Decision Making and Analysis in Projects

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• select appropriate decision making approaches and involve stakeholders in decision process based on specific project situations;
• critically analyse the approaches, methods and styles of analysing and making project decisions;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• report and present ideas in writing
• apply an analytical, reflective and critical approach to problem analysis and formulation;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the value of decision making approaches in the acceptability of a decision’s outcome;
• the features of project decisions and their impact on the selection of appropriate decision making and analysis methods;
• the distinctions between the traditional and contemporary approaches to fundamentals of decision making in projects;
• the significance of decisions, specifically strategic and critical decisions, in project success or failure;
• Various theoretical and practical approaches to making project decisions;
• the significance of decision making skills for project managers;

• Introduction to project decision analysis and decision making aspects
• Decision making and analysis as the project managers’ competencies
• Traditional and contemporary basis of decision making and analysis in projects
• Individual vs. group decision making in project environments
• Classification of project decisions
• Decision analysis methods and processes in projects
• Modelling for project decision making

Teaching and learning methods

The key knowledge and theoretical components will be delivered via lectures and supplemented with directed self-study, class discussions, case studies, team work and short presentations. Practical aspects of the theories will be explored further by inviting guest lectures from industry where possible.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Advanced Project Management Research Centre (APROM).

Textbooks

Goodwin, P. and Wright, G. (2009). Decision Analysis for Management Judgement. John Wiley & Sons.

Maylor, H. (2010). Project Management. UK: Prentice Hall.

Frame, J (2013). Framing decisions: decision making that accounts for irrationality, people, and constraints. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Virine, L. and Trumper, M. (2008). Project Decisions – The Art and Science. US: Management Concepts, Inc..

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External