Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding assessed in this assignment in RED:

• Examine, explain, and evaluate a variety of techniques used for project scheduling and budgeting
• Critically analyse and apply appropriate project scheduling and budgeting techniques to real world projects

Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes assessed in this assignment in RED:

• Formulate and solve model project schedules and resource plans using appropriate techniques;
• Evaluate the validity of a project scheduling and budgeting model and interpret the results sensibly;
• Develop project schedules and resource plans for decision-making;
• Report the results in a form of project schedule and budget plans, including issues of monitoring and control of projects.

Transformational Opportunities:
E.g. Use LinkedIn Learning to improve skills

· Use software like MS Project to analyse real projects and improve skills

Feedback /Marking criteria for this Assignment

· Performance will be assessed using HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric)

· Feedback for improvement will be given in writing via your Canvas module site within 4 weeks of submission for the Poster and in-person in the Lectorials for the contribution to the group portfolio

· Lateness Penalty: For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or unless the numeric grade reaches the minimum pass mark (UG 40/PG 50).  Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than the minimum pass mark no lateness penalty will be applied.  If the coursework is submitted more than 5 days after the published deadline, it will not be marked and a grade of zero will be awarded. Please note: Referred coursework submitted after the published deadline will be awarded a grade of zero (0).

· Extensions: Students do not have an automatic right to an extension.  If you require an extension, this must be requested before the submission deadline.  Please give your reason(s) for needing an extension. Not all Assessments are eligible for an extension. Please check the above.

· Retrievable Assessment: Students who fail a retrievable assignment can act on the feedback promptly and resubmit the same assignment within a specified deadline set by the Module Leader. Marks for resubmitted work will be capped at 40% for UG and 50% for PG. Students who resubmit work and go on to Fail the module will still be able to do the referred coursework (capped at 40% UG or 50% PG).

Assessment Title : Cost Overruns and Delays in Large-Scale Projects: Causes and Solutions

Assessment Overview:

This assessment requires you to analyze a large-scale project that has experienced both significant cost overruns and delays. You will critically evaluate the causes of these issues and provide solutions or strategies that could have mitigated them. This report will involve applying relevant budgeting and scheduling theories and frameworks to a real-world project.

Your analysis should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the factors contributing to project overruns and delays, as well as potential solutions drawn from best practices in project management.

Learning Outcomes:

By completing this assessment, you will be able to:

• Identify and evaluate the factors that contribute to cost overruns and delays in large-scale projects.
• Apply project management theories and techniques to diagnose issues in project budgeting and scheduling.
• Propose solutions and strategies to avoid or mitigate cost overruns and scheduling delays.
• Critically reflect on real-world project management failures and provide recommendations for future improvements.

Assessment Task:

1. Selection of a Large-Scale Project (10%)

Choose a large-scale project that faced significant cost overruns and scheduling delays. This can be from any sector (e.g., construction, infrastructure, IT, or public services) and could be sourced from case studies, journal articles, news reports, or industry documents.

Examples may include:

· The Big Dig (Boston, USA)

· Sydney Opera House

· Boeing 787 Dreamliner development

· Crossrail project (UK)

2. Analysis of Cost Overruns and Delays (50%)

Provide an in-depth analysis of the selected project, focusing on:

· Key Causes: Identify and critically evaluate the internal and external factors that contributed to both the cost overruns and delays. Consider areas such as poor initial cost estimates, scope creep, project planning failures, unforeseen risks, or stakeholder issues.

· Impact on Stakeholders: Discuss the impact of these overruns and delays on key stakeholders, including the project sponsor, contractors, and end-users.

3. Solutions and Preventative Strategies (30%)

Based on your analysis, propose solutions or strategies that could have been implemented to mitigate or avoid the issues that led to cost overruns and delays. Your suggestions should be practical and based on project management best practices, including:

· Improved Budgeting Techniques: What alternative budgeting approaches could have been used to improve cost control (e.g., contingency planning, rolling wave budgeting)?

· Scheduling Techniques: How could scheduling have been better managed to prevent delays (e.g., resource levelling, schedule risk analysis, agile methods)?

· Risk Management: What role could proactive risk management have played in mitigating these issues?

4. Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations (10%)

Reflect on the lessons learned from this project. What can future project managers learn from this case to prevent similar failures? Offer recommendations for both budgeting and scheduling practices that could improve the likelihood of project success in large-scale projects.

Structure and Presentation (10%)

Your report should be well-structured, with clear and logical flow, and should include:

· Introduction: Briefly introduce the chosen project and the scope of your report.

· Main Body: Organize the main body of the report into clearly defined sections, including the causes of overruns and delays, analysis, solutions, and lessons learned.

· Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your analysis and recommendations.

· References: Use proper citation in APA/Harvard style for all sources and materials referenced.