MSC PROJECT MANAGEMENT Unit: Project Environment and Planning Instructions: I am a student of MSc Project Management and currently taking unite: Project Environment and Planning. We have been requested to write an essay to answer a question related to the unite. (More information below). The Assignment question: To what extent can the outcome of a project be influenced by the environment in which it is conceived and realised? Your answer should be supported with evidence from the literature to support your arguments, including relevant theory and constructs, for the theoretical underpinning. At Master’s level, you are being assessed on your ability to communicate your critical abilities, not your ability to simply repeat what existing literature has already written or how much you know. Focus on identifying your position on the assignment brief (what do you think). Present critical arguments based on your research to support your position and to justify why your position should be adopted by other people. Constraints: For the academic research you must use the following sources to support your assignment: International Journal of Project Management. The Project Management Journal International Journal of Managing Projects in Business This is an assessment on the MSc Project Management Course. Therefore, the restriction of only using three academic journals as sources has been given so you can focus on gaining familiarity in finding, evaluating and using academic papers in journals without being overwhelmed by the full range of sources available to you. References need to be in APA 6th edition format. This is to familiarise you with using a standard convention for the format of your references in academic writing. Please state the word count at the end of your main text. 2,500 words is not much, but it tests your ability to present a convincing case for your position in a concise manner. The key here is to use references and appendices for background information and explanations so that your main text focuses on supporting your arguments. General Hints and Guidance: One of the key messages throughout this module is to focus on using your critical abilities to evaluate concepts. This gives you a strategic perspective on project management instead of a purely operational approach to project management. You have the freedom to interpret the assignment brief. You can select a single strategic consideration, a few or many. You can choose your position on the assignment brief. You can choose what examples and evidence you have available to support your arguments. You can present your argument in your style of communication. However, use the assignment marking scheme to determine which approach will give you the best opportunity to achieve the marks. (below is the top grading criteria) Grading criteria: Excellent work able to express an original reasoned argument in a lucid manner by reviewing and critiquing a wide range of material. Original, critical thinking based on outstanding insight, knowledge and understanding of material. Material contributes to current understanding and is of potentially publishable quality in terms of presentation and content. Furthermore, wide reaching research showing breadth and depth of sources. Essay Structure: Title The title of the essay Introduction Summary of the essay and clearly stating the objective of the essay Body (Heading and subheadings) – Define projects (use sources and journal articles and point out differences and similarity between them) – Define Environment and use the same approach of difference and similarity – Connect environment and project – Find journal articles supporting the influence of environment and project – Environment can be people, geographical location, skills, etc.. – Provide case studies from reliable websites (Ex: Governmental websites) to connect the theory of influence of environment and projects. – Use analysis tools such a SWAT and PESTOL, in addition to one of stakeholders analysis Mendelow Matrix or Salience Model – Use the case study as an example of the theory you are suggesting and connect it to the journal articles you are referencing. Conclusion Summarize your findings and conclude by providing a summary of the insights. Do not provide more or new information here , its a conclusion. More information: – Must use a minimum of 12-15 source and ensure its well referenced and is well cited within the essay – Use references in different ways. For example, you can quote and/or rephrase. which will have different type/method of citation. – Reference style is Harvard APA style (version 6) – The goal is to use the three journal articles to find information about the connection of environment and projects, and hence it must be research based rather than providing your own thoughts and past experience. – Journal articles are: International Journal of Project Management. The Project Management Journal International Journal of Managing Projects in Business – You can change the topic of the essay as appropriate. – Although this is Masters level, it should be conceivable to non-project managers. (I will upload more documents)
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