Project Management

Critically debate the following statement

‘Project Management seeks to balance the conflictingelements of quality,time, cost&riskin order to ensure the delivery of objectives as planned’

3,000 words +/- 10% you will be penalised if it falls outside this boundary
Word processed, Times New Roman font size 12, double line spaced

Expectations
Critically analysethe given statement ensuring to discuss & reference any relevant skills, tools & techniques which may apply in achieving this balance.
Compare and contrast researchers’ views and opinions concerned with the issue of the conflicting elements of quality, time and costs in order to ensue

the delivery of objectives as planed.
Some thought starters :
– Why are quality, time & cost conflicting terms in project management?
– What is the impact of the contemporary business environment on those three elements?
– What is the role of the Project Manager in ensuring the delivery of objectives as planned?
You should refer to relevant literature and include citations within the text and a reference list at the end as appropriate.
You are required to conduct a literature review. Need to show you have researched all viewpoints from both sides of the debate

Requirements to pass :
Literature research
◦ Need to demonstrate an in-depth study of the topic has been undertaken
◦ Range of sources – include books, journal articles, business news articles
◦ You will use some older sources but you should also include up to date sources (2013, 2015).
Critical evaluation – Need to critically evaluate the literature:
◦ Compare and contrast researchers views and findings, after every point ask yourself however or but. ◦ Research the contrary argument
◦ This is what identifies your work as a researcher
◦ Discuss advantages and disadvantages and offer a balanced discussion regarding the various concepts.
◦ Evaluate the evidence
◦ Utilize both academic and practitioner perceptions
◦ Show ability to relate concepts and ideas to actual examples
◦ Write in the 3rd person
Failure :
– Note, not an all inclusive list!
– Not answering the actual assignment questions – reflect back – have you answered them?
– Inadequate research around assignment subject
– Not handing in on time
– No critical evaluation of material
– Only discussing one side of the debate

Marking criteria :
 Presentation (Essay format is expected, Intelligibility, clear structure) (Max 5)
 Evidence of in-depth theoretical understanding of the subject (Identification of relevant material, appropriate use of theory, full and accurate

referencing) (Max 30)
 Students to link concepts from other related topics (Evidence of wider reading and engagement with the literature) (Max 15)
 The ability to relate concepts and theories to contemporary (Evidence of analytical skills, link between theory and practice) (Max 25)
 A critical and original appreciation of the main arguments (Logically and coherently argued, Development of own ideas/originality) (Max 25)

Recommended Reading (Please try to use all of them in your writing )
Essential Reading
Meredith, J., Shafer, S., Mantel, S., and Sutton, M. (2014) Project Management in Practice 5th ed., Hoboken, NJ: Wiley

Supplementary Reading
Lester, A. (2014) Project management, planning and control: managing, engineering and manufacturing projects to PMI, APM, and BSI standards 6th ed.,

Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann
Nicholas, J. M. & Steyn, H. (2012) Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology, 4th ed., Routledge.

Journal Articles
Key Journal: International journal of project management
Other relevant Journals: Project Management Journal, International Journal of Construction Project Management, Journal of Engineering, Project, and

Production Management
It will be useful to examine complementary views and writings from literature on Operations Management (e.g. the definitive textbook by Slack et al.),

Quality Management and Information Technology.