Module overview
Decision making and analysis are among the most critical skills of successful project managers throughout their career. Significance of these skills and the outcome of decisions in a project’s success or failure have been emphasised in theory and highly appreciated in practice of project management. This module introduces the characteristics of decisions and decision making in project environments. Different theoretical and practical approaches, styles and methods of making and analysing project decisions will be discussed and practiced throughout the module.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the significance of decisions, specifically strategic and critical decisions, in project success or failure;
- the value of decision making approaches in the acceptability of a decision’s outcome;
- the significance of decision making skills for project managers;
- Various theoretical and practical approaches to making project decisions;
- the distinctions between the traditional and contemporary approaches to fundamentals of decision making in projects;
- the features of project decisions and their impact on the selection of appropriate decision making and analysis methods;
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- select appropriate decision making approaches and involve stakeholders in decision process based on specific project situations;
- critically analyse the approaches, methods and styles of analysing and making project decisions;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- report and present ideas in writing
- apply an analytical, reflective and critical approach to problem analysis and formulation;
Syllabus
- Introduction to project decision analysis and decision making aspects
- Decision making and analysis as the project managers’ competencies
- Traditional and contemporary basis of decision making and analysis in projects
- Individual vs. group decision making in project environments
- Classification of project decisions
- Decision analysis methods and processes in projects
- Modelling for project decision making
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The key knowledge and theoretical components will be delivered via lectures and supplemented with directed self-study, class discussions, case studies, team work and short presentations. Practical aspects of the theories will be explored further by inviting guest lectures from industry where possible.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 24 |
Independent Study | 126 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
Advanced Project Management Research Centre (APROM).
Textbooks
Frame, J (2013). Framing decisions: decision making that accounts for irrationality, people, and constraints. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Maylor, H. (2010). Project Management. UK: Prentice Hall.
Goodwin, P. and Wright, G. (2009). Decision Analysis for Management Judgement. John Wiley & Sons.
Virine, L. and Trumper, M. (2008). Project Decisions – The Art and Science. US: Management Concepts, Inc..
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
In-class activities
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Students will receive feedback from the lecture and their peers during the class activities. Feedback will be provided via email and in meetings upon the student’s request
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Peer Group Feedback
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Students will receive feedback from the lecturer and their peers during the class activities. Feedback will be provided via email and in meetings upon the student’s request.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Report | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Report | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Report | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External