1. Learning Outcomes
This assignment covers all learning outcomes (LOs) for this Module which are:
1. Compare the characteristics and perspectives of projects with those of ongoing tasks.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of tools for planning, estimating, monitoring and controlling projects.
3. Be able to communicate, lead and/or participate in project teams.
4. Understand and apply the fundamental aspects of project methodology (such as PRINCE2, orcontemporary approaches such as agile project management).
5. Be able to develop and implement meaningful project schedules using project management and planning software (such as Microsoft project).
4.1. Assessment Case Study Scenario
There is a global crisis in housing availability and affordability (Pryce, 2020). This is largely due to housing costs rising exponentially over the past decades worldwide in many cities, as populations have increased and more people are attracted to the cities for work and need accommodation. However, with the dramatic increase of house prices, this poses a serious problem of lack of affordability for many people with low incomes, including younger adults who do not have enough disposable income to be able to buy their own property. This is compounded by the fact that housing costs have risen sharper than many householdincomes (Galster & Lee, 2020). The housing crisis is therefore challenging governments around the world and causing greater socio-economic divides. Governments are looking for solutions for their citizens who are facing severe housing needs. Recent research centers on a new concept of ?housing justice? (Dawkins, 2021) which proposes a measure of comprehensive reforms grounded in the ideal of ?civic equality?.
4.2 Your Assignment
A new ground-breaking concept of affordable homes by a company called ?Boxabl? has hit the world stage by storm. Boxabl have created an innovative low-cost product originally called the ?casita?. The casita is claimed to be an affordable pre-fabricated home which is delivered flat packed and amazingly can be assembled within 2 hours ready for immediate use. It comes with fixtures and fittings such as a fitted bathroom, kitchen fitted with appliances such as a cooker, microwave, fridge, breakfast bar seated area for two, a bathroom with shower cubicle, basin and toilet, a living room area with TV, and bedroom area, eco lighting, heating and air condition. All for the modest price of $50,000. Could this be the solution to the world?s housing crisis? Please answer the following Assignment Objectives to find out:
4.3 Assignment Objectives (Your Task)
1. Assuming you were ?headhunted? to work as an assistant project manager for Boxabl UK (or in a country of your choice), produce a project plan (i.e. a schedule or Gantt Chart) to illustrate what you propose would be a ?workable plan? to convince your local government to buy a minimum of 150 affordable homes to solve the housing crisis in the local community. You should include in the plan the main activities and tasks involved and timescales to complete them. Justify youranswer (Learning Outcome 5).
2. Conduct a PESTEL analysis to examine the external environmental factors that could impact on the long-term sustainability of Boxabl?s production of affordable houses, drawing on evidence from the literature to justify your answer (Learning Outcome 1).
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of two planning tools that could be used to help monitor and control the status of the orders for the ?casitas? or dwellings, from Boxabl?s global customers.Use evidence from the literature to justify your
answer (Learning outcome 2).
4. Critically assess who the stakeholders are involved in affordable housing schemes and discuss strategies as to how Boxabl should manage them. Conduct a stakeholder analysis to help you.(Learning Outcome 3).
5. Discuss which project methodology would be more suitable for the design and manufacture of Boxabl?s affordable homes. Justify your answer drawing on evidence from the literature and examples from other types of affordable dwellings (Learning Outcome 4).Assessment Information
The PME module comprises of a single assessment as follows:
Assessment Item1 ? 3000 word Report based on a Case Study (excluding Contents page, the List of References and Appendices)
1.Submission deadline and feedback
Please submit your work by Monday 16 May at 2355 hours.
Marks and feedback will be available on Moodle normally by 20 working days following the date of submission. However, you will be informed if there are any mitigating circumstances such as staff illness which will cause a delay.
2.How to submit your work
This is by electronic submission through Moodle where you will upload the assignment in the Dropbox set up for this purpose on the module site by 2355 pm, but do allow more time to submit otherwise the system will time you out. When you upload your work remember to press the ?submit? button some students have forgotten to do so in the past. Once you submit the assignment this will then automatically generate an electronic receipt as proof of the date and time of submission.
When submitting your assignment, please include your student number as the file name, for example: ?up123456?. You should not include your name since the work is marked anonymously.
Please include your student number in the ?footer or header? of your document as
well.
3.Learning Outcomes
This assignment covers all learning outcomes (LOs) for this Module which are:
1.Compare the characteristics and perspectives of projects with those of ongoing tasks.
2.Evaluate the effectiveness of tools for planning, estimating, monitoring and controlling projects.
3.Be able to communicate, lead and/or participate in project teams.
4.Understand and apply the fundamental aspects of project methodology (such as PRINCE2, or contemporary approaches such as agile project management).
5.Be able to develop and implement meaningful project schedules using project management and planning software (such as Microsoft project).
4.1. Assessment Case Study Scenario
There is a global crisis in housing availability and affordability (Pryce, 2020). This is largely due to housing costs rising exponentially over the past decades worldwide in many cities, as populations have increased and more people are attracted to the cities for work and need accommodation. However, with the dramatic increase of house prices, this poses a serious problem of lack of affordability for many people with low incomes, including younger adults who do not have enough disposable income to be able to buy their own property. This is compounded by the fact that housing costs have risen sharper than many household incomes (Galster & Lee, 2020). The housing crisis is therefore challenging governments around the world and causing greater socio-economic divides. Governments are looking for solutions for their citizens who are facing severe housing needs. Recent research centers on a new concept of ?housing justice? (Dawkins, 2021) which proposes a measure of comprehensive reforms grounded in the ideal of ?civic equality?.
4.2Your Assignment
A new ground-breaking concept of affordable homes by a company called ?Boxabl? has hit the world stage by storm. Boxabl have created an innovative low-cost product originally called the ?casita?. The casita is claimed to be an affordable pre-fabricated home which is delivered flat packed and amazingly can be assembled within 2 hours ready for immediate use. It comes with fixtures and fittings such as a fitted bathroom, kitchen fitted with appliances such as a cooker, microwave, fridge, breakfast bar seated area for two, a bathroom with shower cubicle, basin and toilet, a living room area with TV, and bedroom area, eco lighting, heating and air condition. All for the modest price of $50,000. Could this be the solution to the world?s housing crisis? Please answer the following Assignment Objectives to find out:
4.3Assignment Objectives (Your Task)
1.Assuming you were ?headhunted? to work as an assistant project manager for Boxabl UK (or in a country of your choice), produce a project plan (i.e. a schedule or Gantt Chart) to illustrate what you propose would be a ?workable plan? to convince your local government to buy a minimum of 150 affordable homes to solve the housing crisis in the local community. You should include in the plan the main activities and tasks involved and timescales to complete them. Justify your answer (Learning Outcome 5).
2.Conduct a PESTEL analysis to examine the external environmental factors that could impact on the long-term sustainability of Boxabl?s production of affordable houses, drawing on evidence from the literature to justify your answer (Learning Outcome 1).
3.Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of two planning tools that could be used to help monitor and control the status of the orders for the ?casitas? or dwellings, from Boxabl?s global customers. Use evidence from the literature to justify your
answer (Learning outcome 2).
4.Critically assess who the stakeholders are involved in affordable housing schemes and discuss strategies as to how Boxabl should manage them. Conduct a stakeholder analysis to help you. (Learning Outcome 3).
5.Discuss which project methodology would be more suitable for the design and manufacture of Boxabl?s affordable homes. Justify your answer drawing on evidence from the literature and examples from other types of affordable dwellings (Learning Outcome 4).
5. References
1.Dawkins, C. (2021). Realizing housing justice through comprehensive national housing policy reform. International Journal of Urban
Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2020.1772099 [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
2.Galster, G., & Lee, K. O. (2021). Housing affordability: A framing, synthesis of research and policy, and future directions. International Journal of Urban Science. (this issue). [Taylor
& Francis Online], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
3.Preece, J., Paul Hickman & Ben Pattison (2020) The affordability of ?affordable? housing
in England: conditionality and exclusion in a context of welfare reform, Housing Studies, 35:7, 1214-1238, DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2019.1653448
Links to further information
Global crisis in housing affordability paper (25 Dec 2020 published online (International Journal of Urban sciences https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/12265934.2020.1847433
Will Boxabl solve the housing crisis? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERGJbp0mpsc
Boxable cassita delivered to you. Unpacks within an hour. https://www.boxabl.com/
TESLA?s new $15,000 sustainable house for sustainable living (1st Feb 2022) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VuNK9P1I3U
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11
You will also need to engage with further research around affordable and sustainable housing issues for wider context. You will have the opportunity to critique current practice in project management drawing on any of the concepts from this module to provide justification for your answers for this assessment for the theoretical underpinning which must be supported by evidence from the literature (academic books and journal articles).
You may also cite from professional bodies and Institute websites e.g. Association of Project Management (APM), Project Management Institute (PMI), Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Government and Industry websites. There must be a balance with the use of academic references. Use of ?wikis? and ?blogs? are to be avoided.
6.Assignment format:
1.A Report of 3,000 words (excluding diagrams, references and appendices). Use a report structure with a Title Page to include the name of the Module, Module code ?M21829? and your UP number. Please submit a Statement of Originality that confirms you are submitting your own original work (Appendix 3).
2.The Report should also include the following aspects: Contents page, Introduction, numbered headings and numbered sub-headings, page numbers, an Introduction, main body of the work covering the assignment objectives (1 ? 5), Conclusion, List of References and any Appendices.
7.Referencing Convention
The referencing convention to follow is APA version 7. There are very good resources on the library website to assist you with referencing if you are unfamiliar with APA 7.
8.Advice on Structure and writing style for the Report
1.The report is an academic piece of work and is therefore written using the third person (for example, avoid writing ?I think? or ?in my opinion?, instead you should write as follows: ?Hinde (2017) suggests that ??).
2.Use a 12-point non-cursive font e.g. Arial, Tahoma or Calibri.
3.Use 1.5 line spacing.
4.Write in a prose style, avoid excessive use of bullet points. Headings and sub- headings should be used to help signpost the report for the reader.
5.Stay within the maximum word count of 3,000 words. Do not exceed this limit. If the essay is deficient in length you will lose marks.
6.Diagrams or Tables may be used in your report and these should be referenced (add
Author?s name and year of publication) and include an appropriate Title, Figure
number or Table number. A List of Tables and Figures should be included in the Contents page. Any information that is supplementary but not critical to your main arguments, should be included as an Appendix.
7.Include citations from academic sources throughout the report to support your assertions and to demonstrate evidence of wider research. You may cite from credible sources e.g. professional Institute websites such as the Association of Project Management (APM), Government websites, official company but use of references from academic journal articles would add greater rigour for good scholarship.
9.Plagiarism
1.To avoid plagiarism which is an automatic fail, you must ensure that it is your own work and all the sources you use within your work are fully cited (author or organisation if no author name is available and the year). Do also ensure when quoting directly from sources that you use indentation or quotation marks (as appropriate) and remember to include the reference (author and page or paragraph number of the source). All your citations in the report sources should be listed in a reference list in accordance with APA 7th edition. Students who fail to include a reference list will be penalised.
2.If you have any questions about what is meant by ?your own work? please contact your allocated Seminar Tutor. The Faculty Study Support team will also be happy to offer advice about what ?your own work? means. Do not devalue your, or others? qualifications, by submitting work that is not your own
10.Appendices:
1.- Marking Matrix
2.University wide Grading Criteria for Level 6
3.Statement of Originality
APPENDIX 1 – Marking Matrix for PME M21829 ? Project Management for Enterprise
Percentage 0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80
Assessment Criteria Poor Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
1. Assuming you were
?headhunted? to work as an assistant project manager for Boxabl UK (or in a country of your choice), produce a project plan (i.e. a schedule or Gantt Chart) to illustrate what you propose would be a ?workable plan? to convince your local government to buy a minimum of 1000 affordable homes to solve the housing crisis in the local community. You should include in the plan the main activities and tasks involved and timescales to complete them. Justify your answer
(LO5). There is little to no discussion, in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
No project plan produced (e.g. no schedule or Gantt chart) or limited information is provided on the project plan.
Insufficient or no justification of the project plan. Basic discussion, in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
There is a satisfactory project plan produced (e.g. schedule or Gantt chart) or satisfactory information is provided on the project plan.
Limited justification of the project plan. There is a good discussion, in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
There is a ?workable? project plan proposed with good justification of the plan. Very good debate in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
Very good project plan produced with a clear justification of the plan.
Very good discussion, in relation to the literature, of what is a project plan Excellent debate in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
An insightful project plan with excellent justification of the plan. Scholarly debate in relation to the literature, on what is a project plan.
An outstanding project plan that shows creativity, insight and critical thinking.
There is a thoughtful justification of the plan demonstrating critical thinking skills in proposing solutions to complex issues.
2. Conduct a PESTEL analysis to examine the external environmental factors that could impact on the long-term sustainability of Boxabl?s production of affordable houses, drawing on evidence from the literature to justify your answer (LO 1). No PESTEL analysis, or poorly defined.
No reference, or very little reference to the literature. Satisfactorily defined PESTEL analysis.
Satisfactory use of evidence from the literature. The PESTEL Analysis is evaluated to good effect.
There is good use of the evidence from the literature. Very good evaluation of the external environment using a PESTEL analysis.
You made effective use of evidence from the literature to support your assertions. The PESTEL analysis is written with clarity and is convincing in addressing the external environment.
There is extensive use of evidence from the literature to underpin your assertions. Exceptionally well stated, interesting, original, complete and convincing PESTEL Analysis.
Excellent use of the literature. To support your analysis.
Percentage 0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80
Assessment Criteria Poor Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of two planning tools that could be used to help monitor and control the status of the orders for the ?casitas? or dwellings, from
Boxabl?s global customers. Use evidence from the literature to justify your answer (LO 2). Very limited discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of 2 planning tools; partially discussed or not stated, confusing, unrelated to the task, inappropriate or lacking in content.
Little or no evidence from the literature. Satisfactory discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of two planning tools.
Limited focus and rational.
Satisfactory use of evidence from the literature. There is a good discussion and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of two project planning tools.
There is good use of the literature to support your assertions An engaging discussion and critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the two planning tools.
Very good use of the literature to support your assertions Excellent evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the two planning tools.
There is extensive use of evidence from the literature to underpin your assertions Outstanding evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the two planning tools, original, and convincing.
There is extensive & scholarly use of the literature to underpin your assertions.
4. Critically assess who the stakeholders are involved in affordable housing schemes and discuss strategies as to how Boxabl should manage them. Conduct a stakeholder analysis to help you (LO 3). Inadequate stakeholder analysis and/or irrelevant evidence; little or no evidence of understanding.
No consideration or little discussion of strategies to manage the stakeholders identified.
Poor referencing or little to no evidence. Satisfactory assessment of the project stakeholders.
The Stakeholder Analysis is too descriptive.
There is a lack of critical evaluation with little reference to the literature. There is a good assessment of the project stakeholders.
Good stakeholder analysis demonstrating a clear understanding of the issues.
There is good use of the literature to support your assertions. Very good assessment of the stakeholders.
The stakeholder analysis demonstrates critical thinking and a competent understanding of the issues.
Very good use of the literature to support your assertions Excellent assessment and critical evaluation of the stakeholders.
Clearly articulated discussion that relates well to the topic of research.
There is extensive use of evidence from the literature to underpin your assertions Outstanding assessment and critical evaluation of the stakeholders.
Outstanding insight into the issues with original thinking demonstrated.
There is extensive and scholarly use of evidence from the literature to underpin your assertions.
Percentage 0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80
Assessment Criteria Fail Pass Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
5. Discuss which project methodology would be more suitable for the design and manufacture of Boxabl?s
affordable homes. Justify your answer drawing on evidence from the literature and examples from other types of affordable dwellings (LO 4). Little or no attempt to discuss project methodology. There is limited links to Boxable affordable homes for the practical application.
Lacks the theoretical underpinning.
Little or no use of evidence from the literature to support the analysis. There is satisfactory discussion of project methodology in relation to Boxabl affordable homes.
Further evaluation to the theory is required.
Some examples from other projects cited but needed further explanation. Good discussion of the methodology in relation to Boxable affordable homes.
Further evaluation of the theory would add more depth to your answer.
Wider evidence from the literature required with at least one example from other projects. Critical evaluation of the methodology drawing on very good evidence from the literature and examples from other projects. Excellent critique of the methodology and use of the literature in relation to Boxabl affordable homes.
Excellent examples provided from other projects in justification of the issues. Outstanding critique of the methodology with excellent use of literature to support your assertions.
Sophisticated, critical and scholarly discussion of the issues involved, high quality of reflection, offers fresh/new insights drawing on examples of other projects.
6. Structural Coherence – presentation/ accuracy of language. Inadequate in most or all of the following: length, content, structure, analysis, expression, argument, relevance, research and presentation.
Substantially incomplete and deficient. Serious problems with a number of aspects of language use. A satisfactory attempt to follow directions regarding organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, diagrams, tables etc. Good presentation with respect to presentation, organisation, language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables etc. Very good in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables, etc. Excellent in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables, etc. Outstanding quality in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables etc.
7. Use of References. No references cited, or very limited use of references throughout your work.
More accurate referencing is required. Use APA 7th edition. Satisfactory research using texts, Internet & key reference sources. References cited and presented according to convention.
More accurate
referencing is required. Research extends to primary sources.
Appropriately cited and presented references.
Wider use of references is required to support your assertions. Well researched, good use & presentation of references.
Although the references could be more consistently applied throughout
your work. Evidence of extensive research.
Excellent use of the references which were accurately presented. Outstanding use of the references and evidence of extensive research to underpin your work.
The references were accurate and effectively presented.
APPENDIX 2
University wide Grading criteria for Level 6 (applicable to essays, reports and aspects of projects and dissertations)
LEVEL 6
80%
Outstanding work – contains accurate, relevant material, demonstrates understanding of complex subject matter & is able to view it in a wider context.
Shows originality & confidence in analysing and criticising assumptions, is aware of the limits of knowledge.
Likely to add new insights to the topic & approaches the quality of published material Evidence of extensive research, uses & presents references effectively
Outstanding quality in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables etc
70 ? 79%
Excellent work – contains accurate, relevant material, demonstrates understanding of complex subject matter & is able to view it in a wider context.
Shows originality & confidence in analysing and criticising assumptions, is aware of the limits of knowledge
Evidence of extensive research, uses & presents references effectively
Excellent in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation,
diagrams, tables etc
60 ? 69%
Very good work – contains most of the information required, is accurate & relevant & demonstrates understanding of the subject matter & attempts to view it in a wider context.
Shows some originality of thought with good critique & analysis assumptions, is aware of the limits of knowledge
Well researched, good use & presentation of references
Very good in terms of organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation,
diagrams, tables etc
50 ? 59% (Good)
Work that attempts to address the topic with some understanding & analysis, key aspects of the subject matter covered
Research extends to primary sources. Appropriately cited and presented references
Satisfactory presentation with respect to presentation, organisation, language, grammar, spelling, format, presentation, diagrams, tables etc
40 ? 49% (Satisfactory)
Adequate work which attempts to address the topic with limited understanding & analysis
Some research using texts, Internet & key reference sources with reference citation and presentation according to convention
An attempt to follow directions regarding organisation, structure, use & flow of language, grammar, spelling, format, diagrams, tables etc
39% and below
FAIL. Anything which is inadequate in most or all of the following: length, content, structure, analysis, expression, argument, relevance, research and presentation. Work in this range attempts to address the question/problem but is substantially incomplete and deficient. Serious problems with a number of aspects of language use are often found in work in this range
