report 15-Nov-2022
(23:59)
4000 words (+/-
10%) 70% 1-5
The report needs to be submitted electronically through CANVAS.
Text included within visual aids (e.g. tables, figures, charts, etc.) does not contribute to the overall
wordcount.
a. Assignment Brief (CW2) Report – 4000 words (+/-10%) Report Assignment
Background
You are employed in a sector of your choice as a project manager and your team has just
completed the delivery of a pilot project for one of your clients. A successful completion of this
pilot project can lead to securing a much larger contract for your company with the same
client. As the project manager of this pilot project you now need to produce an end-of-project
report, which will, firstly, evaluate the performance of the pilot project in relation to
the original plan, and, secondly, lead to generation of long-term strategic recommendations
for similar larger projects, based on lessons learnt from this pilot project.
b. Report Assignment Aim
The aim of this assignment is to prepare an end-of-project report that assesses and evaluates
the delivery of the pilot project and offers recommendations about delivering similar future
projects on a larger scale.
2
Within your assignment you will demonstrate an understanding of project planning and
implementation by developing a project plan and utilising it for monitoring and controlling the
project.
Assignment Questions:
(i) Prepare an end-of-project report that reflects on the overall endeavour in planning,
managing, and delivering the project along with a critical assessment and
Assessment of the factors that facilitated the delivery of the pilot project.
(ii) Critically examine project performance and offer recommendations about
delivering similar future projects on a larger scale.
(iii) Evaluate strategic recommendations regarding project or programme
management for the future.
The report structure is outlined on the next page. The marking criteria are summarised in
Table 2 and marking ranges and characteristics in Table 3. Please familiarise yourself with
both; the marking ranges and characteristics, as this may help you achieve your desired
marks.
Table 2. 7503BEQR CW2 Report marking criteria.
Assignment objectives and marking criteria Mark
%
1. To identify the underpinning principles and concepts of project management. 15%
2. To analyse and evaluate the project management concepts and principles in
context of the pilot project plan by critically evaluating the project’s performance.
40%
3. To demonstrate how the pilot project will inform the strategic
recommendations regarding project or programme management for the future.
25%
4. To use relevant visual aids to support the analysis and Assessment of the
management of the pilot project and its overall integration.
10%
5. To appropriately structure the report, to ensure that attention has been paid to
grammar and spelling, to ensure the legibility of all visual aids, and to accurately 3. To demonstrate how the results of the pilot project will be incorporated into the strategic recommendations for future project or program management.
25%
4. In order to support the analysis and assessment of the management of the pilot project and its overall integration, the appropriate visual aids should be utilized.
10%
5. To appropriately structure the report, to guarantee that care has been made to grammar and spelling, to guarantee that all visual aids are legible, and to accurately mention all sources in the report.
reference all sources of information, including literature, online sources and visual
aids (please see https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/microsites/library/skills ljmu/referencing-and-endnote).
10%
The report should answer the following questions as a minimum:
▪ What is/was the project aiming to achieve?
▪ Why is/was it important to achieve it?
▪ How will be/was the project undertaken?
The report itself should demonstrate analytical and Assessment skills in discussion of the topic
and a clear understanding of strategic project management issues. In order to avoid failing,
please do not overuse bullet points, or do not submit just a literature review, as you are
required to evaluate a specific project case for the purpose of this report. Number all pages.
3
Structure of the report
All reports should contain:
Title page: giving the following information:
▪ The full title of the work
▪ Your student ID number
▪ The award for which the project is submitted in partial fulfilment of its requirements
▪ The year of submission
▪ The word count (excluding acknowledgements, diagrams, references, bibliography and
appendices)
Confidentiality statement: If there are genuine reasons why your work could be considered
confidential then you should discuss this matter with your Module Leader (Optional).
Acknowledgements: A list of people who provided help to the author during the research and
writing of the project (Optional).
Executive summary: A brief summary of the aim, methodology, contents, and conclusions of
the report. This section is not included in the word count, but should be no longer than 400
words.
Glossary: A list of abbreviations, key phrases and technical terms used in the report and their
definitions (Optional).
List of contents: A breakdown of the project into its constituent parts and locating them by
page number. It is good practice to also include a list of figures, tables and, if applicable,
appendices.
Introduction: Presenting and justifying the pilot project (business case) and introducing the
approach taken to delivering the project objectives and their alignment with the broader
organisational strategy.
Body of the report: This part should be arranged in a way appropriate to the topic, presenting
a review of relevant literature, results and discussions and a synthesis of relevant findings,
critical analysis of facts and/or ideas, using chapter headings, with paragraphs and spacing for
ease of reading and cross-reference.
Conclusions and recommendations: An assessment of the findings along with any
recommendations; this section should, explicitly or implicitly, establish the validity of the work
in relation to its field.
References: Harvard format citation system must be used for in-text citations and
the “References” section at the end of the report. Check ‘How to cite references’ in the Library
4
website. Research and referencing grades will be reduced, if Harvard format is not followed.
(Please see https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/microsites/library/skills-ljmu/referencing-and-endnote).
Appendices: Optional; this section should be used only for information, which is supplementary
to the assignment; it should not be used for any information, which is key to the assignment.
PLAGIARISM
‘Plagiarism is the practice of presenting thoughts, writings or other output of another or others
as original, without acknowledgement of their source(s). All material used to support a piece
of work, whether a printed publication or from electronic media, should be appropriately
identified and referenced and should not normally be copied directly unless as an
acknowledged quote. Text translated into the words of the individual student should in all
cases acknowledge the source.’ For further information please contact the LJMU Library.
Before submitting the work, you should check through it to ensure that:
▪ all material that has been identified as originally from a previously published source has been
properly attributed by the inclusion of an appropriate reference in the text
▪ direct quotations are marked as such (using “quotation marks” at the beginning and end of
the selected text)
▪ a citation has been included in the list of references.
COLLUSION
This report is an individual assessment and not group work. If you decide to study with another
student, you must ensure that the final submission from each student is totally unique. If the
work shows significant signs of similarity it will be picked up in TurnitIn and you may be cited
for plagiarism.
Note
University Regulations for Personal Circumstances apply if you miss the presentation or
submission deadline. Any problems should be notified in advance of the presentation date to
the Module Leader. Academic regulations for Post Graduate programmes PG.C2.3 state:
“Coursework, which is submitted late (except where there is an agreed extension) will be
recorded as a non-submission. There is also a penalty for deviating substantially from the word
length. If you, for genuine reasons, are unable to meet the hand-in date, please complete
an extension request form, seek verification from your Personal Tutor and inform the Module
Leader.”
5
Table 3. Grade Descriptors.
Grade descriptors for Level 7 written work
Mark
range
Characteristic Criteria
90-100 Exceptional Pass Exemplary attainment of all learning outcomes
Demonstrates an outstanding synthesis of varied theoretical
positions in the analysis of key issues in the subject area
Wide-ranging emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the
forefront of the discipline
Offers an exhaustive exploration of the literature and evidence base
The material covered is accurate and relevant
The argument is highly sophisticated
The standard of writing is refined
No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
80-89 Outstanding Pass Excellent attainment of all learning outcomes, with some met to an
exemplary standard
Demonstrates a comprehensive synthesis of varied theoretical
positions in the analysis of key issues in the subject area.
Wide-ranging emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the
forefront of the discipline
Extends far beyond expected levels of engagement with the
literature and evidence-base
The material covered is accurate and relevant
The argument is generally very astute
The standard of writing is refined
No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
70-79 Excellent Pass Excellent attainment of all learning outcomes
Demonstrates a thorough synthesis of varied theoretical positions
in the analysis of key issues in the subject area
Strong emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront
of the discipline
Thorough use the literature and evidence-base
The material covered is accurate and relevant
The argument is persuasive and there are very perceptive
elements
The standard of writing is refined
No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
60-69 Good Pass Good attainment of all learning outcomes
6
Demonstrates detailed synthesis of varied theoretical positions in
the analysis of key issues in the subject area
Good emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront
of the discipline
Good consideration of the literature and evidence-base that
develops from recommended readings
The material covered is accurate and relevant
The argument is persuasive
The standard of writing is refined
No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
50-59 Pass Adequate attainment of all learning outcomes
Demonstrates a limited, but sufficient, synthesis of varied
theoretical positions in the analysis of key issues in the subject
area
Some emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront
of the discipline
Sufficient consideration of the literature and evidence-base, but
little consideration beyond recommended readings
The material covered is mostly accurate and relevant
The argument is straightforward and relatively clear
The standard of writing is well clear and readable, with some
sophisticated phrasing
No errors in the use of the specified referencing system
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
40-49 Needs Some
Improvement
Meets most, but not all learning outcomes
Demonstrates limited synthesis of varied theoretical positions in
the analysis of key issues in the subject area
Less than expected emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at
the forefront of the discipline
Basic consideration of the literature and evidence-base, but
restricted to recommended readings
Some inaccuracies or irrelevant materials that suggest confusion
and misunderstanding
The argument is relatively clear, although some elements are
difficult to understand
The standard of writing is well clear and readable, but overly
simplistic
Minor errors in the use of the specified referencing system, but
meets key principles
Well-presented and organised in an appropriate academic style.
30-39 Needs
Improvement
Approximately half the learning outcomes are met
Demonstrates very little synthesis of varied theoretical positions in
the analysis of key issues in the subject area
Little emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of
the discipline
7
Minor consideration of the literature and evidence-base, with
inadequate use of recommended reading and no exploration
outside that
Some materials is accurate, but the amount of inaccurate or
irrelevant materials indicates insufficient understanding of key
concepts
The argument is poorly defined and defended
The standard of writing is mostly clear and readable
Some errors in the use of the specified referencing system, but
meets key principles
Generally well presented and organised, but does not always
conform to conventions of academic presentation
20-29 Needs Significant
Revision
Most learning outcomes are not met
Demonstrates no synthesis of varied theoretical positions in the
analysis of key issues in the subject area
Little or no emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the
forefront of the discipline
Superficial consideration of the literature and evidence-base
There are major inaccuracies or significant amounts of irrelevant
material
The argument is very weak
The standard of writing is reasonable and there are very few areas
of confusion and/or errors in spelling/grammar
Attempts to use of the specified referencing system. Meets key
principles, but there are systematic errors
Good presentation that may include some organisational errors
and/or tendency not to conform to conventions of academic
presentation.
0-19 Needs Substantial
work
Does not meet any learning outcomes
Demonstrates misunderstanding of varied theoretical positions in
the analysis of key issues in the subject area
No emphasis on knowledge and ideas that are at the forefront of
the discipline
No engagement with the literature and evidence-base
The material covered is inaccurate or irrelevant
The argument is incoherent
Standard of writing is acceptable. The structure is reasonable, but
there are some areas of confusion and/or some errors in
spelling/grammar
Attempts to use the specified referencing system, but there are
significant errors
Acceptable presentation that may include some organisational
errors and a tendency not to conform to conventions of academic
presentation.
PART A: ACADEMIC ESSAY (2000 WORDS)
Introduction (1000 words)
The planning and design of a worldwide icon Burj Khalifa
Academic essay: Overall endeavor in planning, managing and delivering of the project (1000)
• Architectural works
• Testing of the wind tunnel
• Floor layout
• Interior works
• Art work
• Construction and its details
Assessment of the factors that facilitated the pilot project delivery:
• Industrial awareness and linkages
• Community collaboration
PART B: RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FUTURE DELIVERY OF THE SIMILAR PROJECT (1700 words)
• Project performance and recommendations
• Assessment of strategic recommendations regarding the erection of Burj Khalifa
Conclusion (300 words)
It will cover the summary of the reactions of the people globally
