Cranfield School of Management

Programme structure and content

The Executive Masters in Programme and Project Management is a three-year part-time course that begins in January 2013.

Module attendance dates:

Year 1 – 2013 core modules

  • Induction programme: 7 and 11 January
  • Module 1: 8-10 January and 20-22 February
  • Module 2: 8-10 April and 22-24 May
  • Module 3: 24-26 June and 11-13 September
  • Module 4: 14-16 October and 27-29 November

Year 2 – 2014
Core modules 5-8 and group challenge (dates tbc)

Year 3 – 2015
Core module 9 and thesis (dates tbc)

The above dates are provisional and may be subject to change.


Module summary
Induction programme
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Induction programme

The induction programme takes place at the very start of your course and is designed to introduce you to the Shrivenham campus and the learning environment, and facilitate getting to know your fellow students before your studies start.
Year 1
core modules
Year 2
core modules
Year 3
core modules
Foundations of Programme and Project Management
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Foundations of Programme and Project Management

This module will raise your understanding of the strategic aspects of programme and project management and its role in adding competitive advantage to your organisation. You will gain a firm grounding in the principles, processes, tools and techniques that underpin programme and project management, but also be encouraged to challenge traditional thinking in the field.
The Reflective Manager
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The Reflective Manager

This module builds on the foundation of classic project management theory and delves more deeply into the behavioural aspects of projects and programmes. It broadens the theoretical basis to project management theory by introducing concepts from systems theory and complexity theory, and it provides new conceptual lenses through which student can view and reflect on practical challenges.
Research Methods
Self-development Sessions
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Research Methods

This module will guide you through the theory and practice of research tools and techniques to prepare you for conducting your own research – either as part of your thesis or in your future career. The module will cover principles of research, the research process, problem formulation, data collection, data analysis and report writing. On completion, you will be equipped to manage complex research projects, and you will have the confidence to evaluate different tools and techniques and to design research.

Self-development Sessions (not assessed)

These sessions will give you the opportunity to develop key personal skills that will be essential in your future career in programme and project management. You will take part in a course on handling the media to build your confidence in handling a crisis situation. This will develop your skills in presenting effectively and persuasively, listening, influencing, negotiating and networking.

In addition, our career development team will lead careers advice and guidance sessions.
Business Case and Financial Management
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Business Case and Financial Management

Through this module, you will learn to build a business case for programmes and projects, helping you to gain the investment and organisational commitment you need. We will cover the Benefits Management Approach, developed at Cranfield, as well as examining key financial analysis techniques, the role of the programmes office in managing benefits and aspects of risk analysis.
Strategic Management
Supply Chain Management
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Strategic Management

This module provides a critical overview of strategy formulation relevant to programme and project-based organisations. You will improve your ability to think strategically, take an organisational view of programme and project requirements, and understand that decisions must be consistent with organisational strategy.

Supply Chain Management

This module will consider the principles and realities surrounding the increased use of outsourcing and complex arrangements by organisations and governments as they seek to develop more effective ways of delivering products and services. You will explore public private partnerships and private finance initiative schemes and discover how organisations manage these relationships with varying levels of success.
Thesis
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Thesis

The thesis is an opportunity for you to carry out rigorous research in programme and project management that is of particular interest to you and your organisation. Integrating the skills and knowledge you have acquired with new research, you can apply them to particular challenges your organisation is facing. You will work closely with a supervisor who will provide expert guidance, insights and support throughout the project, from the planning stage through to delivery.
Planning, Control and Performance Management
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Planning, Control and Performance Management

This module focuses on the principles and application of planning, controlling and measuring the performance of programmes. You will develop your understanding of the challenges facing planners and managers and be introduced to new and emergent planning, control and performance management theories and techniques. A competitive group simulation exercise provides you with a safe environment in which to practise what you have learnt.
Leading Transformational Change
Organisational Learning
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Leading Transformational Change

This module is designed to help you successfully address and lead change initiatives. You will look at different approaches to leadership in the programme management context, and engage with the latest thinking on the implementation of such initiatives.

Organisational Learning

This module will address the challenges that project-based organisations face when implementing organisational learning programmes and identify a number of solutions in response to these challenges. You will explore techniques including the establishment of communities of practice, knowledge-based systems and increasing use of personal coaching and mentoring to encourage local-level learning, and develop a learning model appropriate for the programme management level.
Risk and Opportunities
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Risk and Opportunities

We will introduce you to risk and opportunity management at strategic, programme and project levels. You will also gain an insight into the importance of behavioural aspects in managing risk and opportunity, including personal judgement capability. You will critically review exiting methodologies and approaches, considering their impact on complex stakeholder interactions.
Group Action Project
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Group Action Project

The group action project gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills you have learnt to a specific business issue. You will spend three days, working as a team, investigating current programmes within a modern organisation. You will collect data, conduct analysis and report on the findings, and you will produce recommendations how the organisation can improve its core capabilities in programme and project management.

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Informal assessment
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MSc in Programme and Project Management - play video
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