A postgraduate course in Computing and IT and Engineering, Technology and Design.

Designed for anyone working in a project team environment or engineers who see an increasing management component in their work, this course will equip you with general project management skills to help you to deal with problems that can occur. It’s applicable to any field of work, especially those with a high technological content. You’ll also gain practical experience of using project management techniques, including the use of a software tool, with a real project of your own. The topics covered include project initiation, risk, estimating and contracts, planning, human factors, project execution, and standard methods.

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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

Every day we hear of a project that has escalated in cost or has been repeatedly delayed. Worse still, and often unreported, many completed projects leave their users dissatisfied. Could we do better? There is no simple answer, but this project management course should enable you to anticipate and cope with some of the problems that you may meet. The course is split into seven course texts, or ‘units’ as follows:

The most important decision in any project is what project to undertake. Project initiation explains the factors that should be considered to give the best chance of a successful outcome. It also discusses the life cycle of typical projects and the need for project management.

Risks, estimates and contracts: Before too much money is committed to a project, estimates are needed to determine how much it will cost, how long it will take and how risky it is. In this unit you will learn about work and product breakdown structures and tendering and contracting processes.

Planning: Planning should be a reiterated process throughout the life of a project. The most intense phase occurs when the project plan is prepared, between the definition of the project and authorisation of its execution. You will learn how a formal project plan contains much more than just a schedule of activities, and you will use the Project Scheduler package to help with planning.

Building and leading the team: All projects are carried out by people. In this unit we emphasise the importance of teamwork in projects and you will study the vital interpersonal skills required by project managers: leadership; dealing with clients, sponsors and other stakeholders; selecting, building and motivating teams.

Project execution: This double-length section discusses the crucial tasks that a project manager must perform during the execution phase of a project to ensure that quality is maintained, that customers get what they want, and that limits of time and cost are met. You will learn how to use techniques for measuring progress against plan, such as the earned value system, and how configuration management should be applied as a tool to maintain quality.

Standards, methodologies and reflections: Now that you have finished looking at the practices, principles and theories of managing a single project, it is time to take a step back and reflect upon the management of projects. Standards and methodologies are important aspects of project management in the global economy. You will be given an overview of two standard methods, BS 6079 and PRINCE 2. BS 6079 is the British Standard guide to project management, and PRINCE is the government-sponsored method of project management.

Entry

There are no entry requirements, but we do assume that you have already studied to HNC/HND level or have equivalent experience from your employment. You need to have had some experience of working in a project environment, though not necessarily as a project manager.

The use of a computer is compulsory for this course, so you will need the skills to install and operate software. You may choose to complete assignments with the aid of your computer, which would require the skills to assemble an electronic document using an office package for the text, tables and diagrams that you want to include. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

If you would like more information about the Postgraduate Computing programme as a whole, you can visit the programme website. This site includes additional information about the programme, details of new courses and qualifications that are being planned, some samples of study materials, FAQs and links to descriptions of current courses and related qualifications.

You do need to have a reasonable standard of spoken and written English to study successfully with us. Poor language skills will make study more difficult, and it will take longer. The normal requirements for English language skills are explained on our website.

If you have any doubts about whether your level of English is good enough for you to study this course you may find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study site.

Discount for Open University Graduates

If you are a graduate of The Open University (holding either an undergraduate or masters degree), you are eligible for a discount of £100 towards the cost of this course. You can claim this discount when you register, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Qualifications

M865 is a compulsory module in our:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Management of Software Projects (E19)
• MSc in Management of Software Projects (F43)

M865 is an optional module in our:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Computing (C69)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management (C49)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry (C02)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems (E10)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Software Development (D69)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management (E08)
• MSc in Computing for Commerce and Industry (F05)
• MSc in Information Systems (F37)
• MSc in Networks and Distributed Systems (F42)
• MSc in Software Development (F26)
• MSc in Technology Management (F36)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Excluded combinations

Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content.  To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, other printed and online materials, project management software, dedicated website, optional online forums.

You will need

Access to the internet is essential, since some study materials are available only on the M865 website. You also need to use the internet to submit your assignments to your tutor.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, for use with a web browser. There is also software to download and install on your computer.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device you may have difficulties with some software, check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress on the course, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance. There is usually a lively student online forum. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

You will take your examination in one of the University’s examination centres.

Professional recognition

M865 has been accredited by the Association for Project Management (APM) as an entry route (equivalent to APMP) into their Practitioner level qualification. Successful completion of this course will enable you to demonstrate that you have familiarity with the APM Body of Knowledge. For further information, visit their website. The course has also been accredited as providing an equivalent training and written examination to that required for the Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB) Certificate in Project Management for Information Systems. M865 can contribute towards the Association of Building Engineers (ABE) education criteria, and can count towards an individual’s academic progression to Corporate Membership.

BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT offers exemption from some of its membership requirements for holders of an appropriate MSc in Computing from The Open University. M865 can form part of such an MSc. For more details ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for Recognition leaflet 3.7 Computing. BCS regulations are on their website.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course starting dates in November 2013 and May 2014. We expect it to be available for the last time in May 2014.

How to register

To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

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