You need to win the contract and convince them that hiring your company is the right choice. Make a business case for winning the contract: Why hiring you to manage this project instead of any other option is better for them?
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF: Semester 3 2025/26 This module is assessed by Coursework (100%) All assignments must be submitted online by the due date and time specified on CANVAS. Students are required to submit an electronic copy of their completed coursework by accessing the Assignments tab on the respective module on Canvas and following the instructions provided in that section. Any change to this instruction will be communicated via Canvas. In line with Faculty policy for late submission of coursework, any work submitted up to a week late will be capped at 40%. Coursework submitted after this time will receive 0%. In case of illness or other problems affecting your studies, initially you should contact the Module Leader. For more serious problems the University Mitigating Circumstances policy may apply. Guidance on mitigating circumstances can be found on the following link:
Link to MC Policy
- Objective: To understand and apply key principles of construction project management through practical case analysis and project planning exercises. You are allowed to make reasonable assumptions. You must follow the highest academic and ethical standards in undertaking this assignment.
- Assignment Overview: You are the managing director of an external project management company who wants to create business for themselves. You want to offer great value contemporary project management service for the right client, who will appreciate the services you can provide.
- Project Scenario: The prospective client is an international airport operator seeking to expand its aviation training and operational capabilities in response to increasing passenger demand and future growth plans. The client intends to develop a new Aviation Training and Operations Centre in a major city. The facility will be located within the airport development zone and will serve as a hub for staff training, operational coordination, and administrative functions.
The proposed development consists of a modern five-storey building incorporating 12 training classrooms, two flight simulation rooms, an operations control centre, 15 administrative offices, meeting and conference facilities, staff welfare areas, and the necessary building services and utilities. The client requires the building to demonstrate high standards of architectural quality, operational efficiency, digital integration, and environmental sustainability.
The airport operator has an internal engineering and development department that has successfully managed smaller infrastructure projects in the past. However, due to the increasing complexity and strategic importance of this development, the client believes that specialist project management expertise is required. Consequently, they are seeking to establish long-term partnerships with external project management consultants who can support the delivery of this and future aviation-related developments across multiple locations. As the Managing Director of an external project management consultancy, you wish to demonstrate how your organisation can provide superior value, specialist expertise, and effective project delivery services to support the successful completion of this project.
- Assignment Tasks: Part 1 (10 marks, 500 words): You need to win the contract and convince them that hiring your company is the right choice. Make a business case for winning the contract: Why hiring you to manage this project instead of any other option is better for them? What services would you offer to justify your fees? Part 2 (70 marks, 3900 words, excluding diagrams and matrixes): Perform the following tasks as required with the assumption that you have been hired.
- Project Initiation (10 marks, 300 words):
Define the project scope and objectives. Identify the key stakeholders and their roles. Develop a project charter summarizing the project`s purpose, objectives, key deliverables, constraints, assumptions, and the overall approach. 2. Produce the following in the described detail level (20 marks 1200 words):
An outline Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS) with justification of any decisions made for the configuration of the OBS. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) showing 3 levels, with an explanation of why you have broken down the activities this way. A task responsibility matrix with a justification of decisions taken in the design of the matrix. 3. Produce the following draft schedule (20 marks 1200 words):
Design a simplified precedence matrix made up of up to 30 activities to complete this project in 36 months. Produce a draft network diagram out of the matrix, and display the critical path, early and late schedules. Explain and justify your decisions. The client asks you to reconsider your schedule to finish it 3 months earlier, how would you evaluate the feasibility of this request. 4. The appointed contractor has offered to deliver a segment of the project for £4,500,000, in 240 days, including a 12% profit margin. (consider profit as 12% of the contract price).
Assess project performance using the following progress data and justify your conclusions (20 marks 1200 words):
a. At day 60, £1,250,000 has been spent; earned value = £1,100,000; planned value = £1,350,000. b. At day 120, £2,450,000 has been spent; earned value = £2,700,000; planned value = £2,900,000. c. The project segment completed on day 230; total cost = £4,750,000.
Part 3 (10 marks, 300 words): Select only one of the following tasks and answer.
- Quality Management (10 marks 300 words):
Define the quality standards and metrics for the project. Develop a quality management plan outlining how the project will meet these standards. Describe the procedures for quality assurance and quality control. 2. Safety Management (10 marks 300 words):
What is your role in delivering this project without accidents? Give examples to how you will manage the prime hazards in this project. 3. Sustainability (10 marks 300 words):
What is your role in ensuring this project is sustainable? Give examples to how you will measure the sustainability of your project. 4. Project Closure (10 marks 300 words):
Outline the steps for project closure. Develop a checklist for final project deliverables and stakeholder approvals. Describe the process for post-project evaluation and lessons learned. Further Submission Requirements (10 marks allocated for a combination of the following):
The assignment is to be submitted in a report format and as such should have a formal structure and layout.
The report should be well-structured, concise, and professionally formatted. Include relevant charts, diagrams, and tables to support your plan. Highest quality academic references to the project management theories, models, and best practices should be included. Do submit the assignment all together with academic declarations of authorship. Length: should not exceed 4700 words (+/- %10). Work must be submitted through Turnitin on or before the due date. Turnitin will be used to check the originality of the report. 5. Assessment Criteria Each question attempted will be marked according to the following guidelines appropriate to the Master of Science Degree level:
A+ (>80%) exceptional answer, not only showing knowledge given in notes and core books, but also displays highest level academic reading such as journals AND a clear understanding of how complex theoretical knowledge will be applied creatively in higher order problem solving.
A (>70%) excellent answer, not only showing knowledge given in notes, but also module readers AND a clear understanding of how theoretical knowledge can be applied in practice for problem solving with some creativity.
B (>60%) like above in having good book/theoretical knowledge with sufficient understanding of application and creativity.
C (>50%) limited to book/notes understanding but sufficient evidence of problem solving.
D (>40%) weak book/notes understanding, with some gaps but no significant misunderstanding.
E (>35%) weaker book/notes understanding, with many gaps but no significant negligent or dangerous misunderstanding.
F (<35%) answers that are fundamentally flawed and lacking many of the key elements expected.