IB3820 Project Management
Individual Assignment, 2023-24
Assignment Instructions
All assignments must be submitted ONLINE via my.wbs by 12pm (midday) UK time on the date
displayed against this assessment.
Please ensure that you have inserted a completed assignment coversheet, which must be included
as the first page of your script. This should include your Student ID number, but not your name.
Word Limit
3,000 words
Word Count Policy
WBS has a school-wide policy on word counts. This is strictly enforced to ensure consistency across
modules and programme. You can find more information about this policy in your Student
Handbook under Academic Practice – 7i. Word count policy.
This is a strict limit not a guideline: any piece submitted with more words than the limit will result
in the excess not being marked.
Academic Practice
Please ensure you read the full guidelines for Academic Practice in the Undergraduate Handbook
and ensure you understand it. If in doubt, please seek clarification in advance of your submission.
This includes important information on:
Cheating, plagiarism and collusion
Correct referencing
Using internet sources in assessments
Academic writing
English Language support
Word count policy
When you submit this assignment online, you will be required to tick a declaration box indicating
that the work involved is entirely your own. Each assignment will be put through plagiarism software
to identify any collusion or inadequate referencing of materials used from different sources. Please
do not submit images of your typed work unless you have been specifically requested to do so.
We would consider taking action if your work:
1. is too reliant on the words of particular authors (rather than presenting your ideas in your own
words), if the essay uses the ideas or words of an author without referencing them or putting their
words into quotations (plagiarism).
2. suggests that you have worked very closely with another student or students (unless explicitly
asked to do so by your Module Leader/Tutor) (collusion).
3. includes unreferenced work that you have previously submitted for any accredited course of study
(unless explicitly asked to do so by your Module Leader/Tutor) (self-plagiarism).
The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The University recognises an increasing number of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and
that they may be applicable in your completing this assessment. The assessment brief sets out
specific requirements or restrictions, and your student handbook has further guidance and advice.
You are reminded that the inappropriate use of such a technology may constitute a breach of
University policy, such as the Proofreading Policy or Regulation 11 (Academic Integrity). If you
breach these policies, it may have significant consequences for your studies. Please make sure you
read and understand the assessment brief and how AI may or may not be used.
If a generative AI or similar is permitted and has been used you MUST make clear why you used such
a tool or service, what you used it for and you will be obliged to confirm that you take
sole intellectual ownership of any submitted work. As appendices, and as part of your submitted
work, you must provide screenshots of the question and the AI-generated response, alongside an
explanation of how the content has been utilised. You should note the relevant reference alongside
each screenshot.
When you submit you must complete (physically or electronically) a declaration. This requires you to
explain the use of any AI. Failure to disclose at the point of submission may be prejudicial in any later
investigations should they arise.
For this assessment the use of AI is:
– Permitted
Where AI is permitted:
If you use a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the process of completing this assessment, you
MUST set out clearly the following:
WHY you used a generative AI
WHAT it was used for
WHICH AI was used; and
If any generated content has been used directly in this submission, if so where.
Note that this declaration does NOT contribute towards the word count for the assessment.
You will also have to confirm in your declaration that the work remains yours and you have
intellectual ownership of it. You may be called for viva or other interview to demonstrate such
intellectual ownership. A failure to disclose the use of AI, or the use of a misleading description of its
use may have significant consequences for your studies. As a result, keeping good records of your
interactions is strongly advised.
Extensions and Self-certification
Late submissions will incur a penalty of 5% for every 24 hour period after the due date and time, i.e.
this begins one minute after the submission deadline (beginning at 12.01pm).
Requests for specific extensions (of up to 15 days) which are typically for longer and more serious
concerns must be submitted via my.wbs ideally 72 hours BEFORE the deadline. Extensions can only
be approved if you clearly detail your circumstances and provide supporting documentation (or a
reason as to why you cannot provide the supporting documentation at the time) as set out in the
Mitigating Circumstances Policy.
Self-certification is a university-wide policy whereby you are permitted an automatic extension of 5
working days on eligible written assessed work without the need for evidence. WBS permits self certification for all types of written, assessed works such as essays and dissertations. It is not
permitted for exams, course tests, or presentations.
You can self-certify twice within each year of study, starting from the anniversary of your course
start date. This will cover all eligible written assessments that fall within the self-certification period,
as long as they have not previously had an extension applied. To find out further details about the
self-certification policy please see: https://my.wbs.ac.uk/-/academic/20778/item/id/1244460/.
If you wish to self-certify for an extension of 5 working days, please select ‘Self-certification’ in the
Extension Type field. If you wish to request a longer extension than 5 working days, please leave the
Extension Type as ‘Standard’.
Your assignment instructions begin below.
Scenario:
Heads-Up Ltd produces carbon fibre helmets for motorcyclists. Carbon fibre is a very durable and light
material that can protect bikers’ heads when they fall off their motorbikes. Currently, the company’s
products can only be bought in the UK and their factory is located on the outskirts of Birmingham.
Their helmets have become very popular among young customers as their designs are stylish, light
and of great quality. The company offers their products in a very good price range, which resulted in
the increase of sales figures.
A year ago, the owners of the company decided to expand their operations to India, where they
noticed a great potential for their products, as scooters and motorcycles are the country’s most
common mode of transportation.
You have been appointed as the project manager to oversee the opening of the new production line
in Bengaluru, India. The site has already been found and purchased. New equipment has been bought
in the UK and needs to be transported to the new location. Staff that will operate the machinery has
been appointed in India but will require training once the production line is installed. The project
needs to be finalised and the production line must be fully operational within the next four months.
A Business Case has been prepared and a budget of ￡500 000 has been approved by the Project Board.
Task:
Your task is to prepare a project initiation document drawing on appropriate project management
theory and frameworks, to present to the company’s board of directors for approval. The plan should
consider the following aspects of the project:
Project Definition (including Objectives, Scope, and Deliverables)
An outline project plan (Gantt chart) showing the main tasks and significant milestones in
the project, supported by a justification of your proposed approach (note: the Gantt chart
needs to include a minimum of 10 tasks).
An initial assessment of the project’s stakeholders and recommendations on how these
stakeholders should be managed to maximise the chance of achieving the project’s
objectives.
An initial assessment of risks presented by the project and suggestions on how these risks
can be managed.
Please make sure that you demonstrate your ability to apply tools, techniques, and concepts from
the module to analyse and critically evaluate different aspects of the project and to ensure its
success.
Structure:
Your assignment should be presented as a report, using the following structure:
Introduction
Project Definition
Project Plan
Project Stakeholder Analysis and Management
Risk Analysis and Management
Conclusions
Tables, diagrams, appendices, and references:
You may include tables, diagrams, and models. Ensure that all tables, diagrams and models are
labelled, include a citation and are discussed in the text.
Appendices and the List of References are not included in the word count.
Source material:
You are required to research project management theory to successfully complete this assignment.
You will need to use a minimum of 10 separate academic sources. Ensure that all sources are
appropriately referenced using Harvard Referencing Style.
Assessment and Marking Criteria:
Your work will be marked using criteria outlined in the Generic UG 20 Point Marking Criteria.
In particular, your work should demonstrate:
Comprehension – command of the subject matter including, where appropriate, research
and selection of project management theory to support the assignment.
Analysis – appropriate application of project management tools and techniques as well as
the use of evidence to support proposals.
Critical Thinking – clarity and credibility of proposals.
Academic Writing – a thorough and consistent deployment of techniques of academic
writing with reference to structure, layout and presentation, spelling, grammar and
referencing.
