Short Learning Programme on Advanced Project Management

The NWU Business School has special expertise in the field of Management. Project Management has been developed in order to plan, coordinate and control the complex and diverse activities of modern industrial and commercial projects. All projects share one common characteristic – the projection of ideas and activities into new endeavours.

Purpose of the course

Participants will understand project management – this includes the ability to perform project planning, manage the scope of a project, compile a project budget and apply project planning tools and techniques such as PERT, CPM and Gantt charts. They will have the knowledge to explore organisational structures in support of projects with specific reference to a managing-by-project approach, project support offices, steering committees and project sponsors/directors.

Admission requirements

Completion of Project Management on NQF 5 or equivalent.

Learning assumed to be in place

National Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF Level 4 qualification.

Course outcomes and assessment criteria

Course outcomes and the associated assessment criteria

Study Unit	Outcomes	Assessment Criteria
	After completion of this course, participants will:	Participant will be assessed on the following criteria:
Introduction to project management.	Understand the nature of projects and project management.	Successfully apply the steps in the Life Cycle to a specific project as per assignment.
Project planning and scope management.	Perform project planning and manage the scope of a project.	Successfully apply the planning steps to a specific project as per assignment.
Project budget.	Compile a project budget by applying cost estimating techniques.	Successfully completed a project budget as per Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of a specific project as per assignment.
Project risk management.	Apply project risk management practices.	Successfully apply risk management templates to a specific project as per assignment.
Project planning tools and techniques.	Apply project planning tools and techniques such as PERT, CPM and Gantt charts.	Successfully apply a quality template to identify suitable performance indicators and standards per project activity for a specific project as per assignment.
Project communication and stakeholder management.	Perform project stakeholder analyses and compile a comprehensive Communication Plan	Successfully complete a stakeholder analysis and communication plan per template for a specific project as per assignment.
Project organisational structures.	Explore organisational structures in support of projects with specific reference to a Managing-by-Project approach, Project Support Offices, Steering Committees, and Project Sponsors/Directors.	Successfully explain what kind of organisational arrangements and mechanisms will be put in place to manage a specific project in a specific setting as per assignment.
Cost, procurement and estimating techniques.	Understand Project procurement and contract management.	- Select an appropriate type of procurement contract given the characteristics of the specific project or product. - Compile documentation for procurement. - Select a vendor by following procedures that would ensure transparency of the process. - Compile and complete the necessary documentation for the signing of a legal contract between the Buyer and the Vendor. - Manage the agreed contract fairly and efficiently. - Manage all scope changes during the implementation phase. - Develop and manage all procedures necessary to ensure adherence to time, cost and quality during implementation. - Manage the closeout phase of a contract.

Assessment

Completion of a comprehensive project (35-page assignment).
To pass the programme, a participant has to obtain a mark of 50% (or more).

Method of assessment

Learning objectives will be accomplished through the following mix of methods and activities: self-tuition, analysis and discussion of actual cases; in-class individual and group assignments and exercises; and lecturer presentations.
Completion of a detailed assignment.