Skip to content

UFCFPJ 15 M

UFCFPJ-15-M Project Management

Overview

Software project management, control and project risk.

Objectives

  1. Demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to apply, a variety of project planning and control techniques
  2. Evaluate project management functions
  3. Understand the contexts and advantages of different predictive or adaptive life cycle models for project planning and control
  4. Evaluate leadership skills and team management theories
  5. Demonstrate Self-management skills in planning projects through online resource use and extensive examination preparation

Curriculum

Relationship between project planning and the model underlying the life cycle of the development, including the life cycle of a project itself.

Life cycle models in systems development including traditional, evolutionary, prototyping and Agile approaches, such as DSDM. Life cycle models can be divided into more Predictive v more Adaptive, and a range of these life cycle models will be evaluated for effective project management in a range of contexts, such as corporate and global companies and the drive to more Agile methods. Evaluation of models will include their influence on causing or preventing break downs between the design process, the value of scenarios and system productivity and the role process management has over the life cycle.

Project planning processes and techniques will form the core of the course: planning criteria, work breakdown structures (WBS), setting milestones and defining deliverables, activity planning, precedence (network) diagrams, critical path analysis, cascade bar charts, levelling of resources against constraints imposed, resource accounting and cost accounting.

Understanding project finance and returns on investment as a key attribute leading to project success will be covered. Cumulative cost calculations, using earned value and cost-to-complete are valuable measures of cash flow and analysis of profitability or likely success.

Estimating will be covered using data from past projects in parametric cost modelling (e.g. COCOMO and Mk II Function Point Analysis), as well as considering the principles of optimisation in resource allocation. Estimating will involve manipulation of mathematical formulae and use of spreadsheets with a focus on the value of parameters and measurement and how linear regression theory can be used to produce parametric models of performance.

Project planning and management principles will be matched to the UK Government’s project management framework: PRINCE2. Risk and Quality are two areas in which PRINCE2 will be closely compared to the standard risk management process, assessment techniques and control processes.

The role of the project manager in managing teams, team structures and sizes, roles and responsibilities, qualities and skills of managers and team dynamics will be covered, looking at PRINCE2 principles and themes of Roles and Responsibilities and Organisation.

Assessment

Seen Exam (100%)