Strategic Decision Making and Analysis in Projects

Module overview

Strategic decision-making and analysis are among the most critical advanced skills that successful project professionals must master and apply throughout projects. These competencies are essential in every stage of a project, from inception and planning through to execution, monitoring and evaluation. The significance of these expert skills and the consequences of decisions in delivering positive outcomes whilst mitigating potential failures are paramount and emphasised in both theory and practice across the project profession. Within the context of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven approaches, project professionals are expected to operate in increasingly complex and dynamic environments where precise decision-making is essential across industries. Making informed and timely decisions can be challenging, but it is fundamental to successfully managing projects. This module therefore introduces the characteristics of decisions and decision-making and analysis in contemporary project environments.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

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

Learning and Teaching

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.

Study time
Type	Hours
Teaching	24
Independent Study	126
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Advanced Project Management Research Centre (APROM).

Textbooks

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..

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

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

Assessment

Formative

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

In-class activities

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Students will receive feedback from the lecture and their peers during the class activities. Feedback will be provided via email and in meetings upon the student’s request
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Peer Group Feedback

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Students will receive feedback from the lecturer and their peers during the class activities. Feedback will be provided via email and in meetings upon the student’s request.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Summative

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

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Report	100%

Referral

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

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Report	100%

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.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Report	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External