Course description
Duration
12 months for MSc; 9 months for Diploma.
Overview
Strategic Project Management responds to strong and consistent growth in demand for business and management skills that can help deliver core business activities in a variety of organisations. In the wake of globalisation, companies need to respond rapidly to change at all levels to maintain their competitive position and sustain growth; the ability to conjoin vision, strategy and strategy implementation using a robust, flexible and responsive delivering-methodology is essential. The use of project management to do just this, by implementing strategic objectives and managing overall operations – a practice often referred to as management-by-projects – has seen a commensurate growth in demand for qualifications which can deliver these skills and abilities.
Strategic Project Management differentiates itself from other project management offerings by providing greater emphasis on the strategic requirement in managing a portfolio of projects to deliver organisational goals. The course is also distinct from MBAs and specialist MBAs having different entry requirements and a stronger focus on the governance and management of organisations through a 'pipeline' of projects to deliver long term value. In this way, Strategic Project Management encompasses both 'project management' as a process to deliver end products, and 'change management' as a process of capturing the rational and emotional buy-in of the people affected by change to ensure its success.
The course is divided into four parts which together fulfil many of the requirements for membership of project management and related professional associations and institutes.
Various teaching and learning methods are used, including lectures, seminars, individual and group projects, computer workshops, case studies, company visits and presentations by project and programme managers. Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment and written examination. Students proceeding to the MSc degree do a research project leading to a dissertation, a case study, a business plan or a company report, over a three-month period. A small number of scholarships may be available.
This full-time MSc course is excellent preparation for any individual in or seeking work that has a strategic focus and a defined end goal, for example:
* Strategy implementation
* Event management (sporting, festival, political, etc)
* Developing new products and services
* Mergers and acquisitions
* Implementing a new way of working
* IT governance and related projects
* Performance improvement
* Business restructuring and re-engineering
* Opening a new market and/or marketing promotions
