Guideline Word Count
The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 5. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 3500-4000 words within a margin of +/-10%. The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral; however, the CMI reserves the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner. The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief: an introduction to a job role, organisation or department; index or contents pages; headings and sub headings; diagrams, charts and graphs; reference list or bibliography; reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assignment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work. Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.
Scenario
DKM&X is a large industrial company that manufactures tools and equipment. The company operates on a shift system and is fully operational six days of the week. 450 staff are based at its UK headquarters. The company has various departments, including a design shop, distribution centre, workshop, administrative and management offices, canteen, and reception. The site is currently being expanded to increase production, and contractors are actively redeveloping the offices whilst business continues as usual. The timeline for completing the expansion of the site is looming, and there is a great deal of concern that the deadline for completion will not be met. You lead a team within the distribution centre, which consists of full-time and part-time staff with different working patterns. As part of the expansion, your team and the equipment they use need to be moved to a new part of the site. You have been asked to project manage this activity whilst ensuring your team continues to meet targets and maintain service levels.
The Project Context
An organisation’s strategy defines the activities that it will perform to achieve its long-term goals. New or enhanced products, services, and practices that can contribute to the achievement of the strategy need to be tested and appraised. Successful organisations use a project approach, which adheres to organisational, legal, and ethical requirements to develop and deliver future activities.
Task 1
Basing your response on the scenario outlined above, your own experience of management projects in the workplace, or well-chosen examples from an organisation you know well or have researched: Using examples, write an account which:
- Analyses the role of projects in delivering organisational strategy (AC1.1)
- Examines the impact of legal, organisational, and ethical factors on projects (AC2.2)
Guidance for Completion of Task 1
- The account should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
- Your discussion should be underpinned by relevant theoretical principles.
- You are encouraged to use examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- You may undertake research into relevant legal, organisational, and ethical factors that impact projects in organisations in an industry sector you know well or have researched.
- Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criterion (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
Processes for Initiating, planning, and managing project risks
Having a project initiation process helps the manager to understand the work that needs to be done to deliver the project outcomes. Projects that are successful in delivering the organisation’s strategy must be set on firm foundations in the project start-up phase, including taking steps to work collaboratively with stakeholders and manage risk.
Task 2
Basing your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace, or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched: Create a good practice guide entitled ‘Processes for initiating, planning, and managing projects. This must be presented in FOUR (4) sections:
A. Processes for initiating projects
To complete this section of the good practice guide, you are required to use examples to analyse the process for initiating projects (AC2.1)
B. Techniques for working collaboratively with stakeholders
To complete this section of the good practice guide, you are required to use examples to analyse techniques that can be used for working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve project aims (AC2.4)
C. Identifying, managing, and mitigating project risks
To complete this section of the good practice guide, you are required to use examples to examine approaches to identify, manage, and mitigate project risks (AC3.3)
D. Managing data and information in a project environment
To complete this section of the good practice guide, you are required to use examples to discuss methods of managing data and information in a project environment (AC3.1)
Guidance for completion of Task 2
- The good practice guide should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
- Your discussion should be underpinned by relevant theoretical principles.
- You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criterion (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
Tools and techniques for planning and managing projects
The types of tools and techniques used to plan and manage a project will depend on the context, such as its size, level of risk, the number of projects being managed, and the timeframe.
Task 3
From the list below, write an account and select THREE (3) tools and techniques, discussing how these can be used to plan and manage projects in different contexts (AC2.3).
| Gantt Charts | Network diagrams | Critical Path Analysis (CPA) | Project methodologies (eg. Prince 2 or organisational-specific) |
| Milestone Charts | Project plans | Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) |
Guidance for completion of Task 3
- The account should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
- Your discussion should be underpinned by relevant theoretical principles.
- You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criterion (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
Problem-solving in projects
By their nature, projects present problems and challenges, which must be resolved if the project is to be delivered successfully. The manager needs to have an understanding of the use of techniques that can be used to solve problems and make decisions.
Task 4
From the list below, write an account and select TWO (2) problem-solving and decision-making techniques, assessing how they can be used to manage projects (AC3.2).
| Fishbone Analysis (Ishikawa, c.1960s) | Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) (Deming, c.1950s) | Pareto Principle (Juran, date) |
| Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) | Return on Investment (ROI) | Options Appraisal |
| OODA Loop (Boyd, date) | Plus Minus Interesting (PMI) (de Bono, date) | Ladder of Inference (Senge, 2006) |
| Root Cause Analysis |
Guidance for completion of Task 4
- The account should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
- Your discussion should be underpinned by relevant theoretical principles.
- You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criterion (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
Methods for Monitoring, reporting on, and closing a project
A manager needs to have an understanding of the methods and approaches used for monitoring, reporting, and closing a project.
Task 5
Basing your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace, or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched: Write a report entitled ‘Monitoring methods, reporting on and closing a project’. This must be presented in THREE (3) sections:
A. Methods for monitoring project progress
To complete this section of the report, you are required to use examples to evaluate methods used for monitoring project progress (AC2.5)
B. Methods for reporting on project outcomes
To complete this section of the report, you are required to use examples to discuss methods for reporting on project outcomes (AC2.6)
C. Approaches for project closure
To complete this section of the report, you are required to use examples to assess approaches for project closure (AC2.7)
Guidance for completion of Task 3
- The report should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate) to support your discussion.
- You may base your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace, or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- You are encouraged to consider the use of well-chosen examples from an organisation you know well or projects you may have managed in the workplace.
- Your discussion should be underpinned by relevant theoretical principles.
- Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
Assessment Guidance
| Refer | Pass |
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The submission is incomplete
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