CE3CM2: Management of Construction Projects 2

Module code: CE3CM2

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Martin Guy Sexton, email: m.g.sexton@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to provide the knowledge and skills to understanding the management of project-based organisations and projects in increasingly complex and differentiated institutional settings. Using neo-institutional theory as a touchstone, the module examines why and how project-based organisations manage their corporations and projects in changing macro, meso and micro conditions, such as geopolitical turbulence, globalisation and internationalisation, and fiscal and monetary stances. The module therefore provides an over-arching understanding of the project-based management within broader political and socio-economic contexts. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to: 

1. Understand some of the key principles for project-based organisations and projects in complex and changing institutional environments. 
2. Relate relevant institutional theories to interpreting their own work experiences, whilst being critical of current project-based management thinking. 
3. Use appropriate management theories to analyse simple project case studies. 
4. Understand thoroughly how project-based organisations and projects are managed. 

Module content

The module is designed to develop understanding and knowledge through a structured series of topics. 

• Introduction and module overview 
• Neo-institutional theory as relevant to project-based organisation 
• The impact of geo-political trends on international construction 
• The impact of the dynamic of standardisation and localisation 
• Managing under stressed macro and meso business conditions 
• Managing across institutional differences across regions and countries 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars and self-directed learning. 

Study hours

At least 24 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A formative feedback component is embedded within the lectures (e.g. interactive in-class exercises) and the assignment. A central ethos of the module is interactive and participative. 

Reassessment

Additional costs