Lecture session :

Review of CW3 Assignment

7BSP1266 - Dissertation
Shalini Sharma
18-April-2023
Session Objectives
Reminders
Dissertation milestones/timelines
Learning outcomes
CW3 Assignment brief & Grading Criteria
Project Lifecycle - Scheduling stage
Scheduling your project
Assignment sections explained
Article/case studies examples
Key takeaway from CW1 assignment
Resources
Reminders
Academic Integrity Course (AIC)
Academic English and Skills Assessment (AESA) Course
AEB/CASE sessions
4th Group Supervision meeting - w/c 24th April 2023
 Final review of 2nd assignment
 Upload draft by Sunday 23rd April 2023
Survey about your project
Survey about your project
https://herts.instructure.com/courses/100025/quizzes/81758
Feb March April May

• Draft Project • Data collection

• Initiate • Finalise the project Plan • Review
Project with the client • Identify literature
• Identify • CW1 submission participants • Finalise
research • Get signed consent • Finalise data methodology
project • Decide project collection • CW2
• Agreement on methods, techniques submission
project scope & methodology and • Review literature
objectives data collection • Start data
• Review existing techniques collection
literature
related to the
project

September August July June

• CW4 • Draft • Complete • Draft

submissi Project project Project
on Closure scheduling Schedule
• Present • Complete • Start data
findings to project analysis
client execution • Review
• Finalise data • Data analysis literature
analysis, • Review • Finalise
review of literature project
literature & • CW3 schedule
personal submission
reflection
• Prepare 15
minute
 Project & Research Tasks
Plan, schedule and Integration with
execute the project. Academic & Practitioner
Regular meetings with literature
the stakeholders – follow Research on the RQ
the communication plan Data collection methods
set in PID Interviews/Surveys
Review & monitor the Ethics checklist review
project timelines/ Data Analysis
milestones
Draft submissions
Complete by July 2023
Learning Outcomes: CW3
Specify and justify the most suitable research strategy and methods for
collecting, analysing, and interpreting data relevant to the project.

Formulate a viable and robust applied research project plan.

Interpret data gathered through research to produce rational, sound,

and consistent conclusions and recommendations

Apply the feedback from the supervisor or clients to improve the work
on progress.
CW3 – Project Scheduling Document
30% weightage - 2500 words report – due on 27th July 2023
Project Scheduling Document includes
Project Summary
Project Work Breakdown Structure
Project Schedule, Network Diagram, Critical Path Analysis
Project Estimation & Budgeting Strategy
Project Monitoring & Control Strategy
Updated Risk Register
Change Control Log
An analysis of secondary data (practical case studies) and
project management theory relevant to the scheduling phase
of project management
7BSP1266
CW3 Grading Criteria
Marking Scheme Description Points

Presentation and Structure Follows reports structure and keeps to the word 20
limit

Harvard Referencing Follows Harvard style for in-text citation and 20

Reference List. Uses references relevant to the
project management literature
Content and Findings As per the Assignment brief/ learning outcomes 20

Business Application Integration and application of literature and 20

business insight

Research Analysis Critical evaluation, analysis and development of 20

discussion

Total 100

9
Linked with Project Life Cycle
CW1 –> Project
Initiation

CW2 –> Project

Planning

CW3 –> Project

Schedule/ Execution

CW4 –> Project Closure

What is Scheduling?
Project Scheduling
A schedule is a timetable showing the forecast start
and finish dates for activities or events within a
project, programme or portfolio.

Breaking down a project into smaller tasks,

sequencing those tasks, and assigning them to specific
resources to ensure that the project is completed on
time and within budget.
What does scheduling involve?
Putting plan into action: Input plan into scheduling
software (e.g. MS Projects)
Sequence of project tasks
Identification of activities and resources required to
deliver them.
Calculation of duration and resources required
Identification of Critical Path: Float, start and finish
dates of individual activities
Budgeting
Scheduling your project
Review the project requirements & key deliverables
Develop the Work Breakdown Structure
Design Project Schedule - Assign resources to
activities
Develop Network Diagram: sequence the work,
establish technical constraints, estimate duration &
establish key milestones.
Design Critical Path Method – A series of activities or
tasks within a project, none of which can be delayed
without affecting the project end date.
Executive Summary
Project Summary (200 words*)
Project Work Breakdown Structure: (300 words*)
 Hierarchical breakdown of the scope of project
 Defines the project work into smaller, more manageable pieces
Project Schedule, Network Diagram, Critical Path Analysis:
(500 words*)
 Project Schedule: Detailed plan that outlines the project including start
date and end date of every activity.
 Network Diagram: Visual representation of project data that shows the
sequence of activities and dependencies
 Critical Path Analysis: Demonstrate your understanding of the analysis
of the schedule based on the critical path technique.
Top Tip : Use MS Projects software to develop project schedule/WBS
Top Tip: Include screenshot of tables/diagrams; add academic
references to support statements.
Project Estimation & Budgeting Strategy (300 words*)
Provide estimation of time & resources; determine the
likely cost of the project
Correlate with the schedule - Based on unit rates
What estimating methodologies are best suited for your
project? Approximate/Definitive; Activity based budgeting
Provide Cashflow statement/Cost breakdown
Project Monitoring & Control Strategy (300 words*)
How are you monitoring the progress of the project plan?
Were there any deviations to the plan?
What corrective action is needed to ensure that project is
on track?
Updated Risk Register (250 words*)
What is the status of each risk – open, closed or in
progress?
Update the Risk Registers if new issues or risks have been
identified or existing need to be modified.
What risk response activities were implemented?
Change Control Log (250 words*)
What change management strategy is adopted in the
project?
Include Change request forms template: includes
description, cost of change, information about the
impact of the change on the project schedule.
Review of literature and comparable case studies (500
words*)
Review of literature
What articles did you read and why? This will help to
demonstrate the reasons for reading the articles.
Why is it relevant to your project topic? This will
demonstrate your understanding about the correlation
of the article with your project.
What is your analysis of the authors research? This will
help to demonstrate your critical evaluation and analysis
skills.
What use did you make of what you read to your client
project? This will demonstrate the integration and
application of business into your project.
Comparable Case Studies
What real-world comparable case studies did you
analyse?
What is the author of the Case Study trying to do?
What are the basic problems the Case documents or
analyses?
How is the case study relevant to your project topic?
How can you apply the lessons from the Case Study to
your project?
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526437761

Introduction of technique
supported by literature.
Demonstrates adoption of
the technique in sectors.
Finally, links with the
research

Demonstrates the
understanding and the
application of the technique
in relation to the project.
• Background of PM framework
• Case study background
• Integration of academic literature with the chosen research methods –
focus groups, participant observations etc.
• Data collection, findings and analysis
INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY
Access case studies given in the stretch - :
Social Media Implementation by SMEs: Case of
luxury food shop
https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473937581
 Questions for discussion
What is the author of the Case Study trying to do?
What are the lessons learned from this Case Study?
What best practices can you apply from this Case Study
to your project?
 Key takeaways from CW1 Assignment
Meet the learning outcomes – You must conduct a actual
project in line with the project lifecycle
Structure - follow Assignment Brief format & templates
Content – should demonstrate the understanding of Project
Management principles
Business Application – Demonstrate application of PM theory,
concepts, and principles – use of templates; Use SMART
objectives
Research – Support statements with references from Project
Management literature and journals.
Academic Misconduct – Plagiarism/Collusion/Fake
referencing are penalised and no marks given.
See video for suggestions/advice – Click here
 Resources
Resource Useful for... Link
Library Skill Up Developing essential library skills for https://herts.instructure.com/co
dissertation writing, including searching, urses/61421
reading, writing, evaluating and referencing

CASE Website A huge number of useful resources for http://go.herts.ac.uk/case

academic study, including a 1-1 booking
service.

Business A very useful toolkit lists that lists the https://herts.instructure.com/co

subject toolkit learning resources for HBS subjects. urses/102683/pages/business-sub
ject-toolkit

Microsoft Project Management software that assists in LRC or Remote

Projects developing a schedule, monitoring budget, https://ask.herts.ac.uk/software-
availability-at-uh#
tracking progress and produces reports remote_desktop_access

Monday.com cloud-based platform that allows users to https://monday.com/education

create your own project workspace templates

Manchester A really useful guide to using academic https://www.phrasebank.manche

Academic phrases for different purposes in your writing.  ster.ac.uk/
Phrase Bank
Questions?